Devotions - Prayer

A GUIDE TO SOME PEACE AND REST

By Bob / May 3, 2024

God’s Love isn’t given to just a select few. It’s a gift we all receive when we are born again.

“…for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”. 1 John 4:7

Perhaps you are saying, “I want Jesus to be king of my life. I want to do everything He commands me!”

Two of the wonderful blessings that come to all who enthrone Jesus as king of their lives.

1. First, Scripture says if you will submit yourself to Jesus, waiting to receive His counsel and direction, you will partake of His holiness. (SEE:Hebrews 12:9-10).
Paul commands us to come to Jesus, asking Him to give us dominion over all our sins and fears:

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans
6:14).

God is saying, “If you want to know abundant life—true, full life—then submit yourself to Me and I will give you life without fear, guilt or condemnation!”

 

2. Second, those who submit to Christ’s lordship will walk in peace—without fear or anxiety.

“That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. . . . Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:74-75, 78-79).
What a wonderful promise!
If we will yield our lives to Him, He will shine His light into our darkness and guide us into peace and rest.
You can tell when a person has enthroned Christ in his heart.
Such a life produces a peace that passes all understanding and you can see that peace in the person’s face and demeanor.

Are you passionately telling others about Christ?
*Loving God involves not just having a personal relationship with Jesus but also sharing Him with others.

*The world around you needs the power of Christ. Let the Holy Spirit guide and enable you to share effectively with those around you.


Thank You for Your Peace Jesus. And help me have more of the Eternal Perspective Daily.  Amen

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He Knows Your Need

By Bob / May 2, 2024

By John Piper

Do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.(Matthew 6:31–32)
Jesus wants his followers to be free from worry. In Matthew 6:25–34, he gives at least seven arguments designed to take away our anxiety. One of them lists food and drink and clothing, and then says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:32).
Jesus must mean that God’s knowing is accompanied by his desiring to meet our need. He is emphasizing we have a Father. And this Father is better than an earthly father.
I (John Piper)  have five children. I love to meet their needs. But my knowing falls short of God’s in at least three ways.
First, right now I don’t know where any of them is. I could guess. They’re in their homes or at work or school, healthy and safe. But they might be lying on a sidewalk with a heart attack.
Second, I don’t know what is in their heart at any given moment. I can guess from time to time. But they may be feeling some fear or hurt or anger or lust or greed or joy or hope. I can’t see their hearts.
Third, I don’t know their future. Right now they may seem well and steady. But tomorrow some great sorrow may befall them.
This means I can’t be for them a very strong reason for not worrying. There are things that may be happening to them now or may happen tomorrow that I do not even know about. But it is totally different with their Father in heaven. He knows everything about them now and tomorrow, inside and out. He sees every need.
Add to that, his huge eagerness to meet their needs (the “much more” of Matthew 6:30).
Add to that his complete ability to do what he is eager to do (he feeds billions of birds hourly, Matthew 6:26).
So join me in trusting the promise of Jesus to meet our needs. That’s what Jesus is calling for when he says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

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Goodness to Others

By Bob / April 30, 2024

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 ESV).

The Bible tells us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Have you noticed that the second part of that sentence is easy, but the first part can be really tough?

When somebody’s having a tough time, it’s easy to be sympathetic. It’s easy to encourage people when they’re down. But sometimes what we can’t stand is when they get a promotion. We’re not very good at handling the success of other people. Rather than rejoicing in it, we resent it. In fact, we wish bad things would happen to people, because somehow we think that if we can blow out somebody else’s candle, ours will shine brighter.

There’s plenty of God’s grace to go around. If God wants to pay other people the same amount, so what? I shouldn’t even worry about what he wants to give other people. I should worry about what I’m doing with what I’ve been given.

Let me explain something about envy to you. Envy happens close to you. It happens in your relationship to your peers. You don’t typically envy people who aren’t your peers. You can have some kind of idol worship that says, “I wish I were like that superstar.” But really it’s not as grating as the people closest to you. Those are the people you have the hardest time seeing success in — your family and friends.

Envy is insidious. It devalues others, it destroys relationships, and it makes you miserable. It’s hidden, but it’s destructive. And it causes you to miss out on so much joy.

You’ll enjoy life a whole lot more if you will learn to be happy over the successes of other people.   Speak Blessings over them—Not Curses!

If you’re only happy when things go well for you, you’re going to be miserable most of your life, because things won’t always go well for you or anybody else. But if you learn to be happy at other people’s successes and enjoy other people’s celebrations, you can be happy all the time.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love does not envy.” Envy is the most unloving thing you can do to somebody else. Love is not envious.

Love celebrates God’s goodness to others.  Read 1 Thess.  5:16-19 for God’s will for you.   Amen

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Coming Out of the Stronghold

By Bob / April 27, 2024

...”Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah”… – 1 Samuel 22:5
David and his fighting men had been hiding in the cave of Adullam.
*David was fleeing Saul.
*Many of life’s down-and-out had come and joined David’s army.
*David was content to stay in the stronghold of safety.

Then, God’s prophet came to David and told him that he must leave the stronghold and go into the land of Judah.

When life beats down on us and we get to the place where we want to hide in a cave, God often places people around us who prod us into moving forward in the right direction.
Let us not stay in the stronghold but praise our way out.

*God does not want us to remain in the place of discouragement.
*God wants us to move into the land of “praise.” Judah means “praise.
Eccl. 7:13 Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent? 14 In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

Not only must we keep moving forward, we must move into a new realm.
*Our attitude/mind must move from discouragement to praise.
*It is when we move past discouragement to praise that we begin living above our problems.

 

1 John 5:3 For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us, 4 because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.
Revelation 21:7 Those who win the victory will receive this from me: I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Revelation 12:11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die.

Revelation 3:21 To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne.

 

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  Amen

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MEANING OF LIFE

By Bob / April 25, 2024

When we seek to please “self“, we open ourselves up to uncontrolled emotions, soulish thoughts and selfish desires.
 “…for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.” Ezekiel 33:31
Psalm 77 has tremendous value for anyone who has ever faced life’s serious questions:

*Is there a dependable God?
* Are there absolute values in life?
*Is there meaning to life?
*Is there any purpose to this existence?
Here in Psalm 77 is a man, David who finds his way from the despairing conclusion expressed in verse 10,
“And I say, ‘It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed”. (Psalm 77:10 ) to the triumphant declaration of verse 13:

“Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?”
David does it by meditating on the deeds of the Lord. He thinks long and hard about certain actions of God in history–certain concrete, stubborn facts that cannot be forgotten or explained away, which have been witnessed by thousands and even millions of people, and the results of which have permanently altered the course of history.
It’s interesting that David would remind himself of God’s history of grace and mercy. Before anybody else told him, he reminded himself that God has been Good over and over again.

  • When you are discouraged remember what God has done for you in the past.
    God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
    Jesus said He would never leave or forsake His children.

However, we can walk away from His fellowship by refusing to be with Him.
Do not let this happen to you. He longs to have daily fellowship with you because He loves you.

Psalm 77 directs us to remember God and mediate on all his wonderful works and his love and guidance for us.
* I will spend more time remembering God, what he has done(GRATITUDE) and his amazing works of leading and guiding me thru all of life.

God, help me to take time to mediate and remember who you are, how much you love me, and your grace and mercy.
Thank You that by Your work You give purpose and turn me from despair to victory. Amen

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RENEWING 0F OUR MIND

By Bob / April 24, 2024

It doesn’t matter how many people you’ve led to the Lord, how many Scriptures you’ve memorized or how many Bible studies you’ve taught; if you’re not fully convinced God loves you…there’s something missing.
“…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ…”Ephesians 4:14-15
The apostle Paul challenges us in Romans 12:2 to not let our minds be conformed by the patterns of this world.

*This means we need to take our patterns of thought into consideration because they affect what we believe about ourselves and what we believe about God’s view of us and others.
The world’s patterns of thought tell us our worth is measured by our weight or bank account, our job or spouse, by the number of our friends, or if we are able to have children.

And if we do have children, the world tells us we’re only good parents if our children behave ‘just so.’

It takes time to replace our patterns of thought with God’s thoughts. The ways of the world—fear and worry—are powerful forces. But God’s Word trumps them, always.

 

Today, let’s be intentional to lay down self-doubts and replace them with truth, remembering “… he who began a good work in [us] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:16).

4 principles to understand to renew the mind

1.  The weapons of the enemy.

2.  The strategy of the enemy.

3.  The weapons of God.

4.  God’s battle plan for Holiness and purity.
Approach uncertainty with faith that Jesus is with you directing your steps.  Nothing is uncertain to Jesus or in His kingdom.  Jesus knows the beginning from the  end, and we can trust Him to lead us in the way we should go.  Jesus is for us and not against us.  Maintain peace in all things—-we are God’s Masterpiece.

Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He  delights in his way.

Lord, I want to have a confident heart in Christ and persevere in Your truth so that when I have done Your will, I will receive what You have promised. When doubt tells me I can’t do something, I’ll remember all things are possible to those who believe In Jesus!  Amen

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ROOT OF BITTERNESS

By Bob / April 21, 2024

 Bitterness causes even the most intelligent and rational person to lose control and drown in negativity.

 

Until we uproot our bitterness, we  will never overcome any of our other flaws.
“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15

 

When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved. It is like a cancer.
Breaking satan’s foothold requires at least one person to press into God’s grace.
It cannot happen when either party “feels” like it, for none of us will ever feel like forgiving.
None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt.
Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party.

 

It is only obedience that allows God’s grace to cover the wrongs incurred.

This grace prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.

The next time you are hurt by someone, realize the gravity of the crossroads where you find yourself.

Choose GRACE  instead of bitterness. Then you will be free to move past the hurt, and a root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.

Controlling Anger
1. Recognize the root of your anger (Heb. 12:15)
2. Confess it to God (Prov. 16:7)
3. Make an effort to make things right with the offended (Matt. 5:23-24)
4. Choose to forgive others (Mark 11:25-26)

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty (Proverbs 16:32)

*Forgiveness doesn’t make THEM right, but it makes YOU free!
*Harboring unforgiveness blocks out the goodness of God in our lives. We poisoned ourselves and finally choked on that poison.

5 reasons bitterness is called a root:
1) Bitterness is hidden. unseen.
2) Bitterness prefers darkness to SONlight.
3) Bitterness loves dirt.
4) Bitterness gets deeper and stronger the longer its allowed to live.
5) Bitterness produces its fruit and poisons many others as it continues to spread.
How do I forgive those who hurt me?

1) Pray for those who hurt you. Matthew 5:44.
2) Forgive as you have been forgiven.  Colossians 3:13

 

Father, reveal to me where I may be harboring anything against anyone. Convict my heart and give me the strength to forgive. All things are possible through you.  Amen

(Read Ephesians 4:21- 5:2(   verse 32–Replace the Old with New–31″get rid of ALL Bitterness…be kind to each other  tenderhearted, forgiving on another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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NEED SOME PEACE?

By Bob / April 19, 2024

Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd;I have all that I need.

If you need a prescription for peace, I encourage you to let your thoughts dwell on God’s promises and rest in His presence as you pray.

Ask Him to help you release your worry. Praise Him for the good things He’s done, and talk to Him about the problems you’re struggling with.

Seek God’s will for every area of your life and commit to trust Him enough to make changes as He nudges you.

True peace comes when we trust God and seek rest in Him, not when life is conflict-free.

****A daily dose of God’s presence and promises is the best prescription for peace.

Philippians 4:6-7.
 “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.”

As the words of these verses wash through my soul, I realize I’ve been depending on people to diagnose my problems instead of seeking a remedy from God.
I had overlooked the only One who had a prescription that could heal — Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6: 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

ENEMIES OF GODLINESS
Enemy #1 Selfishness:-Don’t only look to satisfy your own sinful nature, this harvests death. Live to please the spirit, this harvests life in the spirit.(See 1 Peter 3:18)

Enemy #2 Pride: Be Humble.
(SeeProverbs 16:18)

Enemy #3 Insecurity:-It prevents intimacy and promotes fear.  -We are afraid that or weaknesses will be revealed. We are also afraid of rejection of being ourselves so we try to be something and someone we are not.
-The antidote of rejection is the acceptance of Almighty God.

Enemy #4 Resentment: -Hurt people hurt people.
(Philippians 2:4)

Dear Lord, I am stressed. I know I need a change in my life, and I am ready for the prescription for peace that only You can offer. Fill me today with a dose of serenity that I cannot find anywhere else but in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Delighted in God

By Bob / April 17, 2024

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Notice that first word: “Delight yourself.

I heard someone once ask this question of a group of people: “Do you enjoy your religion, or do you endure it?”

I think that to the majority of people religion is something to endure. It’s a kind of painful duty that they have to go through with, but that’s not the way God wants us to experience Him.

 

God doesn’t want us to endure Him; He wants us to enjoy Him.

 

“The supreme duty of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

Have you ever thought of enjoying God?

God says, “Delight yourself in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart.”

That doesn’t mean simply that God will do for us everything we might wish or think.

**It means that He’ll put in us new desiresgodly desires, beneficial desires, the kind of desires that God has Himself.
*And then He’ll satisfy those desires because He’s put them there in our heart in the first place. And all that comes when we delight ourselves in the Lord.

When we find real joy and pleasure and satisfaction in our personal relationship with the Lord—–*Then out of that comes that blessed peace that He will put into our hearts – those desires which He Himself has and which He wants to share with us, desires that are beneficial in their fulfillment.

Jesus, help me to know You more in a deeper intimate relationship.  As you say: “To know You is to have Eternal Life”!  Thank you God for giving us Your Son-Jesus that paid my debt of sin.  Amen

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NEGATIVE THINKING

By Bob / April 16, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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This Was No Ordinary Death

By Bob / April 13, 2024

Lets First Hear “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name”(Acts 10:43).

Believe  Jesus was crucified at a place we call Calvary. It was nine in the morning when soldiers nailed his hands and feet to the cross and then suspended him between heaven and earth.

At noon the sky darkened. It was the darkest moment in human history. God was making Jesus, the one who had no sin, to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

At three in the afternoon, Jesus said in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And then….

In victory, he cried out, “It is finished!” With that cry, he gave up his spirit.

This was no ordinary death suffered by no ordinary person. This was Jesus, the Lord and creator of all, offering himself as the perfect Lamb of God.

  • His achievement removed the barrier that stood between God and man.
  • It shook the foundation of the world and it raised people to life.
  • This was God saying to mankind to take note, to stop and consider the implications.

Christ Jesus, as the Lamb of God, took away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He took away your sin.

Live

  • Do you believe that Jesus’ death at Calvary was sufficient to take away your sin?
  • Are you willing to rest in His finished work and trust that your sins have been forgiven once and for all?
  • Are you willing to thank God that according toActs 10:43, you have forgiveness of sins?

John 6:47  I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life!

1 John 5:13  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:11  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is IN his Son.   Amen

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Hurt and Alone

By Bob / April 12, 2024

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

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

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

1. “You’re wonderful.”

(Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope …”)

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

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

2. “Me too.”

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

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

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

3. “I’ll pray.”

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

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

4. “I’ll share.”

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

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

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

5. “Come over.”

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

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

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

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

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ON THE RIGHT PATH?

By Bob / April 7, 2024

Scripture tells us that, as new believers, we have “put on” Christ. Although this begins in our hearts when we’re born again, we must continually choose to “put on” Christ moment by moment throughout our lives. This is the process of sanctification.
  “…put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3b).

The Hebrew word translated “paths” means a well-defined, well-worn trail.” That indicates again how stupid sheep are, because even when the trail is well laid out, they still need a shepherd. They are still inclined to wander away, no matter how obvious the path may be. The shepherd knows the trails. He has been there before, and the sheep trust him

We have to make countless decisions, day after day, which touch the lives of our children and our wives and husbands. We need wisdom. We need a shepherd. We need someone who knows the trails, someone whom we can trust.

We all need a decisive word from someone who knows the way, and the Lord knows the way. But the question arises–

“How can I discover His will for my life?

 

May I suggest these steps?

First, submit wholeheartedly to the leadership of the shepherd. That is the basic attitude we must maintain. Unless we are willing to admit that we don’t know the way through the wilderness and submit to His leadership, we will never find the way.

The second thing we must do is to obey what we know now to be God’s will for us. Most of God’s will is already revealed in His Word. We have to begin by obeying the truth that we have.

But what about other areas of life where the Scriptures do not give specific information?

There we are led by the peace of God.   As we spend time praying and waiting upon God, there comes a sense of peace, an inner conviction, about the correctness of a certain direction.
Father, You have promised to lead me in paths of righteousness. Help me to be willing to follow, even when I don’t understand.  AMEN

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Who Can You Trust?

By Bob / March 31, 2024

“Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19).
At times we may have been discouraged to the point of despair and felt totally abandoned by a God we know that loves us.

And yet in the midst of all of our despair we can find comfort in Jeremiah’s words in Lamentations 3.  ( I challenge you to read each day for a week and see what the Lord has to say to you about “who can I trust and why).
“He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed He has turned His hand against me again and again, all day long. He has made my skin and my flesh grow old… Even when I call out or cry for help He shuts out my prayer… I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, “my splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.” I remember my affliction and my wandering… I well remember them and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassion NEVER fails. They are new every morning; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.'” (emphasis mine).
If you are at the point of despair, do what Jeremiah did and pour out your heart to God. And then call to your mind the fact that GREAT is God’s faithfulness.

  • God has not abandoned you and He loves you.
  • Don’t allow Satan to deceive you to think anything else. God will be faithful in your life.

But Job is an example for us of how we must break through our natural view of life so that we begin to see things in a different light. This book of Job is here to teach us that God sometimes has to translate theology into painful experience before we really begin to grasp what He is trying to say to us.
Father, thank You that You have sent Your Son, who has endured more suffering than I. Grant me the strength to endure whatever You allow into my life. Amen

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Ways to Keep Moving Forward

By Bob / March 27, 2024

 Forget Regret
Leave your mistakes and regret in the past.  They don’t define your value, then or now.

When you stay in the past you become stuck and unable to move forward.

We all have made mistakes with our job choices, friends and relationships. The consequences can hit us pretty hard.

Give yourself the gift of forgiveness and keep moving forward.

Learn from Failure
Learning from failure and having regret are two separate things. Regret is an emotion; a feeling of disappointment along with a modest amount of shame or guilt.

But to look back at a circumstance and figure out what went wrong gives you some very important information.

This review allows you to evaluate what worked and what didn’t, and more importantly, why.

Ask for Help
You are not alone. It may feel that way sometimes, but there are many people who would extend their hand and lift you up if asked. Often times we are afraid to ask because we don’t believe we are worthy to receive the help.

Believe You are Worthy
Whatever your goal, your dream, or your desire, you are worthy of achieving it.

Take 100% Responsibility
Except in rare and unfortunate circumstances, you are responsible for the quality and condition of your life.

  • Sometimes we choose to do nothing when we get hit hard because it’s just easier and less painful that way.
  • But the real pain is only deferred.

Know What You Want
This isn’t about the how, only the what. In order to move forward in life, you need a firm foundation to step from. Understanding what and where you want to go in life will provide your vision and spirit – your foundation. The how will figure itself out when you know you want to keep moving forward.

Trust
There are no accidents without value.

When you get hit hard and land on your back, look for the reasons and for the value in this. Open your heart and trust this happened for a reason. Trust the experience is happening for a reason and be open to making adjustments in order to keep moving forward.

Want it More
How badly do you want it?

How badly do you really want to achieve what you are working so hard to accomplish?  To walk through the pain; to get up and keep moving forward knowing there may be more pain ahead, is a test of your determination and resolve.

Keep the Faith
Faith: A strong belief in something without proof or evidence
At the end of the day the one thing that tells you to keep going; to get up tomorrow and to keep moving forward, is your faith.

Lord direct my path in 2018-2019.  Help me move forward with life giving You all the Glory.  Help us each to be your hands and feet for the lost, that just One may come to know you.  Amen

 

TAKEN FROM: Alex Blackwell is the Founder of The BridgeMaker. His book, Saying Yes to Change

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