We will see His goodness…

The Word of God tells us that we will see the goodness of The Lord in this life.  Psalm 27:13

In Psalm 34, God promises us that He will

  • deliver us from all our fears
  • save us out of our troubles
  • guard and deliver us
  • show us His goodness
  • supply our needs
  • listen when we talk to Him
  • and redeem us (make something bad or unpleasant, better or more acceptable)

BUT, we must

  • seek Him
  • cry out to Him
  • trust Him
  • fear Him
  • refrain from lying
  • turn from evil
  • do good and seek peace
  • humble ourselves and serve Him

Sharing Christ

You don’t need to know all the answers when it comes to telling others about Christ. All you need to do is tell them how He has changed your life. Then trust that God will use your words to help others believe in Him too!

I like the reply of the man born blind in John 9:25. When Jesus healed him on the sabbath and angered the Jews for working on the sabbath, they questioned the blind man as to who broke the law. The blind man’s reply is, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” Tell someone what Christ has done for you! And look back on your journey in faith and thank God for bringing you to this point today.

Leave it behind…

There is no sin that God is not willing and ready to forgive. However, we must first confess and repent of our sin. Repenting also means, turn from that sin and commit it no more! When others are caught in sin, are you quick to forgive them—remember their sin no more? Alternatively, do you quickly pass judgment and say, they deserve punishment, and they are terrible for the bad that they’ve done. If you are quick to judge others, then pray that God will teach you how to forgive and have compassion.

In John 8:2-11 a woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus to condemn her…her partner in adultery was not brought to Jesus. While she was accused, and the LAW stated that she should be stoned for her act, Jesus did not condemn her but rather asked her to leave her life of sin. Jesus would rather have mercy, forgiveness and compassion on us than to condemn us. That does not mean that he condones sin–absolutely not!!! However, true forgiveness and repentance, cleanses us from our sin. So only God can cleanse us but we must be willing to forgive and have compassion on others!

Stuck in the same place for years…

It is time to move forward.  It is a lifelong process.  Find yourself continuing to do the things you do not want to do? Also, unable to do the things that you know you should do?  It is because we have a sinful nature.  When you want to do good, evil is right there with you.

Our bodies are slaves to sin, but our minds can be transformed to be like Christ, making our minds a slave to God’s laws.  Transform our minds Lord.  God has a solution!  A way to have victory over our bodies and sin.  God’s solution is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us power!

You are stuck in the same place because you cannot defend yourself against Satan’s attacks on your own.  You need the help of someone who has defeated the power of sin and Satan.  You need the help of the Holy Spirit!  It is time to move forward in victory over sin.  Victory over the things that kept your mind tormented.  Victory over sexual perversion.  Victory over your locked up finances.  Victory over fear!  Victory over doubt.  Victory over un forgiveness.  Victory over anger.  God has come today to pull you out of your muck and to move you forward, BUT, you cannot do it without the Holy Spirit!

Master, we surrender all.  I cannot win the war against sin on my own.  I must fight against my sinful nature which would have me to do the things that I know are wrong to do.  Also, to not do the things that are right–because I have no power over them.  However, You have overcome every sin I face.  You can help me Lord.  Please send your Holy Spirit to set me free from sin, even from myself.  Also, I know that I will need to fight this battle against sin and myself, every day of my life.  However, by your Holy Spirit, I will win every time!  If I should fall, I know the Holy Spirit will reach out and help me.  What hope I have in You Lord!  I thank You today for freedom from sin and power over Satan, through Jesus.  I am stuck no more.

Annual Spiritual Exam

It is that time of year again; time for a spiritual health assessment.

  • Am I praying or just thinking about praying?  We are only praying when we talk to God—not when we are thinking, wishing, hoping or talking to others.  Matthew 7:7 says, God is ready to act if we would only pray.
  • Am I lacking boldness?  Ephesians 3:20 tells us, God will do more than we could ever dare hope, ask, or think.  Ask and believe God to do great things.
  • Sin can cause our prayers to go unanswered.  Reveal any hidden sin in my life Lord and I will repent and stop doing it. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” Isaiah 59:2.
  • Am I living and praying God’s Will, not mine?  I want to be in agreement with Gods plan for my life. 1John 5:14-15, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his Will, he hears us.”
  • Am I too focused on my problems that seem so large until I start to doubt God can fix them.  Know that my problems exist but don’t dwell on them…keep my eyes on God! “Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.” Jeremiah 32:17
  • Am I fretting too much.  Philippians 4:6 tells me not to have anxiety or worry about anything!!!
  • Am I grateful for what I have and where I am?  Philippians 4:11-12 says, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
  • Am I staying focused on what God gives me to do?  Avoiding distractions, doing what God has asked of me? “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3: 13-14
  • Am I caring for those in need?  John 3:17-18 tells me to care for those in need…don’t turn my back on them.  James 1:27 says to care for the hurting, lonely, oppressed, those in need.
  • Am I being obedient to the authority over me, my bosses, the law, my spouse? 1 Peter 2:13-15 says, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”
  • Do I forgive others? “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” Mark 11:25. No matter what someone has done against me I must let it go.
  • Am I too proud to admit mistakes or that I need help? Pride is disgusting to The Lord.  Proverbs 16:5. Satan likes to keep things hidden…he wants us to try to handle things on our own.  But God has designed us to need one another.  We can’t always carry the loads in our lives; we should come to each other for help…that pleases God!

So I checked myself out and wasn’t too pleased.  I am praying today that God will remove the hindrances in my life. My spiritual health maintenance plan will include, more praying, more reading God’s Word, more exercising what God’s Word says to do, and more enjoyment in my walk with Christ.

Crucified no more…

God sent His Son Jesus, to save us from sin and to offer us eternal life—to bring us back to Him. Jesus walked amongst us; he ate with us; he performed miracles in our presence; he raised the dead—we crucified Him. God did not give up on us…He sent His Holy Spirit, to live in those that believe in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit of God is with us always, all the time, everywhere!   We cannot crucify the Holy Spirit. No one can separate us from God now…He is still calling for us to come back to Him. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today and be reunited with God forever.

In times of great need…send up great praise!

None is higher than You O God!  All praise belongs to You!  Come quickly to save me from those that wish to hurt and destroy me!  They threaten me and disappoint me.  They leave me feeling betrayed.  However,  You O God, can put them to shame, You can confuse them and turn them away in disgrace!  My plea for your help is urgent–get them!  Magnificent King!!  You are my delight!

I LOVE THIS PSALM!  (Psalm 70:1-5)

Look at it!  It is a desperate plea for Gods help against those who disappoint and hurt us.  However, in the middle of being assaulted David stops and praises God!  He praises God because He is worthy.  I love it!  Can you imagine, your enemy chasing after you to destroy you, Yikes!  You need help quick!  “Lord, come quickly! HELP!” Then, in your next breath you say, “Lord, You are so amazing!  When I think of Your goodness, my soul gets excited!!!  Look O Lord, those mean, evil people are trying to hurt me!  Get them!  They outnumber me; they are ruthless thugs!  Don’t delay Lord!  You are my deliverer!”

Ever feel like David?  Ever feel like those you thought you could trust, just punched you real good in the gut?  We might even be afraid of them.  How about a shout of praise?  “Jesus! You got this dude!  You are all Mighty!  If I die, being hunted down by my enemy, I am going to die praising you!  Come, quickly Lord!”

God is there.

Suffering …

…not something we like to talk about or endure. However, we will suffer because we live in a fallen world. We must remember that Jesus has the power to help us deal with it. When we suffer from disease, tragedy, or disability, try not to ask why Lord, but instead, ask God to give you strength for the trial and a clearer perspective on what is happening. Generous God, in the midst of overwhelming circumstances and suffering, You give amazing grace.

 

Rise and shine!

I say that all the time. However, today I ask that you truly rise and shine. For Jesus is the Light of the world. And He has chosen to reflect His light through us, so that unbelievers can be directed to Him, The Light! Jesus helps us see our way to God and shows us how to walk along the way. Rise and shine, help lead others to The Light!