Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. - Ephesians 5:17
Knowing the will of God pertaining to life and godliness will keep you rooted and grounded, unwavering in the midst of the storm and in the face of circumstance. Adversity will come. Persecutions will come. The devil will shoot his flaming arrows and fiery darts in regards to health, wealth, protection, provision and security, etc. Our job is to hold up the shield of faith. The problem is many Christians either don't know what they believe, or believe contrary to the word and promises of God. Many try to believe for a while, but seeing the circumstances and the trials and casualties of those around them, they begin to walk by sight rather than by faith and are soon found shipwrecked in regards to their faith and unable to stand. Being more convinced by what they see around them, rather than what God has written to them. Jesus compared this type of person to a seed on rocky ground with no root. They receive the word gladly, but when the fiery darts come, they immediately fall away. The only way to develop a deep root is to be a Joshua - meditate on the word day and night, then you will have a firm grasp on what the will of the Lord is. Don't let the negative circumstance around you cause you to put your faith in what you see.
It is my prayer that God will Bless you EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL YOU CAN ASK OR THINK!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Patience and Perseverance
Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me; - Daniel 10:12-13
When Daniel prayed, God heard and answered immediately. However, it took the messenger of the Lord, the angel, 21 days to deliver the answer to Daniel. How many times has God's people made a mess of things because they didn't have the patience or the perseverance to wait on God? We can see how Abraham made a mess of things by trying to make God's promise to him come to pass by doing it on his own. Hebrews chapter 11 says there is a great reward for those who are diligent and stand in faith believing. In these modern times with our microwave, give-it-to-me-now, drive-thru fast food, high speed internet, remote control lifestyles, the difference in being the victor or the victim may very well come down to our willingness and ability to be patient and persevere when it seems like nothing is happening. The devil uses time against us to try and get us to shrink back and give up. Don't let him trick you into giving up. Be the overcomer who prays and perseveres and stands patiently on the promises of God and gets the results!
It is my prayer that God will Bless you EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL YOU CAN ASK OR THINK!
When Daniel prayed, God heard and answered immediately. However, it took the messenger of the Lord, the angel, 21 days to deliver the answer to Daniel. How many times has God's people made a mess of things because they didn't have the patience or the perseverance to wait on God? We can see how Abraham made a mess of things by trying to make God's promise to him come to pass by doing it on his own. Hebrews chapter 11 says there is a great reward for those who are diligent and stand in faith believing. In these modern times with our microwave, give-it-to-me-now, drive-thru fast food, high speed internet, remote control lifestyles, the difference in being the victor or the victim may very well come down to our willingness and ability to be patient and persevere when it seems like nothing is happening. The devil uses time against us to try and get us to shrink back and give up. Don't let him trick you into giving up. Be the overcomer who prays and perseveres and stands patiently on the promises of God and gets the results!
It is my prayer that God will Bless you EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL YOU CAN ASK OR THINK!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Smile More
I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile - Job 9:27
If you've developed a habit of grumbling and complaining, it will be up to you to change it. You can change it because the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you. He is there to lead you in the way of righteousness, joy and peace. You may not feel like changing your expression, and you may not feel like smiling but if you'll do it by faith and make a choice to do it, you can rise above a habit of complaining and develop a new habit of pursuing righteousness, joy and peace. Even scientists have measured that people who smile have an increased release of endorphins that causes improved immunity, increased tolerance for frustration, and higher levels of creativity. So smile more and release the God-created benefits that a happy face can produce!
The Blood of Jesus gets you there.But what you wear there is determined by what you do here.
If you've developed a habit of grumbling and complaining, it will be up to you to change it. You can change it because the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you. He is there to lead you in the way of righteousness, joy and peace. You may not feel like changing your expression, and you may not feel like smiling but if you'll do it by faith and make a choice to do it, you can rise above a habit of complaining and develop a new habit of pursuing righteousness, joy and peace. Even scientists have measured that people who smile have an increased release of endorphins that causes improved immunity, increased tolerance for frustration, and higher levels of creativity. So smile more and release the God-created benefits that a happy face can produce!
The Blood of Jesus gets you there.But what you wear there is determined by what you do here.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Power Of The Light
Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret. But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light. - Ephesians 5:11-13
It is not condemning words, but godly actions and lifestyles that expose the "fruitless deeds of darkness". It is the light of Christ in what we do that causes people to see that there is a better way. People are not going to come to Christ by hearing bitter words of hate about how wrong and sinful they are. Jesus said to go and preach the good news, and the end will come when that good news is preached with demonstration. It is seeing and understanding the goodness of God that brings people to repentance. It is the light of Christ shining through you that exposes, reproves and makes things visible and clear. Self-righteous attitudes and condemning speech only bring offense and division. You have the light of Christ. Let it shine through you.
Have A Blessed Day
It is not condemning words, but godly actions and lifestyles that expose the "fruitless deeds of darkness". It is the light of Christ in what we do that causes people to see that there is a better way. People are not going to come to Christ by hearing bitter words of hate about how wrong and sinful they are. Jesus said to go and preach the good news, and the end will come when that good news is preached with demonstration. It is seeing and understanding the goodness of God that brings people to repentance. It is the light of Christ shining through you that exposes, reproves and makes things visible and clear. Self-righteous attitudes and condemning speech only bring offense and division. You have the light of Christ. Let it shine through you.
Have A Blessed Day
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Integrity
He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known. - Proverbs 10:9
Those who lie and distort the truth will only have to tell more lies to keep their story going. One lie leads to two lies, two lies lead to three lies and so on. It just keeps compounding and eventually the liar has lied themselves into a corner and they are found out. However, the one who keeps their tongue from lying will have peace of mind. They are not like those who have to go through life looking over their shoulder. When you walk in integrity, you can walk securely, safely, care-free, boldly and with confidence. When you renew your mind to the truth and will of God, you will know that not even the slightest distortion of truth is fitting among the righteous. A "little white lie" is still a lie, but the truth always wins. And when you know the truth, the truth will set your free!
It is my prayer that God will Bless you EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL YOU CAN ASK OR THINK!
Those who lie and distort the truth will only have to tell more lies to keep their story going. One lie leads to two lies, two lies lead to three lies and so on. It just keeps compounding and eventually the liar has lied themselves into a corner and they are found out. However, the one who keeps their tongue from lying will have peace of mind. They are not like those who have to go through life looking over their shoulder. When you walk in integrity, you can walk securely, safely, care-free, boldly and with confidence. When you renew your mind to the truth and will of God, you will know that not even the slightest distortion of truth is fitting among the righteous. A "little white lie" is still a lie, but the truth always wins. And when you know the truth, the truth will set your free!
It is my prayer that God will Bless you EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL YOU CAN ASK OR THINK!
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