"The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does..." Isaiah 8:11 (NLT)
What a curious word the prophet heard from God. It's the same word we should pay heed to today. Consider for a moment that God's desire for His children at this time was that they would devote their hearts fully to Him. That they would trust Him to deliver them from the enemy surrounding them, but the general consensus thought their adversary was too difficult, and they gave him (the enemy) more credit than he should have gotten.
There is a prevailing feeling out there that says abortion is ok because it's a womans choice, white lies are ok because they don't "hurt" anyone, and fidelity is only as good as your options. These thoughts totally run counter to what God desires for His children, and yet there are many out there who pay them alot of attention.
My only exhortation would be to think differently. God does. He says in Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are high above the earth so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Let us not be influenced by our feelings, but by the Spirit within who is calling us to think higher!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Accountability
"[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God. But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him].For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end." Hebrews 3:12-14 (Amplified)
A lot could be said for someone who tells it like it is. This person's candor, like it or not has the potential of saving our lives. Sometimes what they say hurts (the truth sometimes does), but in the end it will profit us greatly...much greater than the person that approaches us with flattery.
The flattery person has a character flaw... for all they want from you is your friendship and will say anything or do anything to keep it. Such a person may benefit you in the short term, but could cause you great damage in the long term.
The disparity between these two individuals in unquestionable. I have a pretty good idea how God wants us to chose between them. After all, His desire is for us to exhort one another and not let time slip away without telling the people who are important to us what they need to hear, as opposed to what they WANT to hear.
A lot could be said for someone who tells it like it is. This person's candor, like it or not has the potential of saving our lives. Sometimes what they say hurts (the truth sometimes does), but in the end it will profit us greatly...much greater than the person that approaches us with flattery.
The flattery person has a character flaw... for all they want from you is your friendship and will say anything or do anything to keep it. Such a person may benefit you in the short term, but could cause you great damage in the long term.
The disparity between these two individuals in unquestionable. I have a pretty good idea how God wants us to chose between them. After all, His desire is for us to exhort one another and not let time slip away without telling the people who are important to us what they need to hear, as opposed to what they WANT to hear.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Just listen
"As I hear the Word of the kingdom (sown in the good soil of my heart), and grasp and comprehend it;...it will indeed bear fruit and yield a good return." Matthew 13:19 (AMP)
A word from the Lord could sustain anyone in their deepest darkest valleys. Consider Abraham, God told him that his decendants would be like the stars in the sky or the sand in the desert (Heb 11:12). This word had to sustain Abraham because time was not his friend, and yet because he held on dearly to God's word we can see evidence of it today.
Jesus is perhaps the best example of how holding on to God's word is so important. By God telling Jesus He was the beloved Son in whom God was pleased (Mark 1:11), Jesus was able to sustain 40 days of rigorous temptation from the Devil as well as the cross because it was God's will, and Jesus knew God loved him. How powerful is that?
God wants to give each of us a word from Him. Let's pursue that word for dear life if we don't have it, or cling to it in the bad times if we do have it. This word confirms for us in our heart that God is FOR us. So take a moment and just listen for His word for you.
A word from the Lord could sustain anyone in their deepest darkest valleys. Consider Abraham, God told him that his decendants would be like the stars in the sky or the sand in the desert (Heb 11:12). This word had to sustain Abraham because time was not his friend, and yet because he held on dearly to God's word we can see evidence of it today.
Jesus is perhaps the best example of how holding on to God's word is so important. By God telling Jesus He was the beloved Son in whom God was pleased (Mark 1:11), Jesus was able to sustain 40 days of rigorous temptation from the Devil as well as the cross because it was God's will, and Jesus knew God loved him. How powerful is that?
God wants to give each of us a word from Him. Let's pursue that word for dear life if we don't have it, or cling to it in the bad times if we do have it. This word confirms for us in our heart that God is FOR us. So take a moment and just listen for His word for you.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Trust (A poem)
"God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you." 1 Peter 5:7 (The Message)
When all the cares of this measly life abound
When the answer to where I'll go and what I'll do cannot be found
When certainly all around my life breeds confusion
And there seems to be no resolution
I will trust in you
I cannot handle uncertainty, it causes me to doubt
I cannot handle anxiety, for it seems to leave no way out
I cannot live this life on my own, left to handle life's greatest disasters
Thinking for one moment that I have all the answers
No! I cannot continue to think it's all about what I need to know
For all of You and none of me, surely that's the way to go
Lord, lead me through the valley of the shadow of life's difficulties
And when it seems like I am taking over, may I fall down to my knees
For if I trust You to work things out
In the end, You will take care ALL of the things concerning me
And lay waste to all the things I was worried about
When all the cares of this measly life abound
When the answer to where I'll go and what I'll do cannot be found
When certainly all around my life breeds confusion
And there seems to be no resolution
I will trust in you
I cannot handle uncertainty, it causes me to doubt
I cannot handle anxiety, for it seems to leave no way out
I cannot live this life on my own, left to handle life's greatest disasters
Thinking for one moment that I have all the answers
No! I cannot continue to think it's all about what I need to know
For all of You and none of me, surely that's the way to go
Lord, lead me through the valley of the shadow of life's difficulties
And when it seems like I am taking over, may I fall down to my knees
For if I trust You to work things out
In the end, You will take care ALL of the things concerning me
And lay waste to all the things I was worried about
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The thief
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." John 10:10a (ESV)
I'm sure many of us have seen movies of when a burglary is taking place, more often than not these thefts took place at night. The reason is simple, the night is typically when the average persons senses are most vulnerable. So the thief comes when you are most vulnerable to steal from you.
In this passage, Jesus is referring to Satan as the thief, and is exposing his tired tactics so that we could be well aware of how he plans on attacking us. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter the apostle refers to the enemy as a lion, looking to devour you. I didn't really know this, but the male lion attacks predominantly by night. So in each instance whether he's a lion or a thief the enemy is looking to attack you at your most vulnerable point.
It's a good thing that God has his angels surrounding you and protecting you from his attacks, especially by night (Psalm 91:11). For His desire for you is as he says in John 10:10b, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Live in abundance and protection!
I'm sure many of us have seen movies of when a burglary is taking place, more often than not these thefts took place at night. The reason is simple, the night is typically when the average persons senses are most vulnerable. So the thief comes when you are most vulnerable to steal from you.
In this passage, Jesus is referring to Satan as the thief, and is exposing his tired tactics so that we could be well aware of how he plans on attacking us. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter the apostle refers to the enemy as a lion, looking to devour you. I didn't really know this, but the male lion attacks predominantly by night. So in each instance whether he's a lion or a thief the enemy is looking to attack you at your most vulnerable point.
It's a good thing that God has his angels surrounding you and protecting you from his attacks, especially by night (Psalm 91:11). For His desire for you is as he says in John 10:10b, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Live in abundance and protection!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Question
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul." Mark 8:36 (ESV)
Ambition can be a good thing if it is rooted in the right thing. However, selfish ambition rarely is a good thing, because it is predicated on enhancing one person at the cost of others.
In this particular passage Jesus is talking to His diciples about what he is about to face. Jesus was about to commit the ultimate selfless act, but He was put off by the selfish ambition of those around Him. He summed up His heart in the passage preceding this one by saying, "For whoever will save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." (v.35)
Thinking about you and I, Jesus willingly gave his life. In return, God gave him everything (Phil 2:10). He gained the whole world by this ultimate selfless act. He reasoned to himself, "how could I ask those who follow me to do something I would not do myself." That's what sets Him apart from everyone else, and that is why I willingly lose my life for Him.
Ambition can be a good thing if it is rooted in the right thing. However, selfish ambition rarely is a good thing, because it is predicated on enhancing one person at the cost of others.
In this particular passage Jesus is talking to His diciples about what he is about to face. Jesus was about to commit the ultimate selfless act, but He was put off by the selfish ambition of those around Him. He summed up His heart in the passage preceding this one by saying, "For whoever will save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." (v.35)
Thinking about you and I, Jesus willingly gave his life. In return, God gave him everything (Phil 2:10). He gained the whole world by this ultimate selfless act. He reasoned to himself, "how could I ask those who follow me to do something I would not do myself." That's what sets Him apart from everyone else, and that is why I willingly lose my life for Him.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Prayer
"He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you." Isaiah 30:19b (Amplified)
On the two occassions I went to war, I saw first hand the power of prayer. It was absolutley essential that I kept my communication line with God in tact because I needed Him to be my everything in that circumstance. On both occassions when I got home I could have chosen to take it easy and throttle back on the prayer and the relationship I had established in those difficult times but I did not.
The reason I did not was that I saw how interested God was in what you do before the situation, during the situation, and after the situation. Before the situation comes to you your prayer should be focused on getting you prepared for when it should come to you, during the situation your prayer should focus on continually leaning on God to help you through the situation, and finally your prayer after the situation should be in gratitude for helping you make it through your situation.
In essence, you always have an opportunity to raise your cry to heaven. God loves to move on your behalf and work with you. Many people will only pray during the situation and that is a critical error, because it hasn't taken time to establish God as the source before the situation. I cannot emphasize enough the power of Prayer and How God uses it to be glorified in us. We should learn from His word how He values prayer and let it become the most active part of our Christian life.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Protection
Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense. Psalm 16:1-2 (The Message)
Life can get really messy sometimes, and it seems like the more we try to solve our own problems the worse things get for us. I know this seems like the same song and dance for many of us (certainly me) but what we often fail to realize is that striving is not our job. Our job is to run for dear life… Into the arms of the ultimate problem solver.
Psalm 3 sums up our toil best. “Lord, How they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God.” (v.1-2) Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Bills stacked up to the ceiling, family and friends doing their best to try our patience, the medics seem to give a diagnosis that is making your world crash. But wait! There is the eye of the storm v.3 “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head.” What amazing peace and comfort God will bring if only you ran for dear life to Him. Seek Him for I assure you that He will be found by you.
Life can get really messy sometimes, and it seems like the more we try to solve our own problems the worse things get for us. I know this seems like the same song and dance for many of us (certainly me) but what we often fail to realize is that striving is not our job. Our job is to run for dear life… Into the arms of the ultimate problem solver.
Psalm 3 sums up our toil best. “Lord, How they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God.” (v.1-2) Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Bills stacked up to the ceiling, family and friends doing their best to try our patience, the medics seem to give a diagnosis that is making your world crash. But wait! There is the eye of the storm v.3 “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head.” What amazing peace and comfort God will bring if only you ran for dear life to Him. Seek Him for I assure you that He will be found by you.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
My Significant Life
"He will lift me up and make my life significant." James 4:10
God is a creator. If you read Genesis 1 you see how it all began; how from nothing God created everything. It fascinates me to see how God is into the business of creating things or perfecting things that have a tendency to erode... I thought about my life.
Before I was exposed to the truth of salvation, I was in a very figurative sense empty, because of the sin in my life I was separated from God. However, once I came to Christ and accepted the gift that God gives (John 3:16) immediately God created something new.
The best part of reading John 1 is that in the end after God surveyed all he had made he saw it was very good (Genesis 1:31). God marvels at his creation! He marvels at you and at me, and that is the reason why everything He makes IS significant. Which means you, and me.
God is a creator. If you read Genesis 1 you see how it all began; how from nothing God created everything. It fascinates me to see how God is into the business of creating things or perfecting things that have a tendency to erode... I thought about my life.
Before I was exposed to the truth of salvation, I was in a very figurative sense empty, because of the sin in my life I was separated from God. However, once I came to Christ and accepted the gift that God gives (John 3:16) immediately God created something new.
The best part of reading John 1 is that in the end after God surveyed all he had made he saw it was very good (Genesis 1:31). God marvels at his creation! He marvels at you and at me, and that is the reason why everything He makes IS significant. Which means you, and me.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Debt of Love
“[Love, for the Day is Near] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”- Romans 13:8 (NIV)
I've seen plenty of news stories chronicling the sudden deaths of young people. They say sudden because they reason that the person who died at 22 or 18 should really not have died at that age. Each time I hear about those stories I think about that person's account in heaven. Was it settled? Or did they wait to settle it for another time?
This very moment is the best shot we will ever have at settling our debt of love to one another. To give grace in ALL circumstances at all time for this is the will of God. I guess I'm concerned about those who will wait till tomorrow, next month, or next year to forgive that person who did them wrong. I'm concerned because the question is very simple. What if tomorrow never comes? Just because you've received a clean bill of health from the doctor does not mean that God will not require your soul tomorrow or even this very moment.
I say this with a sense of urgency because those who die not continuing their debt of love to one another have rejected Christ and the love He gave to us. I definitely don't want any of us to fall in this trap. Fulfill the work while it is day, for the day shall come where no work can be done, and you will be judged by the grace and love you gave others. I pray you made those attributes a priority.
I've seen plenty of news stories chronicling the sudden deaths of young people. They say sudden because they reason that the person who died at 22 or 18 should really not have died at that age. Each time I hear about those stories I think about that person's account in heaven. Was it settled? Or did they wait to settle it for another time?
This very moment is the best shot we will ever have at settling our debt of love to one another. To give grace in ALL circumstances at all time for this is the will of God. I guess I'm concerned about those who will wait till tomorrow, next month, or next year to forgive that person who did them wrong. I'm concerned because the question is very simple. What if tomorrow never comes? Just because you've received a clean bill of health from the doctor does not mean that God will not require your soul tomorrow or even this very moment.
I say this with a sense of urgency because those who die not continuing their debt of love to one another have rejected Christ and the love He gave to us. I definitely don't want any of us to fall in this trap. Fulfill the work while it is day, for the day shall come where no work can be done, and you will be judged by the grace and love you gave others. I pray you made those attributes a priority.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Yeah But...
"Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Luke 20:21 (NLT)
Jesus is in the middle of a discourse with the Pharisees. These guys (The Pharisees) have come to grips that Jesus is solid on the truth, so they try to undercut him with a secular argument as a way to bring controversy to his teaching.
This story made me think about how we sometimes approach the truth. I mean we see Jesus' message as the way the truth and the life, but there's still one thing that holds us back from believing it wholly and completely. Like the Pharisees we like to hold on to our old ways and beleifs so badly that we can't seem to fully invest in the whole truth because it will cost us something, but in all truth, following Christ will cost us something, it should cost us everything, because that's the price He paid for us. I don't know, I guess its just something to think about.
Jesus is in the middle of a discourse with the Pharisees. These guys (The Pharisees) have come to grips that Jesus is solid on the truth, so they try to undercut him with a secular argument as a way to bring controversy to his teaching.
This story made me think about how we sometimes approach the truth. I mean we see Jesus' message as the way the truth and the life, but there's still one thing that holds us back from believing it wholly and completely. Like the Pharisees we like to hold on to our old ways and beleifs so badly that we can't seem to fully invest in the whole truth because it will cost us something, but in all truth, following Christ will cost us something, it should cost us everything, because that's the price He paid for us. I don't know, I guess its just something to think about.
Monday, January 16, 2012
I keep rising!
"For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again..." Provebs 24:16a (AMP)
I remember when my daughter was younger and starting to walk, she kept trying to figure out this new thing but couldn't quite get her footing right so she'd fall down. Undeterred, she continuesd to rise re-establishing her footing underneath her and preparing to make movements she was wholly unfamiliar with.
In my moment of nostalgia, I thought about our lives. I thought about how we go through life and make mistakes when we venture into new territory, but unlike the child we often grow fearful of rising back up. We think too much because it's too new, or it's too much of the same the problem and we can't seem to figure out a way to rise again.
Next time you fall think about a child and how they don't even think about the next obstacle, the just rise up to the challenge because new territory is fun to overcome. Oh and by the way, you have a Father in heaven who will help you up each time!
I remember when my daughter was younger and starting to walk, she kept trying to figure out this new thing but couldn't quite get her footing right so she'd fall down. Undeterred, she continuesd to rise re-establishing her footing underneath her and preparing to make movements she was wholly unfamiliar with.
In my moment of nostalgia, I thought about our lives. I thought about how we go through life and make mistakes when we venture into new territory, but unlike the child we often grow fearful of rising back up. We think too much because it's too new, or it's too much of the same the problem and we can't seem to figure out a way to rise again.
Next time you fall think about a child and how they don't even think about the next obstacle, the just rise up to the challenge because new territory is fun to overcome. Oh and by the way, you have a Father in heaven who will help you up each time!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Live on Purpose
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
As simple a phrase you'll ever find. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice. Another passage in the bible says, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice." (Philippians 4:4) These two passages emphasize the importance of attitude. The importance of choosing happiness and contentment over worry and anxiety.
I keep wondering what's holding people back from living on purpose, and I keep finding that they are afraid to let go. They are too concerned about holding on to their problems in order to figure them out on their own. If we trust God's perfect design is good enough for us then we have more than enough cause to rejoice in the finished product of the day (regardless of the circumstances surrounding us). If we CHOOSE to be happy and CHOOSE to be content because we TRUST that God's got it under control, then life will be easier to live with purpose!
As simple a phrase you'll ever find. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice. Another passage in the bible says, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice." (Philippians 4:4) These two passages emphasize the importance of attitude. The importance of choosing happiness and contentment over worry and anxiety.
I keep wondering what's holding people back from living on purpose, and I keep finding that they are afraid to let go. They are too concerned about holding on to their problems in order to figure them out on their own. If we trust God's perfect design is good enough for us then we have more than enough cause to rejoice in the finished product of the day (regardless of the circumstances surrounding us). If we CHOOSE to be happy and CHOOSE to be content because we TRUST that God's got it under control, then life will be easier to live with purpose!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
He Understands
"He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:28 (The Message)
I hear folks say a lot these days, "God wouldn't understand or accept me." They think that where they come from, who they were, or who they are would prevent God from loving them. I tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. You have a God that's only concern in life is you, and He wants everyone to understand that nothing in this world could separate His love for us. (Romans 8:35)
So why don't we just take all our sorrows, all our striving, and all our pain and give it to Him? There's nothing that you carry that's worth carrying. You're only hurting your back in the process (figuratively speaking). He wants to work everything out for your benefit if you only gave Him the chance to operate on your behalf.
I hear folks say a lot these days, "God wouldn't understand or accept me." They think that where they come from, who they were, or who they are would prevent God from loving them. I tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. You have a God that's only concern in life is you, and He wants everyone to understand that nothing in this world could separate His love for us. (Romans 8:35)
So why don't we just take all our sorrows, all our striving, and all our pain and give it to Him? There's nothing that you carry that's worth carrying. You're only hurting your back in the process (figuratively speaking). He wants to work everything out for your benefit if you only gave Him the chance to operate on your behalf.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Glory of God
"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength...." Isaiah 40: 28-29
To the discouraged and weak He provides strength and hope. To the person who feels useless He gives worth. How often has He disappointed? Never. How often will He? Never. With such a track record you'd think it would be a sure bet that people would turn to Him for any and everything. Hardly.
Which prompts even Isaiah to question the people. Don't you guys know? Haven't you heard? (paraphrase mine). He's too great for us to try and understand, and has too much patience to grow faint in waiting for us to turn to him. He gives to us what we cannot provide for ourselves.... Only if we entrust our cares to Him. Be encouraged for He is always there!
Monday, January 9, 2012
God
"What other great nation has gods that are intimate with them the way God, our God, is with us, always ready to listen to us? And what other great nation has rules and regulations as good and fair as this Revelation that I'm setting before you today?" Deuteronomy 4:7-8 (The Message)
Stop and think for a moment, have you ever heard of another God capable of what our God can do, or has done? Has Buddha ever saved his followers from the oppression of nations? Did Mohammed die on the cross to rid us of the condemnation that sin brought down upon us?
The question is quite simple... Is there a God like our God? The answer? A resounding no. No God loves people so much that He personally guides them our of captivity, and ensures they have all they need on their journey. That's what makes our God so great. There is no one like Him. You could try and search the annals of history and you would never come up with a god so lasting, so loving, so just.
I try (just like Moses) to understand how can we stray from a God with such a track record? What more does God need to do to make us believe? He has done everything imaginable and so much more. All He asks of us is our allegiance and our love. Simple and plain... what He asks of us doesn't even come close to comparing what He does for us. If doubt ever enters your consciousness, just pick up the Bible and rift through what God has done, for that God is the same today, and will be the same for all eternity.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Created
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Gen 1:1) "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Rev 22:13)
God wants us to know that He is the supreme creator who always existed and will always exist. He starts his book with the unmistakable evidence as to His craft (creating). He ends the book with the declaration that his nature will endure for all time.
Don't ever overcomplicate or diminish the significance of this simple truth. As the enduring creator of all time, we must know that he can make something beautiful out of, "an empty waste without form." (Gen 1:2) Whatever the condition of your life, give it over to God for Him to produce something abundantly above whatever you could have done on your own. After all, He's spent an eternity proving He's really good at it.
God wants us to know that He is the supreme creator who always existed and will always exist. He starts his book with the unmistakable evidence as to His craft (creating). He ends the book with the declaration that his nature will endure for all time.
Don't ever overcomplicate or diminish the significance of this simple truth. As the enduring creator of all time, we must know that he can make something beautiful out of, "an empty waste without form." (Gen 1:2) Whatever the condition of your life, give it over to God for Him to produce something abundantly above whatever you could have done on your own. After all, He's spent an eternity proving He's really good at it.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Leave it all behind
"And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]." Ephesians 4:23 (AMP)
How hard is it to really live above and beyond your feelings. I honestly struggle with that more than perhaps anything else. Especially when the circumstances around you vie to influence your emotions. Its tough to leave that past memory of struggle of failure behind, but it's not impossible. In fact, there is a sureproof way of getting rid of it all together. Leave it all behind.
By constantly renewing your mind you're taking the trash out of your mind and replacing it with things that give you a fresh perspective on the life you should live. God's word is full or promises that are useful for you to constantly renew your mind. You are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. (Deuteronomy 28:13) You can do all things through Christ who empowers you. (Philippians 4:13) Why don't you start this year by making this practice a lifestyle? If you do, wholesale changes will come to your life.
How hard is it to really live above and beyond your feelings. I honestly struggle with that more than perhaps anything else. Especially when the circumstances around you vie to influence your emotions. Its tough to leave that past memory of struggle of failure behind, but it's not impossible. In fact, there is a sureproof way of getting rid of it all together. Leave it all behind.
By constantly renewing your mind you're taking the trash out of your mind and replacing it with things that give you a fresh perspective on the life you should live. God's word is full or promises that are useful for you to constantly renew your mind. You are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. (Deuteronomy 28:13) You can do all things through Christ who empowers you. (Philippians 4:13) Why don't you start this year by making this practice a lifestyle? If you do, wholesale changes will come to your life.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Divine Provision
"AND MOSES answered, [a]But behold, they will not believe me or listen to and obey my voice; for they will say, The Lord has not appeared to you. And the Lord said to him, What is that in your hand? And he said, A rod...Cast it on the ground. And he did so and it became a serpent [the symbol of royal and divine power worn on the crown of the Pharaohs]; and Moses fled from before it...Put your hand into your bosom. He put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow. [God] said, Put your hand into your bosom again. So he put his hand back into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored as the rest of his flesh. [Then God said] If they will not believe you or heed the voice or the testimony of the first sign, they may believe the voice or the witness of the second sign." Exodus 4:1-8 (AMP)
God has given Moses a charge to go to Pharaoh and request the freedom of his people. This charge overwhelms Moses (as it would overwhelm the vast majority of us), and so his first course of action is to tell God that He can't do this because no one will believe him. God, totally unfazed by Moses' doubt and uncertainty gives Moses two tools (that he already possessed) to execute the task. If one of them doesn't work then certainly the other will.
The interesting thing about this is that God didn't ask Moses to go somewhere far to obtain this power. He didn't ask him to scale the highest peak or fast for 40 days or something like that (not that there's anything wrong with those things if God tells you do them). He asked Moses very matter of fact-like... "What's in your hand?"... and... "reach into your bosom." Both of those actions represent something very powerful, but more importantly it was God's way of showing Moses that everything he needed was within his grasp.
Maybe God has given you something to do that requires supernatural abilities. You must first recognize that if He's asking you to do something, not only does he not expect you do to it on your own, but also He will provide all the tools you need to execute His plan. No matter how great it might be, God has fitted you perfectly for His plan and purpose, all we need to do is be willing and have faith. Learn from this story in understanding that when God asks you to do something, He already has seen the outcome before you've even decided on accepting the task.
God has given Moses a charge to go to Pharaoh and request the freedom of his people. This charge overwhelms Moses (as it would overwhelm the vast majority of us), and so his first course of action is to tell God that He can't do this because no one will believe him. God, totally unfazed by Moses' doubt and uncertainty gives Moses two tools (that he already possessed) to execute the task. If one of them doesn't work then certainly the other will.
The interesting thing about this is that God didn't ask Moses to go somewhere far to obtain this power. He didn't ask him to scale the highest peak or fast for 40 days or something like that (not that there's anything wrong with those things if God tells you do them). He asked Moses very matter of fact-like... "What's in your hand?"... and... "reach into your bosom." Both of those actions represent something very powerful, but more importantly it was God's way of showing Moses that everything he needed was within his grasp.
Maybe God has given you something to do that requires supernatural abilities. You must first recognize that if He's asking you to do something, not only does he not expect you do to it on your own, but also He will provide all the tools you need to execute His plan. No matter how great it might be, God has fitted you perfectly for His plan and purpose, all we need to do is be willing and have faith. Learn from this story in understanding that when God asks you to do something, He already has seen the outcome before you've even decided on accepting the task.
Monday, January 2, 2012
A New Mindset
"Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19 (AMP)
Could it be that this year of new beginnings is the same year that would bring about a new way of thinking? The problem many of us faced last year or in years past were exacerbated by our own memory. We kept dwelling on things that were behind us; mistakes, bad decisions, wrong turns, etc. instead of leaving those things where they should have been... in the past.
God is telling us, "Stop doing that! I'm about to do a new thing, its a new adventure filled with highlights and unprecedented things, get on board and forget what you left behind." It stands to reason that we cannot make forward progress if we spend our time looking behind. This is a new year adopt a new mindset.
Could it be that this year of new beginnings is the same year that would bring about a new way of thinking? The problem many of us faced last year or in years past were exacerbated by our own memory. We kept dwelling on things that were behind us; mistakes, bad decisions, wrong turns, etc. instead of leaving those things where they should have been... in the past.
God is telling us, "Stop doing that! I'm about to do a new thing, its a new adventure filled with highlights and unprecedented things, get on board and forget what you left behind." It stands to reason that we cannot make forward progress if we spend our time looking behind. This is a new year adopt a new mindset.
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