Fulfilled Golden Years

Getting old is difficult. Our energy level, functioning our bodily organs, and attention span all diminish with age; while aches and pains, pill intake and doctor bills all increase. We get discouraged, lose self-esteem and feel useless in so many ways.

Eventually, we even have to cut back on our energy outgo; limiting our activities to a few major events a day. Many people are required to give up the keys to the car, join a geriatrics exercise program and get more sleep with less productivity.

God knew we would start aging before the day we were born (Ephesians 2:10). He has plans for us, which include this time in our life (Jeremiah 29:11). We do not need to confine our self to the rocking chair on the front porch - although that is fun sometimes too.

God rested on the seventh day of Creation and He teaches us to set boundaries around our time; to take a day off; to enjoy time in nature, at the pool or walking on nature trails each day; to play with our pets; to write letters and books, and to make cards to brighten someone's day; to bake a pie for a sick neighbor or a dozen cookies to share with the neighborhood kids after school - all in His name and all for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Aging requires that we change our focus about life and that we keep a positive attitude. We continue walking in the Spirit and carry on the will of God for each moment of our life. We exchange youthful ministries for the equally as important ministry of prayer and mentoring (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Titus 2:4).

Sitting at Jesus' feet, we worship Him by singing and praying the scripture. We lift up in prayer the needs of our fellow Saints and family members, the church's pastor and staff and the ministry leaders and volunteers, the world and its leaders, the persecuted church and the unreached people groups.

Another way to minister is to share God's Word by writing a blog, emailing and private messages and texts, as well as fellowshipping on social media. This way, we can communicate and minister all over the country and the world.

Prayer:

Father God, when we are drained, worn and weary from life, we are still Yours with a unique calling on our life. Remind us that until our dying breath, You call us to seek You and to walk in Your perfect plan for us by Your Spirit. We surrender all to You and we worship You with all of our thoughts, words and deeds.

Remind us that the girl checking us out at the grocery, the waitress, the retail clerk, the person next to us on the bus or airplane, the librarian, etc. all need us to recognize them as a person too, and to tell them that You and we really care about them. Let Your light shine in us so brightly that everyone will see our good works and give You the glory (Matthew 5:16).

Thought for the Day:

God uses us in so many ways, regardless of our age, energy level, health issues and physical limitations as we share His wisdom, ways and wonders with those He brings into our life.

Our Real Life

After salvation, Christ's life in us is now our real life (Ephesians 1:23). Our fleshly leanings and desires are part of the old, carnal self, which is now dead in Christ (Galatians 2:20).

The sum total of our converted life is: Christ in me, and I in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10). He is all we need. His fullness dwells within us now. We are no longer our own, because Christ bought us with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Our life is so perfectly connected to Christ that people see Him instead of us, and they are drawn to His glory and love through us (Matthew 5:16).

Our whole spirit, body and soul – our mind, will and emotions – are kept holy and blameless by His Spirit until Christ returns (1 Thessalonians 5:23). He leads us in the paths of righteousness to protect His reputation (Psalm 23:3).

We are competent as ministers of the Gospel of Christ only because of God’s spiritual covenant with mankind (2 Corinthians 3:6). Let us never pass up an opportunity to share with others the change that God brought into our life.

I once read this sentence, which greatly impacted my life: "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."

We exemplify the Gospel in our words, thoughts and behavior. People see a difference in us, because Jesus abides within us. We are testimonies to others of the love of Christ in us and through us.

Prayer:

Father God, help us to live as testimonies to Your Word, which dwells within us by Your Holy Spirit. We want people to see Jesus when they look at us, we want our behavior and words to mirror Your life in us in such a way that people will glorify You when they interact with us (Matthew 5:16).

Make us a city set on hill, and a light that shines in this dark and discouraging world. Allow us opportunities to share with others what You do for us each day. Help them to see that You make a difference in our life and that living in the center of Your will is the happiest place on earth.

Thought for the Day:

The evidence that we have passed from the death of self-centered sin into eternal life is the love of Christ manifesting through us toward our Christian brothers and sisters, as well as to the world around us. 

- 1 John 3:14

Our Tribute to Christ

God promises to rescue His children from temptations, which are greater than we can bear. His grace gives us a way of escape from them (1 Corinthians 10:13). We simply need to look for His help in our time of need.

If we live by the Spirit, we will never fulfill the lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5:16). We are crucified with Christ. We are dead, and He is living within us (Galatians 2:20).

Living a life of holiness is our tribute to Christ for the sacrifice He paid by becoming a man and dying in our place on the cross. We give Him the honor due His name by following in His footsteps of sinless perfection (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Therefore, we trust in Christ’s grace to give us the wisdom and the strength to stand strong and to overcome the desire for depravity, so that we shall come forth as pure gold (Job 23:10; Philippians 2:12-13). 

We persevere in holy living until we come to the place of complete maturity in Christ (James 1:4). By God’s abounding grace it is possible to live one minute without sinning. If one minute, then we can go five minutes.

If five minutes, then we can live one hour without depraved behavior. If one hour, then we can live one whole day for the glory of God. If one day, then one lifetime can be lived in the perfection of Jesus Christ, who lives His life in and through us, if we dare to get out of His way.

Living in perfection is only possible, however, if we choose to live by the Spirit every moment of the day. Enoch walked with God and God took Him (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5). I want to follow Enoch’s example.

Prayer:

Father God, let there be peace in the world, and let it begin with Your Saints. Remind us that we are free from the law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-2). We no longer live a lifestyle of sin, although we do fail to hit the mark of Your perfection once in a while.

As long as we humble our self, admit our failings and desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:12), we remain in Your Spirit and follow His guidance to live in Your will each moment of our day. Thank You for empowering us by Your Spirit to live as Your ambassadors while we remain on this earth.

Thought for the Day:

Trials and temptations are opportunities to honor Christ with our life, and to prove that we can live by our convictions; we cannot take our faithfulness for granted, however, because our adversary the devil is a roaring lion, roaming the earth and looking for people to devour.

- 1 Peter 1:7, 5:8; Romans 5:1-5

Our Turning Point

Our spirit was once dead in sin, lost and incomplete (Ephesians 2:1, 5). We rejected the truth of God’s Word, because it sounded like nonsense to us. We had no way to understand these truths, because they were spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).

After Salvation, our spirit is alive and our carnal humanity is dead and hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). We set our hope on the living Lord within us, because the Spirit of life gives us His righteous (John 14:6; Romans 8:10).

Our Salvation unites us with Christ in an eternal union that will never end. It opens up for us a whole new world. Neither death nor judgment will break this everlasting tie.

Now, it is up to us to surrender our life totally to God’s will, so that Christ is revealed through us to the world in which we live. This is our turning point. Then, we reap the victorious, joyful, righteous life of Christ in us rather than our former place of our lowly sinful nature.

The authentic Born Again Believer lives in Christ, who is our life (Philippians 1:21; Colossians 3:4). The Holy Spirit conforms our soul’s nature to possess all of Christ’s character.

God perfects us in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10). Our world sees the reality of Christ through our life as He dwells in our spirit and is formed in our soul through sanctification (John 17:23, 26; Colossians 1:27; Galatians 4:19).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we were once lost in sin and degradation, squandering our natural resources and bound up with making a living and finding fleeting, temporal success. Then, You came and transformed us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Your glorious life.

You came to bring us abundant life both now and in eternity. We find peace, joy and fulfillment that do not depend on this physical world. We look forward to eternity with You in Heaven. We have perpetual, everlasting life in Your Son (1 John 5:11-12; Romans 6:23).

Thought for the Day:

Jesus lives, moves and has His being in and through us (1 John 5:5); and we live, move and have our existence in Him (Acts 17:28); we are renewed and holy; but more than that, God actually lives through Christ in us.

The Side-effects of Anger

When we feel like fighting back, God recommends that we are quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19). Anger is actually a God-given emotion to protect us from injury, not to inflict injury.

People will behave toward us in the way in which we teach them to treat us. If we allow others to abuse us either verbally or mentally or physically, we are inviting more of that same behavior in the future.

God allows us to feel the anger as a "red" flag, so that we know that something is wrong. Then, He cautions us to be slow to express it, and to guard against crossing over into sinful behavior with this possibly volatile emotion (Ephesians 4:26).

Anger allows other people to understand that what they just did or said is not acceptable to us; however, we can inflict great trauma on unsuspecting victims if we use uncontrolled anger to protect our self.

Over the last two decades, I developed a habit of journaling my feelings first; and then using premeditated wording to express my feelings, rather than to use hasty words to verbally attack the offending party.

My husband and I even use a notebook to write out our feelings to one another - positive and negative feelings. This way we do not speak off the top of our head and potentially hurt one another more deeply.

I am also learning to stand up for myself without hiding behind fierce anger and coarse words (Ephesians 5:4). Now I can use my words to say,

“I feel afraid when you .."

“I feel like you spend more time with … than with me, and I need more of your attention.”

“Thank you for your opinion, but I do not agree with you.”

“I will not allow you to do that (or say that) to/about me anymore.”

“I think that you misunderstood the meaning behind my words/actions. Let me further explain to you how I feel (or why I took that action).”

God is teaching me to pay attention to my angry emotions in order to discover what is causing them, but not to express them verbally or physically so that I do not cause injury to someone else.

Prayer:

Father God, in the face of confrontation, remind us that we can still make it known in no uncertain terms that a person's offensive behavior is no longer acceptable to us. Teach us to respond with a confident, businesslike and resolute attitude, rather than to attack the person with anger.

Thank You for teaching me, that even in the face of a verbal onslaught, we can state our feelings more clearly with firm, calm words than we can with angry, irrational ones. Help us to see things from the other person's viewpoint too, and not to allow misunderstandings to drive a wedge between us.

Thought for the Day:

For our benefit, God encourages us to get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, slander, malice and our quarrelsome behavior; instead, He wants us to be kind, compassionate and forgiving, just as He forgives us. 

- Ephesians 4:21-32

Redemption in the Blood of Jesus

  

Once we surrender our pride and rebellion to God, and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are accepted as His beloved Saints (Ephesians 4:12). We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), united in Spirit as one Body with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17, 12:27).

God’s Spirit replaces our former unregenerate nature with God’s divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We are secure in Christ’s love for us. Even now, we are seated with Jesus in the Heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6).

God gives us power, love and a sound mind to dispel any fear, which Satan tries to inflict on us (2 Timothy 1:7). Now, as we walk in the Spirit, we no longer fulfill the lusts of our dead, carnal flesh (Galatians 5:16, 25).

Complete in Christ, we have need of no good thing (Colossians 2:9-10; Philippians 4:13). God adopted us into His family, and accepts us as His dearly loved children (Ephesians 1:3-8; John 1:12). We have redemption in the blood of Jesus.

Jesus bought us with His blood and our life now belongs to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Redeemed from the law of sin and death, we are forgiven all of our sins (Colossians 1:13-14). We are the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8).

We are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), having direct access to God’s throne in any time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus is both our brother and our friend (John 15:15; Proverbs 18:24).

God anoints us to work in His service during our lifetime, seals us with His Spirit, and establishes our place in heaven (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 2:20). We no longer live a lifestyle of willful sin and deprivation, because Jesus lives within us (1 John 3:9).

Prayer:

Father God, You raised us up to minister Your reconciliation to the lost and dying world around us (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). We can confidently approach Your throne day or night for any need we may have (Ephesians 3:12). Thank You for Your timeless love and grace.

You welcome us into Your beloved family (Ephesians 1:6). You also chose us as branches on the true vine of Christ. We bear the fruit given to us by our connection to You (John 15:5,16). We are also Your temple, Your army, Your bride and Your body. Thank You for abiding in the spirit of each authentic Believer (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Thought for the Day:

We are God’s Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do the works He preordained for us to accomplish. – Ephesians 2:10

The Spiritual World

We can only develop true balance in our life when we obey the direction of the Spirit of God for each moment of our day. Not a legalistic, trivial structure of religious works, but a fluid enjoyment of God’s gifts and divine nature flowing through us and then into the world around us.

The spiritual world is intangible and invisible, but God’s love and truth flow generously from our spirit when it is connected to God though Christ. When we live with a spiritually balanced body, soul and spirit, we successfully navigate through life.

We are simply the container from which God pours out His Spirit on everyone around us. If we primarily focus on fleshly, carnal aspects of life – even positive things such as our job, church, family and hobbies - they become idols.

If we focus only on religious aspects of life, we grow self-righteous and judgmental. God desires that we carry our spirituality into every detail of our daily lives (Colossians 3:17).

Many people have a tendency to look at life with an all or nothing attitude. We think that to enjoy the features of living on this earth is to be earthly minded; and to pray, read the Bible and do Christian work is to live a holy, spiritually-minded life.

If our attention is consumed with the natural aspects of life, our spirit will suffer, and our body and soul will endure deprivation as well. If we get religious in our thinking, we will miss opportunities for God to use us.

The goal in our spiritual walk is to focus on God's will for each moment of our day, He will work out His perfection in us; and He will lead us to live a healthy life in body, soul and spirit. 

Prayer:

Father God, You gave each of us gifts for your glory (Romans 12:6; 1 Timothy 6:17). You did not give them to us so that we could use them, however. You gave them to us, so that You can use them through us. We do all things through the strength and energy You supply for us. In this way, we cannot take any credit, but we will give You all of the glory and power forever and ever (1 Peter 4:10-11).

You even give us comfort so that You can comfort others through us (2 Corinthians 1:4). If we trust in our own abilities and wealth, we will fail; but as we step aside and allow You to bless others through us, we will prosper as well (Proverbs 11:28).

Thought for the Day:

We are only consumed by our human nature if we refuse to allow God to reveal Christ in us according to His good pleasure. – Ephesians 1:9

Living at Peace

God calls us to walk away from our former way of living in corruption and deceit. His Spirit gives us new attitudes toward life and wholesome thoughts in our mind. He gives us His true righteousness and holiness.

Jesus advises us to speak the truth in love and not to nurse our anger and allow it to fester, because this gives Satan a foothold into our life and relationships. He also cautions us not to speak unwholesome words, but only that which would build up the body of Christ.

God encourages us to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18). We cannot control another’s actions or responses towards us, but we can put distance between us and an abusive person.

When we take a step back and look at their actions from a spiritual frame of mind, we can pray for them and also about our response to them. We do this by speaking firmly, but kindly, in the face of any imposition or attack against us.

We can also take our hurt feelings to the Lord. He helps us to forgive the offender and to bless them (Proverbs 25:22), whether they respond positively or not.

How they feel about us or what they think of us has no bearing on who we are or on our relationship with our Lord and Savior. In reality, His opinion of us is the only one that really matters.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to put away slander, malice, coarse words and explosive anger. Remind us to use positive words to communicate how we feel and how we want to be treated. Let us kindly tell the truth in love, even when it hurts.

Thank You for saving us from a life ravaged by sin. Help us to have compassion on others and to freely forgive them for misjudging us, accusing us or criticizing us. Give us wholesome ideas on how to separate our self from abusive behavior and words, rather than to strike out in anger at their mistreatment.

Thought for the Day:

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” - Proverbs 25:11

A Good Marriage - The Importance of Playing Together

God places opposites together in marriage so that our mate's strengths will help us and our strengths will help them. Together we change and blend and meld into a stronger unit.

However, these differences - which often attracted us to one another - cause conflict in our relationship. This increases our stress level and causes much anxiety, despondency, resentment and a condition of reflex rather than forethought.

Developing a relationship where we accept one another as we are, and changing our focus to one of appreciating our differences will help solve these negative feelings.

We learn to laugh and play and spend quality time together that does not include children, work issues, financial stress and difference of opinion or philosophy. This couple time gives us the opportunity to develop areas of compromise with each other, so that our differences strengthen us as a unit.

Both men and women need acceptance, cherishing, nurturing and help to overcome our shortcomings. The many little thoughtful ways that we develop in order to show each other appreciation and respect are well worth or effort.

Life is imperfect and so are we. We can change our perspective on one another's reactions, body language and over-reactions, not taking them so seriously or personally.

We can determine to accept each other as a flawed human and stop expecting one another to live a perfect life. This allows us to appreciate each other and it makes room for more intimacy and delight in one another.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that once we say, "I do" our playtime does not end. Our commitment to each other improves our relationship rather than changes it. We can play together and date each other after the marriage ceremony in the same way that we did prior to saying our vows.

Help us to lighten up on our interaction with one another and to develop activities that help us to separate our soul from the serious side of our life together. Remind us that this gives us the basis on which we can face our struggles and trials with more unity, faith and resources as we work on them together.

Thought for the Day:

Playing together is one of the most important and positive experiences we can share as a couple; we can concentrate on finding activities that we both enjoy and do them together, as well as taking the time to participate in activities that we do not particularly enjoy, but that our partner loves.

Who Can I Trust?

When we trust other people with our happiness, we end up disappointed, rejected, betrayed, and even traumatized. People are human. At our best, we are all flawed.

However, if we trust in God alone, and focus on His mercy and grace, we can easily forgive others for their slights and free our self from the negative effects of unforgiveness (Matthew 6:14).

When we feel negative emotions, we can realize that they are simply red flags to inform us that our soul is in stress. There are issues in our life that are not pleasing to God or to our self.

Even the best of intentions can keep us from walking in God's will. We are motivated by needs around us or by the desire to support our loved ones, and we step right out of God's will for us.

As we fill our mind with wholesome, fruitful, trustworthy thoughts rather than hanging on to grudges, God's Spirit sets us free in body, soul and spirit (Philippians 4:8).

He renews our mind with the mind of Christ and we no longer view life from a carnal, human perspective. With the mind of Christ replacing our myopic viewpoint, we realize that we are simply sojourners and foreigners in this world.

Our true home is in Heaven and our only purpose on this earth is to fulfill the ministry that God gave us before we were ever born (Ephesians 2:10). Walking in the center of God's will brings us fulfillment like no human endeavor ever could.

Focusing our faith on God's faithfulness lifts us above a carnal existence on this sin-cursed earth and transports us into the Spirit in the heavenly realm (Revelation 1:10).

Prayer:

Father God, help us to realize that, although we live on this earth, we are not part of this world. We are pilgrims, foreigners and sojourners that You are using to further Your Kingdom on this planet (1 Peter 2:11-12). We place our trust solely in You, because only You are trustworthy.  

As Your Saints, we are going to Heaven, and we will pass from this life on the day that You have already chose for us (Job 14:5; Psalm 139:16; Ecclesiastes 3:2). Help us to untie our commitments to this world that hold us in bondage and cause us stress. Enable us to change our priorities to focus on You alone and on Your will for us.

Thought for the Day:

God's calling on our life is not to amass worldly goods, but to fulfill His destiny for each one of us as members of Christ's Body; in this place of rest, we can trust God to meet all of our needs with His glorious riches.

Truth and Encouragement in God's Word

Reading and knowing the Word of God helps us to traverse the path of life with peace, joy and security. It teaches us who God is, and who we are in Him.

Jesus is not only in us by His Spirit, but He is also with us. He also works in us and through us to reach the lost and dying world around us.

God's Word enables us to discern the difference between God's Truth and false prophets. It also teaches about the Feast Days of the Israeli nation, which symbolize the life of Christ in our life.

For instance, the Spring Feast Days are the Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost. Fall Feast Days are the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, The Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Day of the Feast of Tabernacles

Each Feast is a celebration of a momentous time in Israel's relationship with the God of their Fathers; and they also epitomize an important time in the life of every Born Again Believer.

The Spring Feasts are related to the First Coming of Jesus Christ. The Fall Feasts alert us to the Second Coming of Jesus along with the last days and millennium, as well as the resurrection life available to us now and for eternity.

God's Word also teaches us how to trust in God and to establish an intimate relationship with the entire Trinity of God. It gives us tips on how to avoid the degradation of sin and to trade the lies of Satan with the Truth in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for not leaving us alone on this earth without a guidebook to direct each step that we take. As we live in the moment, according to the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, we find fulfillment and success in this sin-cursed world (Galatians 5:15-25). All it takes to share our testimony with others is a short three-minute synopsis of what You personally have done in our life.

Help us to further Your Kingdom on the earth during our lifetime as we follow Your directives and the wisdom in Your Word. Enable us to share Your Word with interested people in our life, so that we can fulfill Your mandate to preach the Gospel in season and out of season, when it is popular and when it is not, when we are nervous or if we are confident by the direction of Your Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day:

As we abide in God's Word, we will know the truth, which will truly set us free from the bondage of Satan and the degradation of sin. 

- John 8:31-32

Setting the Stage for the End Times

In these later days of God's dispensation of time, many Biblical prophecies are falling into place at the same time. Israel became a nation in 1948 (Jeremiah 30:1-31:40; Isaiah 11:12). The revised Roman Empire, which scholars believe is the European Union, started that same year (Daniel 2: 41:42).

Religious leaders also launched The World Council of Churches around this same year. Natural disasters increase every year (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:25). Russia made a pact with the Middle East and will eventually come against Israel (Ezekiel 38-39).

Technology can broadcast around the world and everyone can see events simultaneously, no matter where they live (Revelation 11:9). A one world government and currency is talked about in order to unite the world (Revelation 13:2-7).

God is lining up everything to set the stage for His end time events. His prophetic Words are fulfilled more and more rapidly in these last days, and our newspapers chronicle these events as they happen.

The Anti-Christ - Satan incarnate as a man - is the first to arrive on the scene as one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelations 6:2). The Anti-Christ will make peace with the Middle East, which no Politician has ever been able to do.

Also, he will give the Jews permission to build their temple, which will take 3 ½ years, even though everything is already pre-fabricated and ready to put into place. At that time, the Anti-Christ will kick the Jews out, make the temple his palace and declare himself God. He will rule with deception and cunning.

Prayer:

Father God, we all experience tribulation in our lives every day; however, Your Word declares that these are just "the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8). Jesus describes Your plan for the Great Tribulation period as suffering such as has not been seen since the beginning of the world until this time, nor shall it ever be after this period (Matthew 24:21).

You did not plan the Great Tribulation Period for the purpose of torturing people, but for these three reasons: (1.) To judge the ungodly nations; (2.) To put an end to Satan and his demons; (3.) To save Israel. Thank You for not pouring out Your wrath on Your Saints (1 Thessalonians 5:9). You will remove us before the anti-Christ is ever revealed. 

Thought for the Day:

The Lord always delivers His people from His wrath and reserves the punishment of the unjust until the Day of Judgment. - 2 Peter 2:9

Not My Will, But Yours Be Done

Jesus was not caught off guard by the threat of crucifixion. He knew His destiny; yet, He hoped there was another way to pay our debt for our sins (Matthew 26:39). He implored our Father God in the Garden of Gethsemane to let this cup pass from Him.

Then, He ended His prayer with the conviction of His heart, "Not my will, but Yours be done." Jesus went to the cross to prove the full extent of His love for the world full of people who live in the past, present and future (John 13:1).

I am a planner. I do not like surprises of any kind. The turmoil that sums up my years on this earth has taught me to breathe with shallow breaths full of the subconscious anxiety of my soul, which is imaging and dreading the next trauma that will assail me.

I used to make my plans and then tell God the best way to accomplish my goals. I had it all figured out so that no trials would attack me that I was not prepared to handle.

As I matured in the faith, I stopped dictating to God; but when circumstances assailed me that I did not appreciate, I would say, "Well, God, I just want You to know that I would not have done it this way."

I am sure our Daddy God had a good laugh at my arrogance, especially since He advises us in His Word to rejoice in tribulation - to consider every trial as pure joy (Romans 5:3; James 1:2-4). This takes a switch in our paradigm and world view.

The first action I took to comply with His advice was to finally realize, like Joseph in the Bible, that He plants a seed for a miracle in every trial (Genesis 50:20). That way I could rejoice always, realizing that this was the will of God for me (1 Thessalonians 5:16-28).

Prayer:

Father God, renew our mind and give us the ability to view life from Your eternal perspective, rather than our limited finite mindset. You are working in every aspect of our life at home, family, work, church, neighborhood and community to teach us to trust only in You to supply our needs, as well as to rely on You to work out every circumstance in our life according to Your will for us.

Prod us back into Your reality when our thoughts spiral out of control with earthly concerns and fears. Teach us to view every aspect of life with gratitude, because You have blessings for us hidden in every tribulation we will ever experience. Remind us to receive Your miracles from Your hand in Your timing and way, rather than to attempt to grab what we want from Your generous supply.

Thought for the Day:

When we cannot see the immediate results of our trials, we can trust in God's wisdom and timing, rather than trying to manipulate the circumstances according to our will instead of waiting on God's plan as our benevolent Lord, Master and King. - Genesis 16

It is Impossible to Please God

Enoch walked with God, and God took him home without going through death (Genesis 5:24). Prior to this event, Enoch fathered Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible (Genesis 5:22). Enoch and the other Saints of faith chronicled in Hebrews Chapter Eleven are examples to us.

Due to their testimony, we have faith, hope, confidence and assurance that God has His plan for our life as well (Ephesians 2:10).  All that He requires of us is for us to walk in His ways, even when we cannot see the path.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Thankfully, every trial that we experience builds our faith and proves God's faithfulness to us. He always works out everything for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28).

Circumstances may not evolve as we had hoped or desired, but they end up being better for us than what we originally wanted. So many times in life we erect towers (Genesis 11:1-10) of goals that we want to attain in a certain order or by a particular age.

However, once we accomplish those goals, we realize that we no longer want them, or that they did not include the fulfillment that we envisioned them bringing into our life.

We learn obedience to God through the things that we suffer during our lifetime, just like Jesus did (Hebrews 5:8). God uses discipline to keep His children on His chosen path for us. If He does not discipline us, it is because we are not yet His child (Hebrews 12:4-11).

Life has its inherent issues that we all face with health, finances, relationships, employment, etc. However, the more we walk according to the direction of God's Holy Spirit during each moment of our day, the fewer trials we experience.

Those issues that do arise from time to time are easier to handle too, because we see God's purpose in them; or due to our experience with God's care, we know without a doubt that there is a definite seed for a miracle in every trial that we face.

Prayer:

Father God, it is not hard or impossible for us to earn Your favor and to please You. You only require one thing of us: obedience to Your will. When we do walk in Your ways, we find that we experience true fulfillment, peace and joy.

We are protected in trials by Your power. Your hope fills our hearts with joy and peace. By the power of Your Spirit in us, our hope abounds (Romans 15:13). We trust in Your complete salvation for us of body and soul. as well as spirit, which is ready to be revealed to the whole world at the end of time (1 Peter 1:3-6).

Thought for the Day:

Our living hope is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, who gives us an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that never fades away; the good news is that it is reserved for all Believers who please the Lord with our faith in His gift, which is free to us all.

God's Plans for our Benefit

God gives His Saints His rest and safety in this world. We can lay down without fear. We are secure in our hope in Christ (Job 11:18-19). When we hope in the Lord, He arranges even the most difficult times for our benefit (Job 13:15).

The Lord takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy (Psalm 147:11). He is our shield in times of affliction. He lifts up our head when we are depressed. God always hears us, although He is way up in His holy hill.

We can sleep in peace, because our Father God never naps or sleeps, and He faithfully sustains us (Psalm 121:4). Even if our circumstances are overwhelming, we have no need to fear them (Psalm 3:2-6). God has a perfect plan for our life.

These plans are for our advantage and they will not harm us, because they give us a hopeful future (Jeremiah 29:11). God works out all things, even the most negative aspects of life, for our good (Romans 8:28).

We always have access to Him by faith, and we rejoice in our hope in the glory of God. We even gain His glory through our trials, because we know that they ultimately produce hope in us, which never disappoints us.

Prayers:

Father God, remind us not to depend on any goodness within our self to earn our way to Heaven or to attempt to deserve Your love. Help us to use all of the resources, which You provide for us by Your Holy Spirit, rather than trusting in our human resources.

Our relationship with You is not for the sake of our advancement in this life, but to further Your Kingdom in the earth (Luke 16:1-18). Never allow us to pass up the opportunity to sing praises to Your holy name (Psalm 30:12), because You are so worthy of all of our glory, honor and praise.

Thought for the Day:

The Holy Spirit pours out the love of God in our hearts, because even when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

- Romans 5:2-7

A Blessed Life

The needs of each person’s soul are different, but we all love to play. Fortunately, God abundantly gives us all good things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). However, there is a fine line between holiness and depravity.

God calls us to live in His freedom, and then He cautions us not to use our freedom as a pretense to sin; but to live instead as His righteous bondservants (1 Peter 2:16).  

Human beings often believe that there is no freedom in living a moral life. All they see is commandments that restrict their carnal inclinations. Their pride and rebellion prevent them from submitting totally to God.

Sin takes away our free will and keeps us under its spell. There is absolutely no freedom in slavery to sin. Fleshly indulgences are only enjoyable for a time, and we always reap destruction from them.

The dividends of living a depraved lifestyle come in the form of ill health, addictions, unmanageable circumstances, jail terms, broken relationships, poverty and eventually death without peace (Luke 21:34).

Living according to the dictates of sin, and Satan, the world, and our flesh will not bring us lasting fame, fortune, financial security or peace. It is only temporary at best. God's Word advises us to be filled with God's Spirit instead of sin (Ephesians 5:19).

I contend that true freedom only comes within the safe parameters of God's ethical boundaries. Jesus told us that Unbelievers are slaves to sin, and He reminded us that only He, the Son of God, can give us real freedom (John 8:34-37).

The Bible is our guide and authority throughout our life. Each page is full of wise counsel and promises of immediate help for us to succeed in living according to God's will for our life.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for sending Jesus to give us abundant life, which fills us to overflowing (John 10:10, Amplified Bible). How totally pointless the pursuit of self-indulgence appears after we attain it, and what am emptiness and bitter taste of repulsion it leaves in our empty soul.

I have learned that there is no true happiness apart from You. I only experience completion in my life through my relationship with You. This is more fulfilling than any human relationship I ever enjoyed. Since You live within me, my bond with You is more intimate than any other.

Thought for the Day:

Paul gives us wise counsel on how to live, by telling us to be extremely careful in the choices that we make; he encourages us to use every opportunity, which God provides for us, to accomplish God's will for our life on this earth - an earth which is quickly deteriorating. 

- Ephesians 5:15-18