A Stable Orbit around God's Son

God loves us so much, that He cares about every detail in our life. He knows the end of our life from the time He formed us in our mother's womb (Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 139:13-16). He knows that this sin-cursed world can overwhelm us at times, but He is with us all the way.

We are groping in the dark during most of our days, waiting for the next shoe to drop, the next storm to hit, and the next catastrophe to assail us. Yet, He is always there, guiding us through unfamiliar paths, leading us through the darkness (Isaiah 42:16).

He promises to turn our darkness to light before us, as we take one step of faith at a time. He smooths out the rough places, so that we do not trip and fall. He never forsakes us (Hebrew 13:5). He satisfies our emptiness with His fulfillment.

Planets in our solar system orbit in a predictable pattern, because the sun is a stable center of gravitational pull. Without that pull, the planets would sling out into the universe without any order.

Without God as our center, we sling out into life without any stability; however, if Jesus Christ is the focal point of our universe, we too stay in a structured orbit around His will for us. He gives us eternal life (1 John 5:11-13).

We cannot access this blissful eternity unless we believe that Jesus is God, and the only Savior of this world. We repent of our sinful, humanistic lifestyle and totally surrender to His perfect plans for our life.

This is not a simple procedure. It requires that we stop relying on our self, and start consulting God for each moment of our day. We refuse to be anxious about anything, but totally trust in, rely upon and consult God each moment of our day. Then God can stabilize our orbit.

Prayer:

Father God, we come to You with broken hearts, fears about our future, strained relationships with those we love, trials we cannot overcome, stress that robs us of our health, etc. Teach us to let go, and to allow You to take control of every issue that we face. We want to listen to Your voice each moment of our day to insure that we maintain our orbit around Your Son.

Thank You for eternal life, which starts right here on this earth. We shall never perish, because no one can ever snatch us out of Your hand (John 10:27-29). Thank You for crucifying our fleshly nature and helping us to realize that it is no longer we who are living our life, but Christ who is living in us and through us (Galatians 2:20).

Thought for the Day:

We have redemption by the blood of the Lamb of God, which means all of our sins - past, present and future - are forgiven according to the riches of His grace; we are now coheirs with Christ, and we received an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken. 

- Ephesians 1:7; Romans 8:15-17

Cleaning up Our Clutter

When our soul is filled with inner clutter, and our home and schedule is inundated with outer clutter, it is all too overpowering for us. We cannot listen for God's voice, because it does not compete with our distractions.

God's voice cannot penetrate our cluttered awareness. Therefore, we clean house inside and out whenever our life fills with clutter and distractions. This helps to prevent our self from getting pulled in too many directions without any goals or purpose.

When we come to God, He strengthens and reinforces, with His mighty power and by His Holy Spirit's abiding presence within us, our innermost spirit and soul. Jesus makes His permanent home in us.

Then He deeply roots and securely plants us in His love (Ephesians 3:16-17). As we abide in His presence, we experience for our self the love of Christ, which far surpasses a casual knowledge.

He boldly and completely floods our entire being with the richest measure of His fullness and Divine nature (Ephesians 3:18-19). He totally immerses us in His presence within us - both now and throughout eternity.

In order to fill up with all of Jesus, we simply empty our self of our clutter, and simplify our life. We no longer allow the pressures and distractions of life to monopolize our attention, nor do we rush headlong through our day.

This allows us to live each moment in the love and joy of the Lord, and then to fall into a peaceful sleep each night. We start by taking the time to listen to His inner guidance as we meet with our Father all through the day and night.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that when we feel Your peace leave us, to stop and pray in a quiet place. This allows us to focus our attention on our spirit, body and soul - our thoughts, choices and emotions - to get in touch with You in order to find out what disturbed our peace. Sitting quietly in Your presence allows You to conform us from the inside out.

Thank You for giving us clarity and healing, and then directing us back to the center of Your will for us at that moment. When we abide in the Vine, we allow Your Holy Spirit to lead us moment-by-moment throughout the day and night. Help us to simplify, to listen, to obey and to abide in Your presence.

Thought for the Day:

We always feel remorseful when we realize, too late, that we missed the guidance of God's Holy Spirit in some instance, and we also realize that we often miss out on success in our endeavors, because we did not listen to His still, small voice within us.

Living in Complete Victory

We all go through rough times in this sin-cursed world ...rougher times, without the Lord Jesus in our life; but when we walk in obedience to God's perfect plan for each moment of our lifetime, we have fewer trials and HE goes with us through all of our issues.

We need nothing and no one else in life. At the moment of our salvation we receive His continual presence in our life through Jesus' shed blood. He fills our entire being: body, soul and spirit - with all of His fullness (Ephesians 3:16-19).

He loves nothing more than our complete trust in, obedience to, reliance upon, and devotion to Him each moment of our day. He is thrilled when we live, move and have our complete identity in Him (Acts 17:28). He rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

God's Spirit fashions us into the Temple of the Living God (1 Corinthians 3:16), works tirelessly to transform our mind (Ephesians 4:23), and births in us the divine nature of Christ (2 Peter 1:3-4). As we invite Him to completely make His home in our spirit, His presence becomes dearer and nearer to us.

If our heart is divided, and we attempt to serve two Masters, this grieves God's Holy Spirit. We feel this divide to our very core, and we have a decision to make. Will we and our house serve only the Lord today and always (Joshua 24:15)?

God is able to do more in the life of a dedicated child, than He can in a rebellious life. His blessings for us are above and beyond anything we can imagine. We are so thrilled with Him, that we overflow with gratitude, and give Him the glory due His name (Ephesians 3:20-21).

We decrease so that He may increase within us (John 3:30). He purifies us of the dross of sin and gives us a deeper glimpse of His love for us (1 John 3:1-3). He also gives us hope and blessings for a secure future in Him (Jeremiah 29:11).

Prayer:

Father God, the fact that Christ abides within us by Your Spirit is at once amazing and unbelievable, until we begin to experience the true peace and joy of Your intimate presence in our life. We attempt to obey Your Spirit's guidance for each moment of our day, and we see Your hand in our life when we do.

We look forward to serving You for eternity and for seeing You face-to-face. We thank You that in eternity the Believer will no longer suffer the ills of this earthly tent in which we now live (2 Corinthians 5:1). Having a pain-free, immortal body is something to which we look forward. We love You with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30).

Thought for the Day:

No lasting endeavor is ever fully accomplished unless it is part of God's perfect plan for us in this moment of time; living in the center of God's will depends on total surrender, which leads to total dependence, and results in complete victory.

Freedom from Sin

In modern society, many people unfortunately believe that some random gas explosion started our universe, and that evolution created the awesome body in which we dwell. They even think that creation holds itself together.

God's Word tells us that Jesus upholds the world together by His Hand (Colossians 1:17), that God actually knitted together the formation of our body in our mother's womb Psalm 139:13), and that the earth was formed by the spoken word of God's Trinity (Genesis 1:26-28).

Authentic Believers in Christ are already seated in the Heavenly realm through His Spirit (Ephesians 2:6). There are many signs of our growing maturity in Christ, but freedom from sin is one of the most obvious.

Jesus became sin for us and paid the penalty we owed. We are not held in bondage to sin and death any longer, because Christ liberated us on Calvary's cross (Romans 6:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Actually, sin no longer appeals to us.

We consider our self dead to sin, because Jesus Christ made us alive in Him. We may fall into sin now and then, by walking in the flesh instead of in the Spirit; but sin does not control us any longer (Galatians 5:15-25).

By the law of the Spirit of life in Christ, Jesus set us free from the law of sin and death, which formerly controlled our thoughts, words and behavior (Romans 8:2). As we serve God, the desire to sin diminishes in us even more (Romans 12:10; Matthew 23:12; Proverbs 13:10).

Prayer:

Father God, You never send judgment without first sending a warning. In the Old Testament times, You used prophets. Today, You use preachers who teach the truth of Your Word in its literal entirety. Your warnings now also come in other forms.

There have been record weather events, constant wars and rumors of wars, false messiahs, more famines and earthquakes than ever before in history, and there is not one Christian nation left due to a falling away and their love for You growing cold (Matthew 24:5-8). We look forward to Your soon return to take the government upon Your shoulders (Isaiah 9:6).

Thought for the Day:

Jesus had no thought for Himself, but only felt love for a dying world lost in sin's degradation; therefore, the Kingdoms of this world are teetering and will soon become the Kingdoms of our God and King Jesus - Revelation 11:15

Restoring Health to our Body, Soul and Spirit

Little by little and step by step, God will reveal to us the root causes of much of our psychological damage. By healing from the trauma we face in our lifetime, we learn how the mind and body work together very intricately.

When we experience trauma of any degree of severity, our nervous system goes on the alert. Our adrenal glands overwork and soon dysfunction. Our gut leaks micronutrients, which adhere to our organs, and that cause our immune system to attack our organs.

Some of us also live in a constant state of stress, panic, and even terror. Added to intellectual and emotional stress, we often experience physical trauma that increases our mental disorders, because stress weakens all of our muscles and organs and our health is compromised.

There are several ways to fix this. Try some of these activities:

·       Take a slow barefoot stroll through the grass and pay attention to nature all around

·       Take a searching emotional inventory and discern the root cause of them one by one

·       Spend time in your favorite place, and breathe deeply in order to destress (use your imagination if you cannot get there physically)

·       Focus on the positive attributes in your life and give yourself time to enjoy them

·       Stop all negative self-talk in your mind and through your words; instead, encourage yourself and feel empathy for your grief and losses

·       Hang out with friends and have fun

·       Sit in silence, and praise and listen to God's thoughts on these and other matters.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us to pay attention to our internal feelings and needs, to what is going on around us, and to what causes us stress and negative emotions. This enables us to resolve the issues with Your wisdom and direction. Conversing with You and journaling the conversation release us from stored up harmful energy that robs us of Your peace and joy.

Help us to keep our mind on You, and on good and wholesome thoughts, avoiding the negative spirals that tend to drown us in our sorrows (Philippians 4:8-9). When scary memories from the past overwhelm us, hide us under the shadow of Your wings, and release us from the lies Satan planted in those memories. You are our shield and our fortress (Psalm 91:4).

Thought for the Day:

In our modern society, we need to slow down, because we move too fast; enjoying each moment as God gives it to us, and praising Him regardless of our circumstances will help us to restore and enjoy health to our spirit, body and soul - our thoughts, emotions and choices.

A Surrendered Life

When we surrender our life to Christ, He raises us from the death of carnality and sin to the glorious liberty of the sons of God (Romans 8:21). We are seated with Jesus in the presence of Almighty God (Colossians 3:1).

Our focus in life changes from possessions and accomplishments, which are important to people in this world, to Heavenly thoughts and pursuits that pertain to the Kingdom of God (Colossians 3:2). 

As authentic Believers our life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

God's wrath over unbelief will one day come upon the earth in the form of the Great Tribulation (Colossians 3:5-7; Revelation). We will not suffer through this outpouring of God's vengeance, however, because as His children, Christ died for us and we live with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

We used to participate in sin and debauchery, lost from God's mercy and grace (Colossians 3:8), but now these behaviors belong to our old earthly nature. Jesus' peace rules in our heart, and we feel gratitude toward the Lord for all He did and is doing for us (Colossians 3:15). 

God's Spirit within us enables us to overcome trials and to walk in His Spirit (Galatians 5:15-25). Of all of the virtues we garner through our relationship with the Trinity, love is the most important because it binds us in perfect unity to God and to His Body (Colossians 3:14).

Prayer:

Father God, Christ is our whole life now, and when He appears, we will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4). You planned that the comfort of Christ in us richly abides with us as we teach and admonish each other with the wisdom of Your Word. We give praise to You in corporate worship, and we help one another to carry our burdens (Colossians 3:16).

Thank You for Your Body, Father God, and for giving us local expressions of Your Church in every city and town across America. Whatever we do, even if it is what we eat or drink, or say or do, we do everything in Jesus' name, from a surrendered life, for Your glory, and with thanksgiving to You (Colossians 3:17).

Thought for the Day:

If sin still controls us, then we did not surrender that part of us to the Spirit of God in us; and if we do not have God's Spirit within us, we are not Born Again until we make a true confession of our sins, place all of our faith in Christ, and completely surrender to His lordship and His Spirit in our life.

- Romans 8:9; Hebrews 10:26; 1 John 3:6-9; Matthew 25:3 

God's Faithfulness Reaches to the Heavens

We often struggle in life, spinning our wheels and failing more than experiencing victory. Then, over the years, we come to realize that we can do anything, which God calls us to do, through the strength of Christ, who abides within us (Philippians 4:13).

This faith in God's faithfulness allows us to delight in His love and to be thankful to God, reverently and joyfully worshipping Him for all that He does for us throughout each day (Hebrews 12:28). God never changes. He is always devoted to us (Hebrews 13:8).

This union is the only stable part of our life, and it can never be taken away from us, regardless of our circumstances.

A man once asked a friend, "How are you?"

The friend replied, "Not too well, under these circumstances."

Then the man questioned, "Well, what are you doing under there?"

This puts life into proper perspective for us. In Christ, we are victors over our circumstances. God has plans for us in them, and He will always walk with us through them. We can access the power of His mercy, grace, deliverance, joy, provision and strength at any moment day or night.

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, but we have no fear of him, because we have abundant life through Jesus who lives within us (John 10:10). We have no cause to be anxious about anything, if we pray about everything.

God's peace surpasses all human reasoning, and guards our thoughts and emotions because of Christ’s completed work on the cross (Philippians 4:6-7). He provides for all of our needs, and He even blesses our children because we walk in His ways (Psalm 37:5).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for the salvation You secured for us through Your Son's scourging, crucifixion, death and burial. Thank You also for the freedom we have now through His righteousness and His resurrection life within us. Help us to walk worthy of His sacrifice and help us to live as a testimony of Your goodness and holiness (Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12).

When we are blind to the outcome of our circumstances, You lead us through paths that we never realized were possible. You guide us all, turning our darkness into light before us, and making the rough places smooth. You will never leave us alone to struggle through life, and You will never forsake us (Isaiah 42:16; Psalm 37:5).

Thought for the Day:

God wants to be the Lord of our life as we completely surrender to Him all of our negative emotions: worry, fear, depression, insecurity, loneliness, grief, etc; when we trust in His goodness and love, He stabilizes the orbit of our life and even the most negative concerns will work out for our ultimate good. - Romans 8:28

Branches on the Vine

A deeper understanding of the truth that we are branches on the Vine will set us free. What does a branch do? Nothing…It simply hangs out with the Vine. It bears the fruit sent to it by the Vine, and the branch stays healthy by remaining continually connected to Vine.

A branch may get beaten up by the storms of life, pecked by birds and drilled by bugs, but it continues to receive all of the life-giving nutrients and the constant support from the Vine. It blossoms with this vital life flowing through it.

As long as we remain in Christ, we are eternally secure. We did nothing to earn our place on the Vine, and we can do nothing to remove our self from the Vine. Our union with Him is our most prized possession.

The Vine Dresser will prune us in order to allow us to bear more fruit (John 15:11). This discipline is painful in the moment, but the wisdom that we learn brings us fulfillment for the rest of our life (Hebrews 12:11).

Even when we discover a flaw in our thoughts, words or deeds, we do not need to obsess over it. We simply repent of it, and trust God's Spirit to perfect that area in us. God's grace is always sufficient for us.

It is by believing in our heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, by praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17-19), and by declaring our faith in Him to anyone who will listen, that we find our true joy in salvation and our intimate union with God (Romans 1:17, 10:9-10).

Prayer:

Father God, Your grace is sufficient to see us through every trial and shortcoming in our day. You fill-in our cracks, bolster our weaknesses, perfect our deficiencies, and redeem us for eternity. We need You every moment of our day and night, and we trust in Your faithfulness to walk with us and in us all the moments of our life.

You are all we ever need to bring us peace, joy and fulfillment in this life. In our hopelessness, You give us Your power; in our discouragement, You give us Your truth; in our lack, Your provide for our needs; in our confusion, You give us direction. You are our all sufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Thought for the Day:

God did not create us, pat us on the head and send us out into the world alone; instead, He gave us the Bible for encouragement, hope and direction; He gives us His Spirit to sanctify and perfect us; and He gives us His love every moment of every day.

Knowing the Difference

There is a difference between knowing about, believing in, and abiding in Christ. Most of humanity know about Jesus, what He did, and who He was. They usually call Him a great man, love personified, or a prophet.

Many people believe in Jesus and that He is God's Son, but they see no relevance between Him and their own life. Some of these join the church as a social club where they can serve their community and make friends.

However, even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). We may even give God a few minutes every day as we read a devotion, meditate on a verse, or read a few paragraphs in God's Word. Yet, we do not totally surrender to Him and do His will for us (Ephesians 2:10).

The road to intimacy with God is narrow, and very few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). We get convicted of our sins and pray a prayer, but we were never converted. The Holy Spirit never moved in to sanctify us (Romans 8:9).

Some of us are authentic Believers, and we want more of God in our life; but we do not understand the reality of the fact that, at Salvation, we already received all of God's Trinity. They live within us, but we usually ignore them or discount their conviction and direction.

Busyness and codependency prevent our communication with the Trinity. We over-schedule our calendar, volunteer for too many projects, and forget to seek God's will for each moment of our day and night. This is a secondary issue, however.

What we actually want is more intimacy with God. A closer walk such as Elijah and Enoch experienced. Then we live a life of fewer trials, and more supernatural blessings, which include consistent Martha Moments in which to serve Him and amazing Mary Miracles in which to praise Him (Luke 10:38-42).

Prayer:

Father God, You gave us negative emotions as red flags to signify that we are out of Your will for our life. We have some area where we are not caring for our self, for Your Kingdom or living in Your plans for us (Ephesians 2:10). In the center of Your will, Your peace, which transcends all human understanding, fills our heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Focusing on Your love and promises for us will calm our soul, replace worry with faith in Your faithfulness, and enable us to look for the seed for a miracle, which You plant in every trial (Isaiah 30:18). We long for more intimacy with You, and trust You to teach us how to walk in obedience to You and to continually abide in Your presence.

Thought for the Day:

Intimacy with God is an all-consuming state of existence: We pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17-19), we wait on the Lord's timing and direction (Isaiah 40:31; Romans 8:25; Psalm 27:14), and we live, move and have our being in Christ alone (Acts 17:28).

Christ's Sacrifice for Us

The Trinity of God is three persons in one God, and they live in union within every authentic Christian (1 Corinthians 6:17). By His Spirit, Creator God revealed Himself in Christ, who is the Word of God, (John 1:1, 14). These three are one God (Deuteronomy 6:40; Mark 12:29).

The Apostle Paul understood this union, when he stated that there is one God, the Father, from Whom, over Whom and through and in Whom are all things (1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). Collectively, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the great I AM (Exodus 3:14).

Jesus explained His part in the Godhead as: "I AM the way, truth and life (John 4:6); the Messiah (John 4:26); the bread of life (John 6:35, 48); the light of the world (John 8:12); alive before Abraham was born (John 8:58); and the resurrection and life" (John 11:25).

Jesus claimed His unity with the Father (John 10:30). He is in the Father, and the Father is in Him (John 14:10-11). John understood this when he declared the united relationship among the Trinity (1 John 4:8, 16).

Jesus was with God from the beginning (John 1:1, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 1:2; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:14; Luke 24:39). Then, He took on human flesh as the son of man (Acts 2:22; Romans 5:15; 1 Corinthians 15:21; 1 Timothy 2:5). His divinity and humanity made Him the perfect sacrificial lamb for us all.

Our Savior experienced human development (Luke 2:40, 46, 51), senses (Matthew 4:2; John 4:6; 11:34; 19:28), emotions (Matthew 9:36, 26:37-40; John 11:35; 12:27), vulnerability to temptation (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-3; Hebrews 2:18, 4:15, 5:7), earthly struggles and disappointment, as well as mortality (John 19:30; Philippians 2:8); so that we can live with God for eternity.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for sending Your only begotten Son in order to redeem back to Yourself, those in the world who would believe in the Gospel of Christ (John 3:1-17). We are eternally grateful that Jesus emptied Himself of His heavenly glory to take on this human existence for our sake (Philippians 2:5-8).

We are so delighted that He descended from Heaven (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38; Romans 1:3), was born of a virgin (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4), and grew in wisdom and in favor with You and with man (Luke 2:52). Now, Your Spirit bears witness in our spirit that the divine Trinity abides within the spirit of every authentic Believer (Romans 8:16).

Thought for the Day:

God sent Christ - as one man, one Lord, and one mediator between us and God - to draw us into union with His Trinity; and He created each of us in His own image as a trinity comprised of spirit, soul, and body.

- Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:5; 1 Timothy 2:5; 

1 Thessalonians 5:23

It's Our Choice

God gives us all of His blessings; even so, we often turn from them and from Him. We choose to live life through our own effort, so that we will gain the power and praise. We refuse to submit to the Spirit’s direction.

We choose to live our own way, and to compromise with the flesh, the world and the devil. This ruins our testimony to the world and diminishes our union with our Heavenly Father.

God encourages us to hold fast to His promises, to acquire His blessings, and to allow His Spirit to incorporate His fruit and gifts into our life. God beckons us to come to Him to find rest for our soul – our mind, will and emotions (Matthew 11:28-29).

He calls us to take up His yoke, so that He may bear the weight of our load. A yoke is not a torturous or restraining device, but an enabling tool - as long as we yield to God's will each moment of the day.

Abiding is one of the most beautiful words in the English language! It includes the concept of union, oneness, fullness, belonging, permanence, prevailing, resting and being made complete.

Our abiding life in Christ conjures up visions of sipping hot chocolate on a cold day, sitting on a porch in the spring to watch a stream roll by, luxuriating in a huge feather bed, floating on still waters, lying down in a field of flowers, having no lack in perfect comfort, etc.

Abiding in Christ actually does supply us with this combination of safety and provision, as well as a restored soul. His goodness and mercy pursue us all the days of our life (Psalm 23). In the heart of God we find safety, victory, peace, rest, unconditional love, acceptance and encouragement.

Prayer:

Father God, the longer we walk with You, the deeper we abide in Your rest. We feel complete in You, and experience Your intimate fellowship and enduring fulfillment. We have no hidden agendas or ulterior motives. We seek to please You and to further Your kingdom with our every thought, word and action.

We live in perfect rest as we relinquish our self to You. We choose to entirely surrender our life to Your management and care, Christ reigns supreme in every area of our life (Colossians 3:3-4). We live in undivided commitment to You with our whole spirit, soul and body. We simply rest in Your love, and abide in Your presence continually (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Thought for the Day:

Abiding happens gradually as we surrender more and more of our carnality to Christ’s divinity within us; abiding under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91:1) allows us to experience complete peace and joy, which defies description and goes beyond our human understanding and reasoning.

Abiding in the Vine

Vineyards are a way of life in many countries around the world. Jesus used a vine and branch as a symbol of the intimacy in our relationship with Him (Isaiah 5:1-7, 27:2-6). Nutrients from the roots flow into each branch through the Vine.

Along with the photosynthesis in the leaves from the sun, this sap helps the fruit to flourish on the branches. The branch is securely attached to the Vine, an integral part of the makeup of the Vine, and we bear fruit for God's Kingdom by abiding in Christ, our Vine.

The branch has no responsibility, but to allow the life of the Vine to produce fruit through it. This connection gives us a new, Godly personality and abundant spiritual fruit as He prunes the decaying negative characteristics from our life, and nurtures the positive aspects, which He births in us.

He replaces our hatred with His love, discontentment with peace, irritation with patience, criticism with gentleness, backbiting with goodness, worry with faith, pride with meekness, and depression with true joy as He controls and guides us by His Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Believers thrive in body, soul and spirit when we bask in the Son's Light. We also draw nourishment from our rooted connection in Christ (John 15:4). God plants us in the right place, at the right time, with the right people in order to impact lives for His Kingdom.

If a branch is torn from the Vine by the storms of life, it no longer bears fruit, and it withers and is thrown into the fire to be burned; yet, if we weather the storms of life by clinging to the Vine, we remain in the Vine and we bear even more fruit (John 15:5-6).

Prayer:

Father God, help us to enter into Your rest and to patiently hang out with the Vine, enjoying the cooling winds of the Spirit and the warming rays of Your Son. Encourage us to continue in Christ throughout our lifetime (Hebrews 4:10), and to never worry about the storms of life, which assail us.

Your Word cautions us that without this union, we will die, get pruned, discarded and burned in the eternal fires of hell (John 3:18). Remind us that the Vine and branch are one entity, created for the purpose of bearing fruit to sustain the famished world dwelling all around us. Use us to bring many people into this nourishing relationship with You. 

Thought for the Day:

To abide in the Vine means to be so unified with the Vine that there is no separation between the two; we flow out of the Vine, reaching up to God's life-giving Son and basking in the refreshing later rains.

- John 15:2; Joel 2:23

 

Spirituality in the Details

We relate to our physical world with our five senses. Also, our soul - including our emotions, instinct and intellect - requires times of leisure and recreation in order to maximize its effectiveness.

If our soul does not prosper, our body and spirit will suffer also (3 John 1:2). Yet, primarily focusing on fleshly, carnal aspects of life – even positive things such as our vocation, ministries, family and hobbies - causes us to lose our perspective.

The type of recreation and the amount of time and money we put into these activities determine whether or not we are catering to the flesh. Yet, if we focus on religious aspects of life, we may grow self-righteous and judgmental.

As we focus on God's will for each moment of our day, He will bring us into balance. We interact in the spiritual world through our spirit, which is Born Again at the moment of salvation. God desires that we carry our spirituality into every detail of our daily life (Colossians 3:17).

God works out His perfection in us, and He will lead us to live a healthy life in body, soul and spirit. He provides for all of our needs according to His glorious riches, and He even gives us comfort so that He can comfort others through us (2 Corinthians 1:4).

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

Prayer:

Father God, You gave each of us gifts and talents (Romans 12:6; 1 Timothy 6:17); not for us to use them for our self, but so that You can use them for your glory 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 (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Remind us that we are only consumed by our human nature if we refuse to allow You to reveal Christ in us according to Your good pleasure (Ephesians 1:9).

Thought for the Day:

If we trust in our own abilities and resources, we will fail; but as we step aside and allow God to bless others through us, we will prosper as well. 
- Proverbs 11:28 

All We Need is Love

As married couples, we are smart to learn one another's Love Language ( https://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/ ). If we show an ounce of interest and appreciation and cherishing to our mate every day, our effort pays big dividends throughout our marriage.

Kindness and compassion serve as the root of our love for one another. Interest, understanding, gratitude, and unconditional acceptance of who each of us is and what we need all help to prove that love to each other.

Yet, when circumstances break us, people disappoint us, and all of our best laid plans fall apart, Jesus is the only One who knows exactly what we need. He offers us His rest (Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4:1-16), His love (John 3:16-17) and His provision (Philippians 4:19) every day of our life.

Diamonds, furs, chocolates and cruises are not a girl's best friend. Jesus is. He is our whole life (Colossians 3:3-4); He is all we need (Psalm 16:5-11). We live, move and have our best life in Him (Acts 17:28).

If we take the time to sit in His presence and focus our love and praise on Him, He pours out His love over us like a waterfall, filling us with His peace and joy, and directing us on the straight and narrow path of life to keep us safe and to provide for us.

His love started before we were ever born, intricately forming us in our mother's womb, and writing out all of our days in His book before we even lived one of them (Psalm 139:14-16). He has a perfect plan for our life (Ephesians 2:10).

God made us, and we belong to Him. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 23:1-2, 100:3). All we need to do is to walk in the path He chose for us in order to minimize our trauma and increase our blessings in this life and the next.

We are not His puppet, and He is not our crutch. We have the privilege of enjoying an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe. In our union with Him, we transition from viewing Him only as Almighty God to also enjoying Him as our Daddy God (Romans 8:15).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for relating to us as the lover of our soul (Psalm 23:3). Our eternal destiny is decided by our earthly choices (John 3:18), and we choose to accept Your free gift of salvation through Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary's cross (Romans 6:23). You fulfill our need to feel loved, cherished, validated, worthwhile, and to belong. You place us in a family of Believers who share our values and world view.

You will never, ever leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Even when You are silent, we enjoy that companionable silence with You. You love us even while we are still sinners, and You perfect us by Your Spirit's sanctifying work in us (Romans 5:8). We come to You for the love we need, and we thank You for bringing people into our life who validate, appreciate and love us unconditionally.

Thought for the Day:

All we need is love from Jesus, who is our Supreme Being, and who chose to come to earth, to suffer as we do in this sin-cursed world, to pay the ultimate price for our sin-debt, and to prepare an eternal Home for us with Him forever. - John 14:2-3

God's Principles - Part Six - Helping Others to Heal

The Word of God is full of advice on how to live a healthy life mentally, emotionally, financially, physically and spiritually (3 John 1:2). If we ferret them out of the chapters and verses, we find amazing truth by which to live our life (Proverbs 4:22).

With the Spirit of God abiding in every authentic Believer, we have God's anointing to set the captives free. We are crucified with Christ, and it is no longer we who live in our body, but Christ who dwells in us (Galatians 2:20).

The life which we now live, we live by the faith of the Son of God who loves us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20). We freely receive His blessings, and He wants us to freely share them with others (Matthew 10:8).

When we meet someone who is burdened, depressed and overwhelmed, we can encourage them to trust in the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, because He will give them rest (Matthew 11:28; Proverbs 3:5-8, 16:24).

Although they have no soundness of mind or health in their body because of sin, or Satan's infliction, or the result of their choices, they will receive health and nourishment in their body, soul and spirit, just like we do, because God's Word is life to all those who find it (Psalm 38:3; Proverbs 4:22, 15:30).

He gives us the commission to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and to drive out demons from the life of anyone willing to surrender their life to His power and promises (Matthew 10:8). We do everything, which He directs us to do by His power and in His timing (Philippians 4:13; Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).

Prayer:

Father God, although we experience times of trouble and trauma on this earth, since Christ lives in us, we can count it all as a joyful experience (John 16:33). We know that the trying of our faith produces patience, and if we submit to the work of Your Spirit, patience will have her perfect work in us (James 1:4-8).

You freely give us Your benefits (Psalm 103:2), the fruit of Your Spirit (Galatians 6:22-23), Your mercy in stress (James 4:6), Your grace in our trials (2 Corinthians 12:9), and Your victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Give us also Your courage and boldness to share these blessings with everyone we meet.

Thought for the Day:

We do not meet strangers, but potential friends and fellow servants of our Lord Most High; as we share the Gospel of Christ, or a prayer, or an encouraging word with everyone God directs us to speak to, we increase His Kingdom and look forward to spending eternity with even more people. - Jeremiah 33:6

New Life in Christ

In Christ, we see our self as God's own possession (Titus 2:14), members of God's household (Ephesians 2:19), sons of God (Galatians 3:26), children of God (1 John 3:1-2, 10; John 1:12), people of God (1 Peter 2:10), and citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20).

When we come to Jesus for forgiveness of our sins, we are no longer slaves to sin, we exchange the spirit of error for the spirit of truth, and the spirit of the world for the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:12-15). We turn from a carnal mindset to a spiritual one (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Since we are adopted children of God (Ephesians 2:2-3; Romans 8:15; 1 John 4:6, 5:12), we go from spiritual death to eternal spiritual life in Christ (John 11:25, 14:6; 1 John 3:14). God exchanges our carnal nature with the divine nature of Christ (1 John 5:19; Acts 26:18; 2 Peter 1:4; Galatians 2:20).

We are all called out of darkness, but it is our choice to respond (John 1:4; Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:12-13; 2 Peter 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Ephesians 5:8). Christ is our whole life (Colossians 3:3-4). We look forward to serving Him now and in immortality for eternity (1 Timothy 6:16; 2 Timothy 1:10). 

Jesus makes us a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6), and gives us free access into the Holy of Holies where God dwells (Hebrews 10:19). We are sinners turned Saints, with all the privileges of His adopted children (Romans 5:19, 8:27; Ephesians 1:18, 4:12).

Everything in our life and our inner identity is new (Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 4:16, 5:17). We have a heart of flesh now, rather than a heart of stone (Ephesians 3:17). We will serve in union with the Holy One of Israel for eternity (1 Peter 2:9, Romans 5:17; Acts 3:14, 1 John 2:1).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for writing Your laws on our heart (Hebrews 8:10, 10:16), reconciling us to Yourself (Romans 5:10-11), and helping us to walk in Your ways (Romans 5:6; 2 Peter 2:9). You dwell in us (John 14:23; 1 John 4:15-16), and we benefit from the divine nature of Christ in us (2 Peter 1:4; Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 6:4).

Remind us that it is no longer we who live, but Christ who abides within us by Your Spirit (Galatians 2:20). He is our only hope of fulfillment in this life and the next (Colossians 1:27). We know that we are Yours because of Your Spirit within us (2 Timothy 1:14; 2 Corinthians 1:22, 13:5). You are our Daddy God (Galatians 4:6), and we know that You care about us (1 Peter 5:7).

Thought for the Day:

We are sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit, and follow His guidance each moment, as we bask in His goodness, peace, joy and love all the days of our life.

 - John 3:5-8, Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Romans 8:14; Revelation 13:9; Psalm 34:8

Transforming From Martha-Moments to Mary-Miracles

As a pastor’s wife and mother of three children, I constantly raced through a life full of ministry opportunities. As each day progressed, I went from one Martha-moment of service to another (Luke 10:38-42).

I cared for my immediate family, as well as our extended family, church family, neighbors, community and our friends around the world. But at night, when the house settled down, the chores were done, the phone stopped ringing, and everyone else slept, my focus transformed from Martha to Mary (Psalm 130:6).

It is in these night watches that I experienced the miracle of His existence within me. Even now that my children are grown and my responsibilities are greatly diminished, I enjoy these alone times when my soul and spirit quietly rest in Jesus' presence.

As Saints, we make an intentional effort for our inner being to continually sit at Jesus’ feet, regardless of how busy we are physically. We thank Him for our many blessings in spite of living in this sin-cursed world.

We pray for people whom He places on our heart. We praise Him for being Lord of the universe, as well as our Strong Tower when we are afraid, and our Refuge on stormy days. His love cascades over our soul like a waterfall.

We find our comfort under the shadow of His wings. We absorb the ministry from His Spirit, drinking in the true peace and joy that only He can provide. Our spirit melds with His Holy Spirit, as we receive Godly direction and wisdom for our personal guidance.

As our eyes grow heavy, we slip into a silent slumber. We are already centered in Him, with our spirit totally focused on Him, even as we sleep. If we happen to wake during the night, we usually have a prayer or a song of praise running through our mind.

With each new day, we seek His will for our first efforts of the morning. As Mary, we prepare our body, spirit, and soul (our thoughts, emotions and choices) to do His will. At times, our duties pull us in several directions at once.

However, God's Spirit always tells us what to do, and in what order to accomplish them. Satan’s penchant for distracting us from doing the Lord’s will is tempting; but we surrender instead to God’s plan for our day (Psalm 5:8).

Proceeding through each moment as Mary, we listen to His Spirit’s direction for each new task, which He leads us to accomplish during our Martha-moments.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for being our center, our rock and our shield; but most of all, thank You for being our Savior (Psalm 28:7, 78:35; Colossians 3:3-4). Thank You for meeting with us in the night watches and for leading us by Your Spirit moment by moment throughout the day (Psalm 119:148). We find our fulfillment in the path, which You chose for us before the foundation of time (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 2:10).

Thought For The Day:

As we stay centered on the true reality of life, by focusing on Jesus and His Word, we experience the Mary-miracles, which can only come from a personal relationship with the Living Lord of the universe; His continual encouragement refreshes our spirit and prepares us for the next moment in our role as Martha.