Life's Toughest Moments

We were formerly dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1), but now as authentic Believers in Jesus, we are dead to sin, and our life is hidden with Christ in God (Romans 6:11; Colossians 3:3).

The Holy Spirit continually fills us with His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). We view the visible issues of life as transient and passing, because we know that only the spiritual aspects of life are everlasting.

Paul experienced tremendous hardships (2 Corinthians 11:16-33); yet, reminded us that with an eternal perspective on life, we know that our eternal weight of glory far outweighs the momentary, comparatively light affliction we experience in this world (2 Corinthians 4:17).

When life reaches its toughest moments, we totally trust in and hide our self in God. His presence within us keeps us separate from our experiences as they are happening.

We view life from God's perspective and we no longer hold on to fears and wounds of the past. He heals us from them and Satan's lies one at a time, as we submit them to Him

( www.theophostic.com ).

We live in this world as manifestations of God through Christ. We have the same abilities and expression of the Spirit that Christ did, because He lives within us (1 John 4:17).

We obey God’s Spirit with an awareness, which exceeds human understanding. We cannot prove this relationship intellectually or physically, but the Spirit of God bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).

As we allow God’s light within us to shine brightly, many in the world will see Him through us and want to give their life to Christ as well (Matthew 5:16).

Prayer:

Father God, we want people to see the fruit on our branch, and realize it is actually the produce of the Vine, which is the only real source of our productive life (John 15:5). As authentic, Born Again Believers, our life on earth has Jesus’ supernatural capabilities, and He uses our body, soul and spirit for His glory.

Not only does Your Spirit lead us (Romans 8:14), but He also fills us to overflowing (Acts 4:31). We are privileged as Your children, with Christ living in us by Your Spirit (Romans 8:11). The more we decrease, the more You will increase within us (John 3:30).

Thought for the Day:

We are alive in Christ, created to do every good work through Christ in us for the glory of God and for the furtherance of His Kingdom in the earth. - Ephesians 2:10

Answered Prayers

The blessing of intercessory prayer is that we can pray wherever we are and no matter what we are doing. God's Spirit prays through us, even for people we do not know. Family, friends, workmates, neighbors, church revival, the worldwide family of God and the unbelievers in every nation are all topics of our times of intercessory prayer.

Our persistent prayer, sometimes accompanied by fasting, actually makes a difference in our world. Tears are often the result of our fervent prayer, and they touch the heart of God (Psalm 56:8). Spirit-led prayers are the most affective, because if we pray in our own strength, legions of demons may attack us with doubt and discouragement. God's will is the key ingredient for answered prayers (1 John 5:14-15).

Through prayer, Born Again Believers, who are filled with God's Spirit, minister with holy boldness in areas where we have no natural abilities. We are delivered from relying on our flesh once we reach the place of totally resting in faith on our Father God. God's Spirit takes us beyond our gifts and callings to places where only Christ in us can accomplish the will of God (Colossians 1:27).

We learn to pray in the Spirit, affecting those areas where God is most interested in ministering. We do not pray with a flowery profundity of words, but only with fervent, effectual prayers (James 5:16). If we say we love God, yet do not love the least of those whom He died for, the Bible calls us a liar (1 John 4:20). God’s love allows us to pray for people, and to identify with them in their plight.

Prayer:

Father God, we know that You often refrain from affirmatively answering our prayers, because You have a higher purpose for the issues in our lives. You use them to allow patience to have her perfect work in us; and You use them for Your ultimate glory. Remind us to pray for our missionaries and fellow Believers in foreign countries and around the USA. We want our prayers to be strategic and effective through Your Spirit's direction.

Thought for the Day:

God often humbles us by not immediately answering our prayers, so that we take no glory in the future when He does answer them.

 

Enduring Gratitude

 
At the last supper, Jesus gave thanks to our Father in spite of already knowing the horrific suffering awaiting Him in just a few hours. Even in the garden, He wrestled with the part that He must play in securing mankind's salvation through the centuries. Yet, He did not falter or run away.

While in the garden, as He sweat drops of blood at the thought of becoming sin for us, He changed His focus from the upcoming crucifixion to the eternal glory, which awaited Him just beyond the grave (Luke 22:44). Jesus both authored our faith and also prefects it (Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 1:6). That leaves no responsibility for us, except to respond positively to His overtures (Galatians 2:16).

Jesus not only forgave our sins and supplied our salvation, but also provided the best future for us that we could ever envision (Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17). He provides all of our needs with His glorious riches, both now and in eternity (Philippians 4:19). This allows us to live in everlasting and enduring gratitude to our Father.

Jesus' sacrifice made it possible for us to skip the stages of death, in order to enter. Our last breath on earth is followed by our next breath in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:52-53; 2 Corinthians 5:8). In our immortal body, we will live in eternal bliss without sin and corruption (Psalm 16:11, 43:4; 1 John 3:2; Romans 8:21). We will sing with angels around the throne and rule and reign with Him forever (Revelation 7:11; 2 Timothy 2:12).

Prayer:

Father God, You give us all of Your grace in our times of need in order to help us to see Your hand in every trial (2 Corinthians 9:8). Change our focus from the trauma we feel now to the fact that this light and momentary affliction pales in comparison to the miracle You plan for us through this trial (2 Corinthians 4:17). We have so many reasons to live a life of enduring gratitude to You both now and in eternity.

Thought for the Day:

Born Again Believers have so much to be thankful for, both in this life and the next.

God's Truth or Satan's Consequences

There is no mystery in life for the Born Again Believer. The Spirit will prompt us each moment as we ask for His direction, wisdom, insight and inspiration in every task we face. The Bible teaches us about nine fruit, which the Holy Spirit gives to us as He chooses (Galatians 5:22-23). He also gives us gifts for the benefit of God’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:7, 31; 14:1,39).

The Spirit also protects us from the devil, who roams the earth seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan comes as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) to deceive us and to sidetrack us from experiencing God’s Truth. His counterfeit tactics will give us the impression that what we are experiencing is from God, when it is actually drawing us away from God.

One way to detect whether an experience is from God is if it brings peace or confusion. Satan is the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). If you hunger after more of God, then you are safe. If you want more of a person or a certain experience, then it is Satanic. If your experience does not align with God’s Word or if you feel a red flag in your spirit, don’t walk away...run!

God inspires us to go deeper into His Word while Satan encourages us to spend more time on our self and to neglect God’s Word, our family and our church family. As we sit in God’s presence and walk in His Will, then His Spirit empowers us to do the works, which God chose for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). As we pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), we commune with God throughout the day.

Prayer:

Father God, give us discernment by Your Spirit to know when something is of You or Satan’s counterfeit. In these last days, he wants to draw away as many people from You as he can. He is sending false prophets into the world to preach a false doctrine and to cause people to focus on their self instead of on You. Help us to relinquish everything in our life, which hinders us from growing in our relationship with You. Remind us to walk in Your truth each moment of the day, so that we do not reap the consequences of an evil life.

Thought for the Day:

Doing things God’s way is much more productive than doing them to the best of our human ability.

In Constant Union with Christ

 

Here is a fun exercise for you. Whenever you remove produce from your grocery bag or eat the fruit from a vine, remember that you too are a branch on the Vine, producing similar fruit for God’s Kingdom. Let it remind you that we are as dependent on the Vine as the vegetable or fruit was, which you are preparing to eat.

God grafts us into the Vine of Christ when we humble our self and admit that we need Jesus as our Savior. We are reciprients of the work of Christ on Calvary’s cross. He is our Vine, and we are His branches. A vine takes the nutrients from the soil and sends them to the branches. Our Vine separates the nutrients from the compost of life and sends it directly to our spirit.

The branch does not walk off by itself, but is absolutely dependent on the Vine. All Born Again Believers have this same constant union with our Vine. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39). The sap never, ever stops flowing into the branch. It provides everything we need for every moment of our life. This is the secret of our true success.

Branches participate in this process too. We have the leaves, which  take time to bask in the Son and collect the nutrients from His presence. We reflect His beauty and holiness to the world around us. If the branch gets the idea it does not need the Vine, it will wither and die. The Holy Spirit uses the fruit of the Vine, which grows in our life, to benefit those who need the life of Christ within us.

Prayer:

Father God, You are our Vinedresser. You protect us from disease, insect invaders and scorching trials, which Satan sends into our life. You provide the supplements we need to grow into vibrant branches on the Vine of Your Son. You make us fruitful (Galatians 5:22-23) in order to bless those You bring our way. Send people to pick the fruit You produce in our life and remind us to generously share Your work in our life with them.

Thought for the Day:

We abide in the Vine in total dependence. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. - John 15:5

No Longer a Sinner

 

We were all sinners at one time; but as Born Again Believers, that is in the past tense. That is no longer our spiritual identity. We are now saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). God calls us Saints (Ephesians 2:19; Psalm 31:23). This word means “holy one.” If we call our self a sinner, we may focus on sin and fall into sin. If we realize that we are Saints, we will focus on holiness and live a life set apart for Christ.

Who we are is what determines what we do. If I am a miner, I will mine. If I am a seamstress, I will sew. If I am a mechanic, preacher, teacher, laborer, sales person...you get the picture. Since I am a Saint, I will live a holy life unto the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:10). We may still fall to temptation and sin, but it is as a Saint not as a sinner, because we no longer live in a lifestyle of sin.

We often want to change our circumstances; however, God put them here for our edification, admonition and education. Do not struggle so hard against the areas of your life, which you do not like (Acts 26:14). God allows circumstances into our life, not to punish us, or to force us to do something we do not want to do, but to enlarge our borders (1 Chronicles 4:10) and to equip us to help others who come to us in their time of need (Luke 22:31-34).

God will create a clean heart in us (Psalm 51:10). We are coheirs with Christ and we inherit all of God’s promises with Him (Romans 8:17; Hebrews 6:12; 2 Peter 1:3-4). We can trust God to keep us in the palm of His hand and to continue to perfect us as His chosen priesthood and royal nation regardless of what is going on in our life (1 Peter 2:9; Isaiah 49:16).

Prayer:

Father God, teach us to live in the awareness of Your calling on our life (Ephesians 2:10), so that we can walk according to Your will for our life. Help us to accept with joy what You provide for us, the good, the bad and the ugly. You always supply what we really need, even if it is a trial. As we prove faithful over the little things, You will give us charge over much (Matthew 25:21-23). 

Thought for the Day:

Our faith does not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power within us. – 1 Corinthians 2:5

What is a Born Again Believer?

Prior to our salvation, we had a body and soul, but our spirit was dead in sin. As a Born Again Believer our spirit is now alive and contains the Spirit of God. We can enjoy constant quiet time within our spirit, regardless of what is occurring in our body or soul. With this regular fellowship, our soul abides in a state of peace, which causes our body to remain in better health and vitality.

This does not happen before we are Born Again. In God’s presence, we refresh our soul. Even if He remains silent, we enjoy the companionable silence of His friendship and lordship in our life. Regardless of our circumstances, we live in serenity in our spirit. As we focus on our connection with Christ in our spirit, He heals the negative feelings of our body and soul.

We look at life from a spiritual rather than an earthly viewpoint. We love Christ immensely; our soul draws nourishment from His existence in our life. His Word comes alive in our mind, His presence comforts our fears and His love pours over us like a waterfall as we keep our mind focused on Him (Isaiah 26:3). We do not need to see Him with our eyes, because we hear him with our inner ear (Matthew 11:14).

We feel His Spirit within us (Colossians 1:27). We float through life as the Spirit of God stirs the waters. We flow with the ebb and current of God’s will. People see God’s life-changing power within us. So many turn a deaf ear or blind eye, preferring to believe Satan’s lies. Others want our same experience, so we travail in birth pains with them. We desire to win people to Christ, so they can live in the love of God with us.

Prayer:

Father God, You are the author and finisher of our salvation. Jesus made this possible by His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross, and Your Spirit drew us to Your precious heart. Thank You for loving us, caring for us and helping us in our doubts and fears. We look to You to provide our daily bread and to lead us away from every temptation, which might bring dishonor to Your name.

Thought for the Day:

Taste and see that the Lord is good. – Psalm 34:9

 

Security in an Insecure World

There are so many unknown entities and insecurities in life today. Our world’s governmental and financial situation is predicted to eventually fall like a house of cards. This news certainly does not inspire confidence in our future. However, for authentic Born Again Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ there is no fluctuation in our joy and peace or in our hope for the future (Romans 8:28).

We may find our self in a simpler lifestyle, without modern conveniences and money, but the Lord of All always cares for us. It usually takes most people years to mature to the point of learning to praise God in all things, especially in the negative aspects of life. However, when we finally realize that all things will ultimately work out for our good (Romans 8:28), then it is so much easier to go with God’s flow.


We are citizens of Heaven, because we are born of God (Philippians 3:20). God hides us with Christ in Himself to keep us always safe (Colossians 3:1-4). We rejoice throughout every new adventure with Him, and we look for His miracles couched in the circumstances. We confidently know that He will complete the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). He gives us the desire, the energy and the ability to do His will for our life (Philippians 2:12-13).  


Sinners attempt to justify their existence; however, their soul knows without a doubt that sin separates them from God. They use defensive tactics to keep other people or their conscience from condemning them, but they know the truth no matter how much they try to deny it. Jesus eradicates this dichotomous struggle from the Believer’s life (Romans 8:31-39). He sets us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).


Prayer:

Father God, thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice, Satan can no longer harm us (1 John 5:18). Our security in this life starts with the lack of condemnation, which comes from a sinful lifestyle, but is eliminated by Jesus’ death (Romans 8:1). Thank You for setting us free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). Help us to live our life cleansed by Jesus’ blood, led by Your Spirit and right in the center of Your will for us, which is the happiest place on earth (Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

When we call on the Lord and come to Him in prayer, He always listens to us; however, we only find Him when we seek Him with all of our heart. – Jeremiah 29:12-13

Thy Word is a Lamp

Depending on the mood of the moment, the Bible is often held up to public ridicule or contempt. However, to authentic Born Again Believers, God’s Word is a light to our path to keep us going in the right direction and a lamp for our feet to keep us from stumbling or falling (Psalm 119:105). The wisdom in its words teaches us to walk carefully as the wise, to make the best use of our time and to understand what the will of the Lord is for our life (Ephesians 5:15-17).

God’s Word answers all the vital questions in man’s soul. How did we get here? (Genesis 1:27) Why are we here? (Ephesians 2:10) Can love last forever? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) Can marriage survive betrayal? (Matthew 6:14) Do I have to love unlovable people? (Matthew 5:44-48) Can I live with someone I love without being married? (1 Corinthians 6:18) Aren’t I supposed to be happy in life? (John 15:11) When do I become an adult? (1 Corinthians 13:11) Can I marry someone of my same sex? (Romans 1:25-28)

Can making money make me happy? (1 Timothy 6:10) How can I say, “I’m sorry”? (Psalm 51:3; Proverbs 28:13) Is it ever okay to betray a confidence? (Esther 21:23) Can I steal for a good reason? (Exodus 20:15) Is it okay to drink alcohol? (Proverbs 20:1) Who should I marry? (2 Corinthians 6:14) Can I get divorced and remarried? (1 Corinthians 7:12-16) Which religion is the right one? (James 1:27) Which version of the Bible is from God? (2 Timothy 3:16)

The words in the Bible are a mystery to most people, boring to some, and considered historical to others and fiction to a few. Without exception, however, God’s book is the most spectacular book ever written. It survived multiple attempts to annihilate it over the years, and it is always the best selling book ever published. The words in it are inspired by God and given to us in order to have a successful and fulfilled life in service to our King Jesus (2 Timothy 3:16; Proverbs 3:13-14, 19:20).

Prayer:
Father God, Your Word is sharper than a two-edged sword, because it can divide our humanistic soul from our eternal spirit (Hebrews 4:12). There is no one that we can trust like we trust You. You alone have the words, which are full of the Spirit and eternal life (John 6:63, 68). From the correlation between the prophecies of the Old Testament and the accounts of the New Testament, we know with certainty that Jesus is our Messiah, who is coming again (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Lead us by Your Spirit on a firm footing, teach us Your ways and guide us until You come again to receive us to Yourself (Psalm 143:10; Micah 4:2; John 14:3).

Thought for the Day:
I will hide Your Word in my heart, so I will not sin against You.

– Psalm 119:11

Our Glorious King

God chooses the foolish of the world to confuse the wise and the weak to confound the mighty. He uses the lowly and the despised to walk in His Spirit in order to bring down strongholds and lift up everything that pertains to Him (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). Our life is in God’s complete control. We may not always understand His ways or purposes; but as we maintain our faith in Him and obey His Spirit’s directives, eternity will reveal the reasoning behind His actions.


Our temporary struggles here on earth cannot even compare to the glory that God prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). His powerful hope sustains us in trials and temptations. God gives His Saints citizenship in heaven, and we will reign with the Lord Jesus Christ. We eagerly wait for our Savior’s return. Since all things are subject to His power, He will transform our humble, finite body and conform it to the infinite, immortal glory of His body (Philippians 3:20-21).


God’s works are vast and spectacular. All of His ways are holy and trustworthy. He is the King of all the nations and everyone will fear Him and glorify His name. Upon His return, every nation will come and worship before Him. Everyone will see and understand all of His mighty acts throughout the ages (Revelation 15:3-4). He provides heaven for all of those who receive Jesus as their personal Savior (Luke 20:26). Even in death, Believers have a refuge in Christ (Proverbs 14:22).  


Those who die without a regenerated spirit experience physical death along with the second death in hell (Revelation 2:11; 20:6,14-15; 21:8). However, when an authentic Born Again Believer dies physically, his/her body is buried to await the resurrection, but their soul and spirit, their essence, immediately join the Lord in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8). It is said that we are sleeping in Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:18), and the day of our death is better than the day of our birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1). 


Prayer:

Father God, as surely as You live, every knee of those on the earth, in the earth and under the earth, that includes everyone, will bow to Your Lordship (Philippians 2:10). I pray that anyone reading these words who has not surrendered their life to You, will indeed believe that Jesus is our only Savior, so they will repent of their sins and walk in Your ways. Thank you for Your gracious plan to redeem all mankind and for making Your glory so evident in nature all around us (Romans 1:20). I pray that people will see the fallacy in Satan’s lies and come to the truth of Your written Word, so they too will worship You as their Lord and King.

Thought for the Day:

Come believe in Christ and live in the presence of our glorious King, both on this earth and eternally in the grandeur of heaven.

A Soul's Rest

 

True life begins when we surrender our life to God. Even Jesus cried out from His soul for God to save Him from the hour of His crucifixion (John 12:27). Yet, it is a good thing for us that He surrendered to God’s will. When we surrender to God, sin is disgusting to us (2 Peter 2:8). We are foreigners and exiles in this world. At the top of our priority list, is seeking God’s Kingdom. He provides for all of our needs (Matthew 6:33). Our soul revels in its rest, because the Lord is always good to us (Psalm 116:7).

If we hide sin in our heart, God cannot hear our prayers; but if we live in His righteousness, He pays attention to our prayers. He satisfies our longing and He fills our hungry soul. To authentic Born Again Believers, His loving kindness is better than anything this world has to offer. He will not turn away from us or withhold His love from us. He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). We praise Him with our lips for as long as we live (Psalm 63:2-5, 107:9).

Paul encourages us to keep our whole spirit, soul and body blameless until the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Jesus teaches us to love God with all of our mind, choices, emotions and strength (Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27). When Mary found out she would give birth to Jesus, our Savior, her soul glorified the Lord (Luke 1:46). As we walk in God’s will for our life, we also live a life of praise to His name. We cease from our own labors, and our soul enters God’s rest (Hebrews 4:10).

Many spend their lifetime working for their self and then for God, but blessed are those who learn to cease from our labors and enter God’s Sabbath rest. God gave us this example when He rested from His works after His monumental feat of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). We keep each day holy for Him (Exodus 20:8-11). His presence goes with us and insures that we rest in Him (Exodus 33:14). Even if our flesh and our heart falter, God strengthens our heart, because He is our portion for eternity (Psalm 73:26).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that life on this earth is not an end in itself, but merely an opportunity to choose eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our soul is capable of becoming distressed and discouraged (Psalm 42:5). Yet, our soul praises You, who are the only One who can truly encourage our soul (Psalm 42:6 & 11; 3:1, 104:1). Our soul finds rest in You, because You are always good to us (Psalm 62:1-2). Help us to live our whole live, in every endeavor You lead us to accomplish, to the praise and the glory of Your name (Psalm 103:22; Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

The soul that finds its rest in God matures to the point of abstaining from sinful desires, because they no longer appeal to us in any way. - 1 Peter 2:11