Overcoming Discouragement

In this world of unrest, eminent financial collapse, uncertainty and abuse, there is little to encourage us. Many hearts fail them for fear and they resort to suicide (Luke 21:26), which is nothing more than a permanent solution for a temporary problem.

Jesus gave us the best solution for the fear and anxiety if life. He advised us not to allow our heart to be troubled, but to put our hope and belief in Him (John 14:1).

He is not only preparing a permanent dwelling place for us (John 14:2), He also gives us His Peace (John 14:27). His peace transcends our circumstances and removes our stress over life.

God manifests His glory in our life in so many ways. They are often so subtle and unobtrusive that we take them for granted and never really recognize them.

Our answered prayers are contributed to coincidence or we do not even realize that He answered them. Little hugs, which God gives us throughout our day, go unnoticed.

The shape of a cloud, numbers on the clock, a bird's song, a cool breeze at just the right moment, a stranger's smile, a sale at the grocer, an encouraging note from a friend are all hugs from God.

God floods our life with light in the darkness all around us; yet, we continue to focus on the darkness and allow it to rob us of our joy in the Lord (John 1:5; 1 John 1:7).

Focusing on the truth of God's Word will keep us in peace as we live life one moment at a time. I ask myself, "How am I doing in this one moment of time?" "Truly blessed", is my usual assessment. No worries…just be happy in the Lord.

Prayer:

Father God, even in trials and tribulation, we can count even trials as joyous, because we are learning patience, which will eventually perfect us (James 1:2-3; John 17:22-23). If we keep our focus on our trying circumstances, fears and world issues, our hearts fail us (Proverbs 3:5-6). Yet, if we change our thoughts to focus on You, You keep us in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).

Help us to watch for Your little hugs throughout the day, so that we can be assured of Your love as they comfort us in whatever situation we are experiencing at the time. Remind us to spread Your love, encouragement and joy to everyone we meet during each of Your divine appointments.

Thought for the Day:

Jesus, the Light of the world, continually shines in our life.

- John 1:5-9

Resisting the Truth

Can you imagine someone who would actually resist knowing or believing the truth? It happens all the time. In fact, people say that truth in its first form is always negative. We often react negatively the first time we hear a truth.

This occurs especially if the truth is contrary to what we were taught, or have heard all of our life or falsely believed in our past. We may resist or reject the person speaking the truth, as well as the truth itself.

Timothy knew people like this. He described them as men of corrupt understanding and reprobate in the area of faith (2 Timothy 3:8). People in the 21st Century have this same problem.

We want to escape judgment or punishment, so we tell a lie. We cause other people to believe lies; and in the process, we often prevent them from knowing the truth. We tell a lie so many times that we start to believe that it is actually true.

We resist the truth of God's Word because Satan already polluted our mind with his lies. Even books, novels written for entertainment, are used by the devil to prevent people from believing God's Truth.

In today's world, comedians make a living poking fun at truth and touting lies as the more logical belief. They convince the weak in heart and mind to believe these lies as if they were truth (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Some people regard godliness as a means of gaining material wealth. They go into the ministry as a job rather than a calling. They pretend to have an intimate relationship with God, but their actions deny any authentic union between them and our Savior.

They are devoid of God's truth and do not devote the hours of service required by the position of pastor or teacher, but do the bare minimum of work and spend the rest of their time in leisure (1 Timothy 6:5). They are actually detestable, unfit for the ministry and disobedient to God's Spirit (Titus 1:16).

Even if we have to apologize or admit that we are or were wrong, it is worth walking in the light of God's Truth. God has a place for liars in the pit of hell (Revelation 21:8). Resisting His Truth determines our eternal destination (John 3:18).

Prayer:

Father God, it is easy for humans to lie to maintain our false image or to justify our actions. Your truth tends to convict us, and many people run from conviction. They avoid admitting their faults and resist walking in Your Truth. They manufacture reasons to excuse their sin and to convince themselves that they are righteous.

You call us to walk in Your Truth in order to gain Your blessings (1 Kings 2:4). Help us to walk in Your Truth, so that as we fear You more than people, we will walk in Your ways (Psalm 86:11). Remind us to walk in Your Spirit at all times, and we will never resist Your Truth (Galatians 5:15-25).

Thought for the Day:

We delight in knowing that our children are telling us the truth and know that we can always trust them when they do; God feels the same way. - 3 John 1:4

No Higher Honor

 

Have you ever met a "control freak"? They attempt to subjugate the people and events around them. Some of them desire to wield power. Others are insecure and endeavor to control their environment to ensure their safety. A third type of control freak was oppressed as a child; and, as an adult, vowed never to allow that to happen again.

The greatest problem with control freaks is that they are rebellious to God's authority in their life. They do not seek His will, but they make their own plans and move mountains to attain them. Some of them manipulate, demand, steal and finagle to get their own way. Their motivation is to preserve their concept of their own self-worth, because their value comes from their achievements (Colossians 2:8).

Control freaks actually believe that God let them down; therefore, they must make their own way in life. Satan reinforces this confusion by using commercials, billboards, social media, office politics, family expectations and a host of other worldly standards to force the unwitting to base their value on earthly concepts.

The problem is that even the richest, most powerful, successful and beautiful people in the world never really believe they have attained the pinnacle of acceptance they so crave. The devil convinces them that they are actually unlovable and unacceptable in order to keep them on the rungs of that illusive ladder of success.

They even perceive rejection from others when it is not there. A muddle of inferiority, hopelessness, insignificance and self-criticism overwhelms them. It is only in the very center of God's will that we find our true joy and contentment (Philippians 4:11-13). He redeemed us from our sinful lifestyle and adopted us into His very own family (1 John 3:1). There is no honor in life higher than this.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for creating us with Your purpose in mind (Psalm 139:13; Ephesians 2:10). You gave each of us gifts and talents, which we need in order to accomplish Your will for our life (Romans 12:6). There is no need for us to strive to achieve success that is out of Your will for us. Even when we accomplish our goals, they will ring empty and hollow. Thank You for adopting us as Your children. Help us to find our worth only in our relationship with You.

Thought for the Day:

God's Biblical principles are our standard and give us wisdom for living; apart from Him we are nothing. - John 15:5

Belief or Unbelief

 

 

Unbelief is the only sin, which prevents us from enjoying eternity in Heaven (Romans 11:20; Ephesians 3:18; Galatians 2:16). Therefore, God gives every person ever born a measure of faith to help us to believe in His redemptive work, and to claim our salvation through Christ (Romans 12:3). Then He gives us a portion of faith in order to function in the gifts He gives us through His Spirit (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 5:22-23).

If we depend on our human effort for our salvation, we fall short of God's glory; however, if we believe in and trust in Him who justifies the ungodly, God credits our faith toward our right standing with Him (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:5, 9:32). Our God justifies Jews and non-Jews alike (Romans 9:30). There is no one on this earth that He does not desire to reconcile to Himself (Romans 3:30).

Since this is true, why do so many good people refuse to believe? Some have never heard that Jesus loves them. Others fail to realize the manuscript evidence, which proves the Bible is true. People need to know that we find peace with God through our faith in the justification provided for us by the Lord Jesus Christ through His crucifixion, death and resurrection (Romans 5:1).

He also gives us access to God's grace, so that we can rejoice in the hope of sharing in His glory (Romans 5:2). His Word is in our heart and in our mouth, in order to share it with those who also need salvation (Romans 10:8, 17, 1:18-32). We can present to them the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is based upon the foundation of Biblical truth established by practical evidence and human history.

Prayer:

Father God, allow us to walk in the truth that we are crucified with Christ. Teach us what it means to live in this flesh by the faith of the Son of God, who loves us, when at the same time Christ lives in and through us (Galatians 2:20). Help us to stand firm in our faith and to walk by faith rather than to rely on our earthly senses (1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:24, 5:7). Remind us to examine ourselves to prove our faith and that Christ abides within us (2 Corinthians 13:5). 

Thought for the Day: Our faith does not rest on human wisdom, but on the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:5

 

God's Abiding Presence

Good and evil do not determine whether we go to Heaven or hell. Belief and unbelief are the key issues in our eternal destination. Those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ, as God who came in the flesh to secure our salvation, condemn themselves (John 3:18). God prefers that everyone come to faith in Christ; however, He knows that many will refuse His love.

Unbelievers suffer the wrath of God as a result of their choice not to believe (Acts 17:30-31). Pride and rebellion keep them from totally surrendering their life to Christ. They prefer to serve the devil or their self rather than God (Ephesians 2:1-3; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Some even live a religious life, attempting to be good and to do good by their own human efforts, looking to their own self-efforts to save them.

There is obviously a Satanic lie fueling their behavior, because he makes them feel safe in rejecting God. It is a Believer’s responsibility and privilege to reveal the Kingdom of God to anyone who will listen, to help to draw them out of the kingdom of darkness and to share with them the truth of the gospel of Christ (Romans 10:14-15).

We desire, as God does, that no one shall perish in eternal damnation and to see all people everywhere saved (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus steals us back from the kingdom of darkness, which once captivated our mind (2 Timothy 2:24-26). He reveals His truth to us that He is all and in all, and that all things belong to Him (Ephesians 4:6; Psalm 24:1). Then, in the sanctification process, Christ is fully formed in us (Galatians 4:19).

Christ’s elect bride is all around us, some know of His place in their life and some are still resisting His invitation to come to Him. It is only when we live, move and have our being in Christ that we live a fulfilled and productive life (Acts 17:28). As Believers, the divine life of Christ is ensconced in our mortal bodies, giving life to us in spirit, soul and body.

This keeps us from taking any credit for what God’s power does in and through us. This world often beats us up, confuses and terrorizes us, but we are not disheartened, because God lives in us by faith in Christ through His Spirit. Because of God’s abiding presence within us, we cannot help but to broadcast the news of God’s love to everyone who will listen (2  Corinthians 4:7-15).

Prayer:

Father God, Your gospel turns family members into enemies (Matthew 10:34-36). This should not be so. Yet, due to rebellion and pride, many of our family will reject the gospel message and us as well. However, we never know what is going on the heart of that loved one to cause them to react to You and to us as they do (Psalm 19:9). You are the only one capable of judging a heart. Draw our loved ones ever closer to Your heart.

Thought for the Day:

Our faith in Christ gives us the victory to overcome the world. – 1 John 5:4