God is True and Faithful

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In these last days, there are many deceiving spirits, which are traversing the world and weaving their deception in the hearts of men and women who are not grounded in the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:13).

The devil keeps his demons busy looking for gullible people whom he can deceive with his lies and vain philosophies (Colossians 2:8). He is the deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9).  

Satan sends false prophets who convince people that they are the Christ or that they come from Christ, but who are actually lawless and have grown cold in their love for the things of God (Matthew 24:4-12).

Although God’s invisible attributes are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, these with their false doctrine, suppress the truth and keep people from believing what God reveals in our conscience and in nature (Romans 1:18-22).

Those of us who are deceived have no valid excuse not to believe in God, because He reveals His glory to everyone who ever lives; and we condemn our self to hell by our choice not to believe in Jesus (John 3:16-18; Obadiah 1:3; Proverbs 28:26).

This occurs because of our stubborn pride, lustful desires and our trust in what our foolish heart tells us is true. We allow these deceivers to draw us away from the simplicity of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Yet, those of us who forsakes evil company and withstand this temptation will receive the crown of life and every good and perfect gift, which the Lord promises to those who love Him (James 1:12-17; 1 Corinthians 15:33).

Prayer:

Father God we know that You will not be mocked. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption (1 Corinthians 6:9-10); but if we sow to the Spirit, we will enjoy the fruit of Your righteousness and reap everlasting life (Galatians 6:7-8).

Those of us who sell our soul to the flesh, the world and the devil will inherit our part in the brimstone lake of fire and the second death (Revelation 21:8). Even those of us who trust in our own goodness to get to heaven will end up deceived and disappointed (Matthew 7:21-23). It is only as we trust in Your Son, Jesus, that we find the ultimate way, truth and life (John 14:6).

Thought for the Day:

God is true and faithful and His promises remain forever.

- Romans 3:4

Providential Prosperity

When we allow trials to divert our attention, they thwart us from performing the works, which God prepared for us to do before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 2:10). We run headlong after life with every distraction that our family, the world, the flesh and the devil bring our way. We live life at a full tilt bouncing from one issue to the next. We do not intend to purposely fall away. It happens gradually, with one good excuse after another until we are caught in a downward spiral

We get so busy living life that we fail to live for God. Satan strives to use our trials to unseat our joy by causing confusion, defeat, anxiety and depression (2 Corinthians 4:8). Frantic panic feeds on the unresolved conflicts within our soul, fueled by Satan’s lies, which he placed in the experiences in our past. Subconsciously, we believe his lies as the truth, and we spin our wheels in our attempts to serve God and to walk in His Truth.

Persevering prayer allows God to reveal His truth about that former experience, and the devil and his lies must flee from us (James 4:8). The freedom we experience once we hear God’s truth will remain in our soul forever. Jesus gives us His resurrection life in every area of our existence, even in our body through eternal glorification once we pass from this life into the next. While we live on earth, our spirit and soul providentially prosper by His loving kindness, which is better than life (Psalm 63:3).

Christ in us is sufficient to respond to the challenge of any trial and to bring His rest to our soul (Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 4:10). Every circumstance encountered by a child of God becomes a providential prospect for His divine provision. Therefore, we can view each circumstance, even the negative ones, with thanksgiving and delight (James 1:2-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20; 1 Peter 1:6-8). Our faith triumphs under the pressure of trials (James 1:11). Living completely in the will of God is truly the happiest place on earth (Colossians 3:1).

Prayer:

Father God, help us to restrain our wayward thoughts and to live clear-headedly with purpose and devotion to You. Increase Your grace, which we received at salvation; and remind us to hope in Your mercy (1 Peter 1:13). We do not want to lay up treasure for our self here on this temporary earth, but in heaven where they will last for eternity (Matthew 6:19-21). We are blessed if we remain focused on You during our trials, because You give us Your crown of life once we stand firm through the test.

Thought for the Day:

This world is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.  - 1 John 2:15

The Love of God

 

The intense love of God burns like a fire deep in our soul, warming us as we travel through this cold world of sin and degradation. Christ died so that we may possess this everlasting love (Romans 6:23). We are precious to Him and we bring Him delight by our obedience (John 14:15). Everything God gave to His firstborn Son, Jesus, He shares with us, His adopted sons. Jesus sacrificed His throne and crown for us, and He did not reserve His life or blood, but gave His all for us.

Only as we completely surrender our life to Him in return, will we come into perfect union with Christ within us.  We totally submit to the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. We live according to God’s divine will for our life (Ephesians 2:10), and find our fulfillment in our union with Christ. We seek only the will of God in our thoughts, words and deeds, so that He might be glorified in us, just as He was in Jesus (John 14:13). We completely dwell in His love (John 10:17).

We come to the day where we stop offending God with our sinful desires, because the Spirit sanctifies us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). He gives us discernment and His Word, so that we can ascertain what will bring God glory. His righteousness pervades our life to the extent that we surrender our sinfulness to Him. We live in harmony with Christ in us through the anointing of His name. Our prayers are centered in Jesus’ name and our life is lived in the power of His name.

Our union also provides us with faith to believe in His faithfulness. We live in unreserved obedience to the Father (1 John 3:22). We pray with confidence in our intimate union with Christ. We sit silently in His presence, knowing that He knows what we need before we even speak it (Matthew 6:8). An abiding life of faith in Christ alone provides power to our prayers (John 15:9). We wait at His feet for Him to provide all of our needs according to His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19; James 4:3).

Jesus shares with us His life, His inheritance, His righteousness and His Spirit. He keeps nothing from us, but freely gives us all things (Romans 8:32). His love is an example of the Father’s love for us as well. Our sinful state magnifies the beauty of His sacrificial love, and His compassion changes us from the inside out. God is love and we abide in His love through His Son (1 John 4:8). As we completely yield our life to His will, we reap the abundance He died to provide for us.

Prayer:

Father God, help us to find the eternal dwelling place provided for us by Your love (Deuteronomy 33:27). Our soul finds its peace in the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 91:4). Cause us to hear Thy loving kindness each morning, for in You we place our trust. Fill us to the brim with Your Spirit, and cause us to know Your will for each moment of our life (Psalm 143:8). We want to abide in Your presence and in the fullness of Your joy (Psalm 16:11).

Thought for the Day:

God’s everlasting love promises us eternal blessings. – Psalm 21:6

When God is Silent

Read: Proverbs 3:5-6

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” - James 1:12

So many times I hear people say that God does not speak to them, or that God stopped speaking to them (Psalm 27:9, 28:1, 69:17, 102:2, 143:7). Sometimes, this is due to the fact that we do all of the talking when we pray. We often fail to take time to listen or we have sin in our heart that blocks us from hearing Him (Psalms 66:17-20). In the quiet times, God is telling us to wait, to trust, and to rest in His love (Psalm 34:17; Ephesians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 9:8). He may not be talking, but He is always listening.

Usually, as I sit quietly in His presence, He shares with me needed information to enable me to serve Him during my day, or in the coming weeks. He gives me the wisdom I need or counsel on an issue in my life. When I notice a bend up ahead in the river of life, and I allow anxiety over the unseen possibilities around that bend to disturb my peace, He calms my fears (Isaiah 26:3, 41:10). At other times, I embrace the silence and just enjoy the scenery along the river, while I soak up the goodness of His presence in my life no matter what lies ahead (Psalm 27:13).

God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). As we feel fear rise in our soul during some daunting experience, we can realize that God still abides in our heart (Isaiah 3:17). He will walk with us through this trial or temptation and remain with us when we come through it (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Even while God is silent, He is still pouring His love over us like a waterfall. He is also building up our spirit, because He knows we will need all of our spiritual strength around the next bend in the river of life (Romans 5: 2-5).

In fact, if we trust Him enough, we will eventually relax and actually begin to enjoy the ride! When we feel overwhelmed by life’s issues, spending time alone with God is the perfect place to find rest for our weary souls (Jeremiah 31:25; Matthew 11:28). God is still God regardless of what is happening in our life (Deuteronomy 32:4). God promises to deliver us out of our troubles, if we will glorify Him (Psalm 50:15). We can always find the joy that God plants in every situation we encounter. It is all a matter of our focus.

Even the death of a loved one, ill health, a bad marriage, stress at work or at home, or any other negative event always has a positive side. We will find that place of contentment if we change our focus about the issue and our attitude to one of praise (Isaiah 25:4; Psalms 42:5). Every dark cloud has a silver lining and God is eager to reveal it to us (Hebrews 6:19-20). Rather than allow the cares of the world to weigh us down and to give us a negative attitude, our faith and trust in God will carry us safely through one bend in the river after another (Psalms 146:5-6).

                 
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when everything goes wrong, walls block us on every side and hope is quickly dwindling away, we feel like throwing up our hands and giving up. That is exactly what You are waiting for, however. You want us to completely surrender everything to You, to walk in Your Spirit every moment of the Day and to learn to be content in every situation in which we find our self. Remind us to be still and to remember that You are God (Psalm 46:10; Deuteronomy 33:12). Allow Your joy to see us through every circumstance we encounter,  and cause us to serve as an encouragement to others in our life. This way we are a blessing wherever we go.

Thought for the Day:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” - Hebrews 4:15