God is in Control - Regardless of Circumstances

As our fleshly, carnal appetites decrease, Christ in us increases. Negative emotions, such as: fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, etc., along with their companion of mental and physical illnesses, decrease in us as well.

We enter God's rest and feel fewer negative emotions. Any negative emotion that does surface is a red flag to draw our attention to some aspect of our life that is overwhelming us or an unresolved conflict.

These unresolved issues paralyze us with fear; they control our thoughts, words and deeds; and they cripple us for the work of the ministry and the quality of our relationships.

As we focus on the presenting emotion, listen to the words in our mind associated with that feeling, and ask God for wisdom concerning the issues causing the emotion, we can find solutions or turn the problems over to God to work out in His way and timing.

God's Word calms our troubled soul, energizes our spirit and empowers our body with health and vitality. We make wiser choices, form more spiritual friendships and enjoy more success in life.

Even if fears and insecurities dog our steps, we learn to trust God's consistent presence in our life. We speak our mind and make sure we have a voice in choices made that affect our life.

There is no reason to fear, because God is always with us. Discouragement holds no place in our life, because He gives us His strength and He helps us. He supports us with His mighty right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

Prayer:
Father God, whenever we are afraid, remind us to put our trust in You (Psalm 56:3). There is no need for us to feel anxious about anything in this life, because through prayer and petition with gratitude in our heart for all You have already done for us, we can present our deepest and most frightening concerns to you (Philippians 4:6).

Then, Your peace, which transcends the issues of life, will guard our heart and our mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). This peace is not the carnal, fleeting peace that the world gives, but the peace of Christ within us. We have no need to feel worried, afraid or upset about anything (John 14:27).

Thought for the Day:

Even when life careens out of our control and we fear for our future, we can still trust in our God who is always in control.

Overcoming Sin

 

The more often we surrender our thoughts, choice and feelings to temptations from the flesh, the devil and the world, the stronger the temptation is the next time it comes. When we shut out the warning from our conscience and God’s Spirit, we arrive at the place where we can no longer hear from God at all (Hebrews 10:35-38).

Our sin separates us from Him and diminishes our resistance to sin. We lose our peace and joy. We no longer experience God’s pleasure in us. We feel the conviction of God’s Spirit and struggle with our decisions and their consequences. The Holy Spirit within us is always ready to empower us to break the cycle of sin so that we can walk in God’s righteousness (Philippians 2:13).

When we stop expecting our self to overcome sin, and focus on the fact that Jesus already won the victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15: 56-57), we have stronger will power to resist the temptation in the first place. Jesus walked in sinless perfection, and He abides in every authentic, Born Again Believer.

He helps us to remember the promises of God and to trust Him to provide us with everything we need to live a successful and fulfilled life (1 John 2:17). We no longer feel the need to protect our self, because God works miracles from the seed of every trial. We lose all desire to defend our self, because God’s opinion of us is the only one which matters. We live in freedom from sin through God’s Spirit in us.

Prayer:
Father God, give us Your eyes to judge between right and wrong, so that we never lose the joy of our salvation or the comfort of abiding in Your presence. May we always see sin for the degradation it brings and desire less of the comforts of the flesh and more of the ecstasy of the spirit, which comes from walking in your presence.

Thought for the Day:

May we never become so accustomed to sin that we consider it normal behavior.

 

 

A Carnal or Spiritual Life

 

A carnal person is too proud or fearful to trust God. They live by their own efforts and do not want to "bother" God. They live a roller coaster life, stressed out and weary, living a legalistic or an undisciplined life. They only open their Bible on Sunday, if then. When given a choice, they slide into sin, because it is easier than following God's way out (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Carnal people may have prayed for salvation, but they skip one important step...salvation means to repent of sin and to trust in God. They hide their sin and think no one will ever find out (Numbers 32:23). If they do not walk away from their sin and trust God, they are not Christians (1 John 2:3,3:6-9; Ephesians 5:5). They continue to practice sin and have no remorse for it.

The problem with living a carnal life is that we miss out on the abundant blessings of living a spirit-filled life. God loves us and planned every day of our life. He even wrote them down in His book before we were ever born (Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 139:16). Life is so much easier when we live it God's way. His Spirit directs our every move.

We can contrast the carnal lifestyle with that of a Spirit-filled Christian, who lays down carnality of any kind (Ephesians 5:18). They are so completely yielded to the Holy Spirit that He fills their spirit and soul with His presence (Romans 8:9). They believe in Christ and were sealed with the Holy Spirit, who is their guarantee of their inheritance with Christ of God's entire Kingdom (Ephesians 1:13-14).

They may grieve the Holy Spirit by some thought, word or deed, but they repent as soon as the Spirit convicts them; and they do not live a lifestyle of sin (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). They are true disciples of Christ and they glorify God with every part of their life (John 16:1-15). Due to their dedication, they reap a fulfilled life, overflowing with the fruit of God's Spirit and empowered by Him as well (John 15).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for sending Your Spirit to rebirth our spirit and to fill our body, soul and spirit for eternity (John 1:12; Colossians 2:9, 10; John 14:16, 17). Remind us that His life flows in and through us and affects everything we think, do and say (John 7:37:39). Help us to glorify Jesus and to live as His disciple throughout our lifetime (John 16:1-15). Prompt us to obey Your Word, so Your Spirit can freely work in and through our life.

Thought for the Day:

God calls His Saints to live as witnesses for Him. - Acts 1:1-9

Spiritual Self-Worth

Read: 2 Peter 1:2-8

"His divine power has given us everything we need." - 2 Peter 1:3

Self-esteem is one issue many people struggle with in this mortal life. We either have too much or too little, and we swing from pride to self-loathing. Saul had insecurities when God chose him as King over Israel. After sitting on the throne for several years, however, his pride mounted and he entertained murderous thoughts against David, his God-chosen, anointed successor. 

Entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ empowers us to lay down our insecurities and to allow God’s Holy Spirit to renovate our lives. We no longer need self-esteem, Since the King of the universe redeemed us, our self-worth comes from Christ in us, who is our hope of glory (Colossian 1:27). The opinion of another person about us no longer matters (Colossians 1:13-14), because God made us acceptable as His beloved (Ephesians 1:6). We are now friends with Jesus Christ (John 15:15); members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:27); and the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8).

Through His power in us we can accomplish everything God calls us to do. We are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2) and assured that God works all things, even the bad things, out for our good (Romans 8:28). Jesus Christ, the true vine, invites us to connect to Him as branches, which draw our sustenance from Him. Then we are a channel of His life to others (John 15:5), chosen and anointed to bear fruit (John 15:16; Galatians 5:22-23).

We can never be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39), because we are established, anointed and sealed by Him (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). We are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4). We are confident that God will complete the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6), when He made us citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20).

We are born of God, and Satan cannot touch us (1 John 5:18). No carnal lust or human failure can hinder us once we make up our mind to do God’s will. We may approach God with freedom and confidence in our hour of need (Ephesians 3:12). We can do all things through Christ, because He strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, in the shadow of Thy wings we rejoice. Do not allow anything to keep us from following hard after Thee. (Psalm 63:7-8) We are Your temple (1 Corinthians 3:16); ministers of Your reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21); seated with You in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6). Remind us often that we are Your workmanship created in You for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

Trust God with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)







Thank you, Heather Johnson, for the use of your photo.

Inadequacies and Failures

Read: 2 Peter 1:5-8

“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 2 Peter 1:8

When it was time to make Saul the King of Israel, the prophet had to consult God in order to find him. Saul hid among the baggage because He was riddled with fears due to his insecurities. These inadequacies also caused him to rule ineffectively as the King. Rather than to trust that God had a purpose for him during his reign, he focused on what he considered his lack of abilities and forgot that God ordained him for this position. He ended up consumed with himself, possessed by evil spirits and crippled with depression.

As a young Christian, I did this too. I remembered negative comments made by significant others in my past, and I fell prey to their destructive influence. I allowed my inadequacies and failures to add to my fear and mistrust, and to influence these derisory feelings flooding my soul. Sometimes, because of these negative experiences and beliefs, I even declined the opportunities God gave me to allow Christ to make a difference in someone’s life through me.

Once I started stepping out of my comfort zone and gaining a bit of confidence, my motives in ministry still reflected my need to earn God’s love. I tried to prove to Him that I was worthy of His calling. I relied on my own talents and knowledge to accomplish God’s will in my life. I failed every time too, or I end up only partially accomplishing what God called me to do. In fact, the negative baggage in my life often hindered me from fully seeing the incredible power of Christ in me working through me.

Over the years of walking in His presence, God cleansed me from the effects of this unconstructive criticism and these past failures. Now, when I make the effort to rely on the unlimited power of Christ in me (Galatians 2:20), my success rate increases dramatically. Instead of depending on myself, I can step aside as the Spirit within me directs my words and deeds. I trust Him to work all things out for my good and the good of those to whom I minister. Empowered by His Spirit, I can do all things, because He lives in me (Philippians 4:13).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I thank You for forgiving me when I allowed fear to hinder me from obeying Your will for my life. Thank You for giving me small successes to build up my confidence in Your ability to work through me. Help me to be instant in season and out of season, because the darkness is closing in toward a time when people will no longer endure hearing sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2-3).

Thought for the Day:

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. - 2 Peter 1:3