Hope in God Alone

If we look at the responsibilities of our life as a huge chunk, we will feel overwhelmed and discouraged. We may want to go back to bed and stay there until Christ returns, we may get drunk and drown our sorrows and fears, or we may vegetate in front of the TV and eat unhealthy snacks.

We end up worsening our issues because they are still there after our unsuccessful attempt to self-medicate. Life is still happening all around us. Time still marches on.

When we fully surrender our life to Christ, His Spirit moves into our spirit. The entire Trinity abides in us and empowers us to make a difference in our life and in our world.

God plants seeds for a miracle in every trial. Trouble is actually an adventure when we view it with our spiritual eyes. God makes everything, even the most horrendous issues, turn out for our good (Romans 8:28).

We just need a positive attitude and faith in His faithfulness to see God's blessings in our circumstances. A sense of humor helps as well. We can laugh in the face of Satan's calamities and even chuckle over our own failings or social blunders.

Keeping fit, eating fresh and organic foods, simplifying our life, daily reading God's Word, fellowshipping with other Saints, serving our family members and our church family and community, and walking in God's Spirit restores our body to symmetry, our soul to confidence and hope, and our spirit to strength and rejuvenation.

Think of something in your life that you can thank God for and focus on it - flowers in the garden, a rainbow in the sky, pets, children, a safe home, clothes to wear, food to eat, air to breathe, ears to hear, eyes to see, and other things that we usually take for granted.

This new focus and attitude reduces our stress, lowers physical and psychiatric drains on us and improves our optimism about life. We surround our self with spiritually minded people, activities and atmosphere. We listen to praise music and participate in praising God with every breath we breathe.

Prayer:

Father God, You are our provision, and we hope in You alone (Lamentations 3:24). We know that You will raise us from the dead and take us home with You for eternity (Acts 24:15). You justify us and give us Your peace and grace (Romans 5:1-3). When we hope in You we are never disappointed, because You show us Your plan for our life (Romans 5:5).

By the help of Your Holy Spirit, we rejoice in Your hope and are filled with Your joy and peace as we maintain our belief in You (Romans 12:12, 15:13). Even when we see nothing in our life to hope in, we eagerly and perseveringly wait in hope to see the salvation of our God (Romans 8:24-25). We look forward to our blessed hope - the glorious appearing of Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13-14).

Thought for the Day:

Christ in us gives us the hope of sharing in His glory; and as He and God our Father, who love us and console us with everlasting hope and grace, always comfort our hearts and establish us in their peace, they guide us in our good words and works.

- Colossians 1:27-28; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17;
1 Peter 1:13-14; Hebrews 6:19-20, 7:19

Help My Unbelief

A father brings his son to Jesus. The boy has a mute spirit and experiences epileptic-type seizures. He believes Jesus can heal his son; yet because the disciples already failed to do so, he is afraid to try again. He asks Jesus for help with his unbelief (Mark 9:23-25).

We all feel this way sometimes. We know what the Word of God says, what preachers tell us, and what our friends share with us; yet, we still have such little faith!

Through this tiny verse God shows His humor and mercy in the same breath (Mark 9:23-25). He teaches us that the important aspect is to choose to believe, even when circumstances cause us to feel uncertain.

God understands that we lose hope and get discouraged. So, God put this powerful verse in the Bible to remind us that as long as we choose to believe, then He will do the rest.

Prayer:

Lord, we want to walk in obedience, trusting in Your promises and doing greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12). We believe in You; yet, at times, our faith is weak. Thank You for helping our unbelief, and for providing for all of our spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

We praise You day and night for Your wonderful works and multitude of blessings to the Your children. You do so much for us and take such an active roll in the details of our life. Thank You for caring enough to give Your life for our redemption and salvation.

Thought for the Day:

Hearing from God often requires that we find a quiet place to still our thoughts and focus on His presence in our life.

Are You a Child of God?

 

Many people believe that everyone is a child of God. However, the Bible tells us just the opposite. We are born in Adam’s sin and our spirit is dead. We are children of the devil. If we live a sinful lifestyle, we are not born of God; and, therefore, we are not children of God (1 John 3:8-10). Children think and act as their father thinks and acts. Who are you emulating with your thoughts and behavior? You say that you are a good person, but this concept goes deeper.

Do you live for the pleasures of the day or are you focused on eternal matters? Do you spend your time and money pursuing the world or investing in God’s glory? Are you led by your fleshly, carnal desires or for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God? I do not mean that you have no times of fun to lighten your soul, but what type of fun do you partake in? Is it in decadence and sin or in enjoying God’s creation and wholesome fun?

Do you give God an hour of your time a week, or do you seek Him in all of your ways (Proverbs 3:5-6)? Are your thoughts and actions in harmony or in perpetual discord with God’s intentions (Revelations 15:3; Isaiah 35:8; Ephesians 2:10)? Are you continually dissatisfied, or do you find Your joy in the Lord (Isaiah 61:10-11)? When God is calling us to Himself, He allows trials to drive us to the cross. He wants us to realize the futility of our rebellion.

God may allow sickness in our life when we strive for health, opposition when we desire harmony or debt when we want financial stability, etc. He does not do this out of a perverse sense of humor or to harm us in any way (Jeremiah 29:11); but to wake us up to our powerlessness to control our life, and to see that His infinite ways are higher and better than our finite human ways (Isaiah 55:9). He wants us to realize the truth that only in Him do we find ultimate safety and provision (Psalm 34:7, 91:1-11).

Prayer:

Father God, even if we conquer the world in our lifetime, we still must face eternity alone. Help us to realize that only in You do we find complete peace and fulfillment (Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 86:13, 138:8). Show us that walking with You requires union with You in body and soul, as well as in spirit. We must be Born Again (John 3:1-7). We find no ultimate peace in this life, unless we trust in You alone (Psalm 31).

Thought for the Day:

Even in times of insecurity and stress, we remain calm and assured in the arms of God. - Psalm 31:21