The High Praises of God in Our Mouth

Thoughts and emotions are fickle and lead many of us on a wild dance. When we are happy, we live a productive life; but the moment we meet a crisis or feel discouraged, we lose all hope. Some react to stress or depression by sleeping all the time, or our soul may invent psychosomatic illnesses or we turn to addictions.

This behavior causes us to receive even more criticism and rejection, and this denunciation increases our feelings of separation from the people we love. Trusting in Christ may not change our circumstances, but it certainly alters the way we view life. We belong to the eternal family of God (Ephesians 2:19). In Christ, we can accomplish anything, which He leads us to do (Philippians 4:13).

The more often we focus on the goodness and greatness of God, the more His praise rests on the tip of our tongue. The least little blessing that comes our way is reason to erupt into high praises to our Lord and King (Luke 1:46-47; Psalm 149:6). In addition to this, we get excited about His spiritual blessings, as well as His mercy and grace in our life (Ephesians 1:3).

Even our failings are not failures, because there is forgiveness with our God (Psalm 130:4). We will not lose the war for our soul, simply because we lost a battle. Christ in us already obtained for us our eternal security in Him (John 5:24). Our soul – our mind, emotions and will – magnifies the Lord and our spirit rejoices in God our Savior (Luke 1:39-56).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for transforming the personality of our soul into the mind of Christ, Your divine nature and the fruit of Your Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Remind us that You inhabit our praises (Psalm 22:3). With high praises to You in our mouth, and the two-edged sword of Your Word in our hand, we can vanquish any negative emotion and overcome any enemy of our soul (Psalm 149:6). Help us not to allow our flesh, which is dominated by our physical senses and emotions, to dictate our behavior; but help us to allow our faith in You, as well as our praises to You, to change our feelings (Deuteronomy 30:19). We choose to walk in Your joy, precious Lord.

Thought for the Day:

Our success in life pivots entirely on our obedience to Christ and following the leading of His Holy Spirit.

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

Yoke Fellows

In our former unsaved life, this world’s system drove us into a frantic pace. We lived for the week-end and filled our free time as full as our work day. Nothing really satisfied us, and we tried many avenues of adventure and recreation in order to find that activity, which would bring us contentment. We even tried God, but were turned off by some church members or the tragedy in this world.

Then, one day someone presented to us the gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that it pierced like an arrow right into our heart. We knew without a doubt that the vacuum in our life could only be satisfied with a personal, intimate relationship with the God of the universe who created us in the first place. We see that complete surrender is the only key to a God-honoring, productive and fulfilling life.

We seek out the fellowship of other Believers. We no longer demand our own way, but we submit to God’s will and consult His plans for each moment of our day (Proverbs 3:5-6). This would be impossible, except for the fact that we are in Christ and Christ is in us. We are grafted onto the Vine of Christ and God is the vine dresser.

Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon us, because it is easy and light (Matthew 11:30). When we hook up with Christ in His yoke and move in tandem with Him, our day is more successful and we are more fulfilled. If we get out from under His yoke, or if we pull Him in our direction, we only end up frustrating our self and getting out of God’s will for us. As a yoke fellow with Jesus we have His peace and joy.

Prayer:

Father God, Your love for humanity knows no bounds; and yet, people fail to see Your heart. They read Your Word and see only Your justice and interpret that as malevolence. They think you are supposed to act according to human standards of love, permissiveness would be a better word. However, Your love is righteous and always just. Open the eyes of the unbelievers to see their need for Your love and protection.

Thought for the Day:

Freedom comes with surrender to the love of Christ resident within us.

Trusting in God's Faithfulness

The flesh, the world and the devil are not our enemy. A lack of trust is our foremost enemy. Trust allows us to believe in what we cannot see, hear, smell, feel, taste or touch. Trust transcends the bonds of our physical senses and moves into the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12). Even our most horrendous burden is relieved in the face of trust. God’s plans and purpose are perfect regardless of the outcome, because He always works all things in life, even the bad things, out for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). His abundant supply provides for all of our needs (Philippians 4:19).

Every battle in life contains a spiritual context. We can overcome anything because Christ lives in us, through us and instead of us. He uses our body, soul and spirit for His glory. Too many Born Again Believers live in defeat, because they do not realize that Victory dwells within us as the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus already won the war 2000 years ago on Calvary’s cross. Every foe is vanquished, every battle is already won and every mystery is solved by the wisdom of God’s Spirit within us. Our carnal flesh pits itself against the Spirit until the day that we completely surrender to God’s will (Galatians 5:17). 

We can choose to live as 100-fold Christians (Matthew 13:8). Decide this day to serve our living Lord and worthy King with your whole heart and soul. Anything less than 100% dedication to God provides us with less than 100% of His blessings. That is no way to live our life...it is only second best. Once we recognize that we are seated with God in spiritual places, the aspects of life on this earth have no relevance to us anymore, except as the Spirit leads us (Ephesians 2:6). We carpool the children, repair cars, work in the financial sector or medical field or retail, or Pastor God’s people for the glory of God.

When we recognize that God is our truly loving parent, we have joy even in the face of some area of lack, which we think we need (Habakkuk 3:17-18). When the circumstances of life weigh us down, we simply put the matter in the heart of God. Then He gives us His joy with each new morning (Psalm 30:5). We can enter into the joy of the Lord regardless of the time, place or trials that come against us (Matthew 25:21). He sheds His joy on the upright in heart as we celebrate who He is and extol His holy name each moment of the day (Psalm 97:11-12).

Prayer:

Father God, we often live a life of dualism, torn between the insecurities of our flesh and the promises of Your Word. We fail You on so many levels, because we tend to listen to Satan’s lies rather than to believe Your Word of Truth. You want us to dedicate our entire spirit, soul and body to Your service. It is only as we walk in Your Spirit moment by moment throughout the day that we live the abundant and productive life that You intend for us to enjoy. Help us to mature in the faith of Jesus within us and to recognize our true identity in Christ. When we gather in Your house for corporate prayer, fill us with Your joy that transcends human reasoning (Isaiah 56:7).

Thought for the Day:

With faith in the unseen, we can accomplish the impossible. - Philippians 4:13




Thank you, Matt Milligan, for the use of your photo.
http://www.mattmilliganphotography.com/