Hope for Our Future

Basking in the life, the presence and the Word of God are essential for the authentic Believer's well-being. Our body and soul cry out for our living God (Psalm 84:2).

God's presence is the only commodity, which will satisfy our longing and fill our hungry soul - our thoughts, choices and emotions (Psalm 107:9).

People fail to devote their whole life and soul to God for many reasons, including living in the whirlwind of vocation, pleasure, family issues, material possessions, etc.  Some are even riddled with doubt, debt and cynicism.

These are all modern idols and false gods. When we serve false gods, God sends plagues of all types in order to get our attention; yet, we often harden our heart all the more.

We view trials as punishment, rather than the Surgeon's skilled knife which brings repentance of sin and complete healing to areas of our life where Satan lied to us.

God desires to fulfill His glorious promises in us, which are full of mercy, grace and truth. His plans bring us prosperity rather than punishment, and they give us a hopeful future (Jeremiah 29:10-11).

However, we must first return to our first love, to pray for forgiveness for our sins and to call on Him. Then, He will listen to us. When we seek Him with our whole body, soul and spirit, we will always find Him (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

In God's everlasting arms, we enter His rest because He provides us with hope for our future, security for our spirit and peace for our soul. There is always hope in the Lord.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for allow us to rest in Your everlasting embrace. You provide us with Your peace as we walk in Your Spirit, guidance as we consult You each moment of the day, and joy as we abide in Your presence within us. You restored us to Yourself and we glorify Your name and love You with all of our heart.

We live our life in worship to You, seeking first Your Kingdom rather than building our own kingdom (Matthew 6:33). We consult You in all of our ways and we want to do only Your will for our life. We make You our top priority in life and we diligently seek You in times of peace and turmoil alike.

Thought for the Day:

God never promises us a struggle free life; in fact, He made it clear that we would experience many trials and tribulation; yet, He always gives us His peace, which helps us to stay focused on Him rather than to depend on our own human understanding. - John 16:33; Philippians 4:7

Entering God's Rest

 

When we enter our rest in Christ (Hebrews 4:10), we do not cease from activity, but enter a state of perfect tranquility as we perform only those works, which God prepared for us before we were born (Ephesians 2:10). We live, move and have our being in Christ (Acts 17:28); therefore we live in mental, emotional and physical harmony with His divine will. We discover His will by quieting our soul and listening through ceaseless prayer to His voice in our spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

 

Ignoring human reasoning, we live in the Spirit rather than in the flesh (Galatians 5:16,25). Our labor ceases to be work because we carry out the will of God and work in the power of God’s Spirit. Our employment is no longer for our employer, but for our Holy God. We give our employer our very best efforts, because we serving a Higher Power. God holds us up and inspires our weary labors. We do not bear our burdens alone. He gives us joy in our work.

 

We think only about concepts, which are true, gracious, honest, authentic, undeniable and courteous. We focus on the best rather than the worst scenarios, on the beautiful instead of the ugly and on good news, which deserves praise, rather on evil and damning information. As we put Biblical principles into practice, God works out everything for our good in peace and harmony (Philippians 4:8; Romans 8:28). Buried with Christ, we are alive in God (Acts 17:11).

 

Functioning with clarity of mind, rather than thoughts fueled by panic and anxiety, we prosper. The Bible is no longer a closed book to us. We understand its precepts and its words are life to our spirit and soul. When a carnal desire or thought disturbs our peace, we know that from anywhere on the earth we can run to the Rock of Christ. He is our towering Rock of safety (Psalm 61:2). It is better to wait on God than to manufacture any solution from our flesh (Matthew 6:28:30; Psalm 37:3; Isaiah 30:7).

 

Prayer:

Father God, we are pressed within and without by adversity, but not crushed or broken. We are confused and do not understand why life treats us as it does, but we trust in You. We are abandoned and abused, but you never leave or forsake us. Life shoves us down, but by Your Spirit we get up and keep on serving you. We are persecuted and ridiculed, but You use it to show Your Power through our suffering. We face fears within and without, but You, our living Lord, keep us safe always. Even when we die, we live on eternally with you (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).

 

Thought for the Day:

Our troubles will soon be over, but our joys in the Lord will last forever. - 2 Corinthians 4:18

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

A Contented Heart

When we suffer, we often accuse God, as if it is entirely His fault that we are inconvenienced. As if He caused it. However, we can put suffering in its proper perspective, when we see that Jesus also suffered. He suffered for our sins. He was made perfect through His suffering. Everyone suffers physically, mentally, emotionally or financially in one way or another. Only those who turn to God, however, will also receive His comfort and grace during our trouble (Romans 8:28).

God gives us eternal life from the moment we come to Him in salvation (John 17:3). Therefore, we can give Him thanks regardless of our circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This thankfulness gives us a happy life, even if we are experiencing unhappy conditions (Psalm 103:5). Our situation in life does not define our character or our identity. We can live above these natural issues, by finding our strength and joy in Christ who is our all in all (Colossians 1:17).

Having a Godly attitude along with contentment helps us to grow in Christ (1Timothy 6:6). We brought nothing into this world, and we must leave everything behind. Therefore, we find our contentment in God’s provision of food and clothing (1Timothy 6:8). God gives us everything we need to find joy, even in our tribulation. He also uses our discomfort to comfort others. Having worldly riches and a love of money presents a trap and a temptation. They cause us to entertain many worldly desires, which may plunge us into ruin and destruction.

God encourages us to pursue eternal life and to flee from worldly gain. Instead, he wants us to seek His holiness, faith, love, gentleness and endurance to run the race (1 Timothy 6:6-12). Possessing Christ is the main ingredient in living a joyful life (Romans 5:3). His grace is all we really need to have power, which is perfected in our weakness. He teaches us contentment even in the face of insults, sorrow, trouble and persecution for Christ’s sake. Christ in us is strong even in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Dishonest gain is a reproach, as is greed and materialism (Luke 3:14). If we covet our neighbors’ possessions, the envy will rot our bones; but a contented heart gives life to our body, as well as to our soul and spirit (Proverbs 14:30). As we respect and obey the Lord, He leads us into life and godliness, so that we can rest in contentment so sweet that we are not even disturbed by trouble anymore (Proverbs 19:23). As we serve the Lord first, He provides everything we need (Psalm 34:10; Matthew 6:33).

Prayer:

Father God, teach us to be content no matter what situation we encounter. Help us to prosper in spirit even in humble physical means; and keep us humble in prosperous physical means as well. Christ in us provides the inner strength to endure any hardship (Philippians 4:11-13). Christ in us is our only true source of contentment. Remind us to walk in Your ways and to seek Your face, and You will provide everything we need.

Thought for the Day:

Like Job, we will find that God will provide for us more than we ever lost through our trials and tribulation.

I Want My Own Way

Most people think that Satan is public enemy number one for the Christian. However, the will of man is actually the foremost enemy of our spiritual life. Our will has the power to submit to God or to the flesh and Satan. If we do not realize the benefits of surrendering to God and denying the flesh, our will always sides with our flesh, even if it is against our better judgment! We are able to prosper with a healthy life only to the extent to which our soul flourishes (3 John 1:2). Our soul is a very vital part of our existence. It is not the flesh, but is used by the flesh for sin’s expression.

Our will employs our motives, desires, goals and ambitions, which are driven either by our flesh or by God’s Spirit. The flesh preys upon the thoughts, choices and emotions of our soul. The first step to success is to request that our High Priest sacrifice our carnal flesh on the altar of God. Then, we are free to follow the leading of God’s Spirit moment by moment throughout the day. Once the Spirit of God takes control of our life, our soul is sanctified from one level of glory to the next. The flesh no longer uses our soul, because our will chooses to honor Christ instead (2 Corinthians 3:18).

We are dead to sin by the blood of the Lamb (Romans 6:11); therefore, we do not have to allow sin to use our body and soul any longer (Romans 6:12). As we read the Word of God, it shines a light on the areas in our life that the Holy Spirit wants to cleanse. He deals with these issues until He purifies that area of our life (1 Peter 1:22). His Word is sure and mighty and pulls down Satanic and fleshly strongholds in our soul (Hebrews 4:12). Our part is to refuse to give the flesh a moment of our attention. In this way, we do not encumber our spirit with the carnal demands of our flesh. 

Christ gradually corals our will, gives us His mind and replace our emotions with the fruit of His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16; Galatians 5:16-25). We do not return to the anxiety and grief of our former carnal life, because not only is our spirit regenerated, but also our soul is being saved by the faith of Christ within us (Matthew 6:25; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 10:39). The more submissively we surrender our will to God’s will for our life, the more freedom, fulfillment and peace we experience (Ephesians 6:6). Even if He counts us worthy to partake of His suffering, Jesus fills our soul with His presence, which sees us through any hardship we ever encounter in the life (Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:13,19).

Prayer:

Father God, we diligently search for You with a parched soul that desires no one but You. We see the miracles You perform daily in our life, things that many people overlook or account as coincidental. We long for Your love and we want nothing more than to dwell in Your courts forever. We give You praise and we glorify You with every waking breath and even in the night watches, because You meet our every need. We gladly claim You as our God. We cling to You as You carry us in Your everlasting arms (Psalm 63:1-9).

Thought for the Day:

The serene soul finds a place of deep rest by yoking up with Christ, Who carries our load and leads us to green pastures and still water (Matthew 11:29; Psalm 23:2-3).

Overcoming Stress

 

If we ignore the signs of stress, we end up with:

·cognitive problems such as lapses in memory and concentration, worry or poor judgment;

·emotional indications such as moodiness, agitation, isolation and depression;

·physical issues such as aches, pains, bowel issues, chest pain, frequent colds and sexual dysfunction;

·behavioral symptoms such as loss of appetite, sleeplessness, procrastination, addictions and nervous habits.

When I was 40 years old, my former husband divorced me. I thank God that He used a potentially crippling event in my life to teach me valuable spiritual lessons that improved every area of my life. I worked four jobs at one time in order to pay my bills and to start a savings for those unexpected issues in life that demand payment. After keeping up this schedule for over a year, I almost killed myself! I got sicker than I have ever been in my whole life before or since that time. I was trusting in myself to provide for my needs, rather than to trust God to continue to meet them.

Past and current circumstances not only affect our health, but also our emotional, mental, behavioral and spiritual equilibrium. The unexpected situations in our life expose our deepest fears. When our workplace, home life or community involvement start developing into a pressure-packed existence, and the demands on our life prove unrealistic, this calls for prayer to submit them to the Lord. God calls us to live a life totally surrendered to Him and led by His Spirit, rather than one driven by the expectations of people or events in our life.

The opposite of surrender is control. We try with all of our might to hang on, to fix it, to change it, to manage it or to try to make it better. Trying to maintain control of life is impossible, frustrating and ineffective. We attempt, by the sheer power of our will, to hold everything together. We think we have to handle our problems on our own. Controlling usually produces the opposite effect of what we want. Our dependency on anything other than God: addictions, people, places, jobs, things, animals, etc. - puts us into bondage to them. Only God’s love and Spirit produce true liberty.

God’s Spirit will lead us through our day at work, home, community, church and at play as long as we take the time to seek His will. God wants us to let go of trying to control everything, and to admit that we are powerless and we need His power in our life. This is the first step toward healing. God pleads with us to LET GOD BE GOD in our life. When we surrender to God, He always works out everything, even the negative things, for our good (Romans 8:28). We cannot change people or all of our circumstances, but God can.

Surrender is the doorway to freedom. It is a state of brokenness, of total dependence upon God, of receiving God’s forgiveness and of having a personal, daily relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition to surrender, God calls us to believe that His power truly can overcome any person or circumstance in our life. God wants us to completely surrender our will to His and to be vulnerable before Him. This is called “dying to self”.

This concept does not mean that we diminish our God given identity, personality, needs or giftedness. It simply means allowing God to replace our old, carnal, sinful nature with His holy, compassionate, spiritual nature. We allow God to call the shots and to direct us according to His will instead of living according to our own goals, plans and ambitions. Job tells us that if we submit to God and live at peace in Him, He brings prosperity to us in every area of life (Job 22:21).

Prayer:

Father God, you told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Then he decided that from then on that he would boast all the more gladly about his weaknesses, so that Christ’s power would grow stronger in him. That is why, for Christ’s sake, he started to delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. He discovered the secret of the Christian life: When we are weak, then we are strong (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10). Thank You for being our one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Thought for the Day:

If Jesus is on the throne of our life, and we live in full surrender to Him every moment of every day, we live and walk in true Serenity. 

Our Joy is in the Lord

Every person on the face of our planet searches for the meaning of life and their place in the larger scheme of existence. Many want fame, riches, success, health and some even seek inner peace and happiness. Others wish they were never born; some do not want to die. Now that they are here, some want to live forever. Others want to end their life here and now and take the chance that what is on the other side of life is better than the reality facing us here on earth.

The basic need in all of us is to find some sort of fulfillment now and in eternity as well. We concentrate on family, business, hobbies and sometimes even church of some sort. However, when we attempt to find fulfillment only by meeting our own needs, a web of conflict erupts. Self-centeredness limits us in life. It narrows the circle of our possibilities for our future. It’s stunts our emotional and social growth and restricts our full potential. We fail to encourage, strengthen and minister to others, because our life is consumed with our self.

Our needs often become an idol in our life, because we focus more about them than we do our Savior. This is a very lonely existence indeed. Most people who reach their goals and fulfill their ambitions in this manner end up very unhappy with the end result. Paul is a great example of someone who had nothing, but who lived a completely fulfilled life. Even prison did not douse his joy. His fulfillment did not depend upon any person, place or thing. He found His joy only in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul put his time in jail to good use and wrote letters that continue to edify Christians throughout the centuries of time. His legacy is more lasting than all the riches in the world. When we choose to submit our life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, as Paul did, He fills us with His righteousness in exchange for our sin, Godly wisdom replaces our temporal knowledge, faith takes the place of doubt and the fruit of the Spirit overcomes our carnal attitudes and expressions.

We can confidently trust that He who began a good work in us, will continue molding us until Jesus Christ returns (Philippians 1:6). God’s Agape love makes a true difference in our life. His Word is sustenance to our soul and a lamp to guide us on our path. God will be there for you, even when no one else is; He's the only one you can really count on to stand in your corner every time. He walks within us and leads us to spiritual prosperity and fulfillment. This, in turn, affects our soul – our mind, will and emotions, as well as our body. We are filled with deep peace and joy that transcends anything the world has to offer (John 14:27).

God has a purpose for everyone, and we will never find fulfillment if we do not live within that purpose. A church or an individual who puts their trust in Jesus alone, apart from human effort or accomplishment, finds what they are looking for. Those who think they are Christians, but who follow the designs and dictates of the world are simply fooling themselves. Everyone else can see their hypocritical lifestyle; and they lose respect for God and the church because of it.

Righteousness is not a list of imperatives, but the result of a life fully submitted to God. It is only as we are filled with the fruit of Christ’s righteousness that we can ever bring honor, glory and praise to God (Philippians 1:11). Integrity is the most vital factor in the life of a fulfilled believer. The objects and relationships that the world considers crucial are mere illusions. God completes His work in us as we totally surrender to His love and care.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, everyone searches for fulfillment; however, only those who put their total faith and trust in You will find what they are truly looking for. Everything else is an fantasy, which fades in the light of the Son. You are our only source of true peace and joy. We are only complete in You. A healthy life as well as a healthy church is submitted to Your Lordship and Your Spirit’s direction. As we submit to Your will for our life, You reveal Your perfect plan for us during each individual moment of our day.

Thought for the Day:

If all we have is God, we have everything we need (John 14:8).

Hope Deferred

Read: 1 Peter 1:7-8

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there’s life and joy.”- Proverbs 13:12

From our youngest years we dream of the limitless possibilities, which stretch out before us. Little boys want to be fire fighters, jet pilots or truck drivers. Young girls dream of living as a ballerina, a nurse or concert pianist. We often spend a great deal of time and money pursuing our dreams and we do not always succeed. As we watch our hope dwindle away, our heart sinks in despair.

Depression often accompanies the death of a vision. A lost job, a failed relationship, a wayward teen, a child or mate lost to tragedy or war, disillusionment in the church’s leadership, frustration with our government or the world situation or our economy all contribute to depression. We know there is hope in Jesus, but at times He hides His presence. We struggle to make the connection, yet He remains inaccessible.

Sometimes, God seems silent because He is simply giving us a chance to walk in obedience to what He already told us to do. At other times, our sin or involvement in the world may be hindering us from fellowship with the Lord. Possibly, we just stopped listening for so long that we no longer recognize His voice.

King David penned many poetic words pertaining to his discouragement and disappointment. We can follow the Psalmist’s example as he encouraged his own soul, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? ” (Psalm 43:5). We can also encourage our soul – our mind, will and emotions – to bless the Lord at all times and to praise His holy name.

God speaks to us through His Spirit and His Word. As we spend time reading the Bible and listening for His Spirit, we will see answers to our questions and hear His direction for our life. I found that in these silent times, God is encouraging me to sink my roots deeper into His Spirit. He knows there are gales of adversity ahead, and He uses these silences to draw us closer to Himself. Only under the shadow of His wings shall we find true and lasting hope as the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8).

As we remember his blessings, which He bestows on us, we have much to thank Him for. He forgives our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from destruction, crowns us with love and kindness and tender mercy, satisfies our hunger with good things to eat, and renews our strength with the power of eagles (Psalm 103:1-5). Put your hopes and dreams in the Lord’s hands. They are safe there, because He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to remember that happy are they who have the God of eternity for their provider, and who keep their hope in You (Psalm 146:5). You have been my hope since my youth (Psalm 71:5). We are a blessed people if our trusts is in You, and who put our confidence in You always (Jeremiah 17:7).

Thought for the Day:

“Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.” - Psalm 43:5

 

Reduced to Fools

Read: Exodus 20:18-20

Did you ever notice the absence of the fear of (respect for) the Lord in people today. Everyone is a god unto him/herself, and they make up their own rules for life as they go along. Or else, they create designer gods that fit their philosophy of life and which do not require anything from them.

 

Why should we fear/reverence the Lord? God instructs and confides in those who fear Him. The path of those who reverence the Lord includes prosperity (Psalm 25:12-14). He stores up goodness for them that take refuge in Him (Psalm 31:19). He delivers from famine and death all those whose hope is in His unfailing love (Psalm 33:18-19). He sends His angels to camp around those who fear Him and He delivers them in their times of trouble. He is a refuge to them and they lack no good thing (Psalm 34:7-11). He provides food for them who remember his covenant forever (Psalm 111:5). He takes His delight in them (Psalm 147:11).

Other reasons we have such a high regard for the Lord is that whatever He speaks and commands always comes to pass (Psalm 33:8-9). He puts a new song into our mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many unbelievers see why we sing to Him and then they put their trust in the Lord too and come to fear Him (Psalm 40:3). He gives a heritage to those who fear His name (Psalm 61:5). His love for us is a high as the heavens are from the earth (Psalm 103:11).

To those who obey His precepts and remember His covenant, His love is from everlasting to everlasting…in modern vernacular that is as far as infinity and beyond! (Psalm 103:17-18). He is our help and our shield in times of danger (Psalm 115:11). When we fear Him and walk in His ways we are blessed, we eat the fruit of our labor and His blessings and prosperity are ours. Even our family increases and is fruitful (Ps 128:1-4) and His mercy extends from generation to generation (Proverbs 1:50).

Conversely, those who are wicked and sinful and flatter themselves too much to repent of or to hate their sin do not fear the Lord (Psalm 36:1-2). God brings to everlasting ruin those who do not make Him their stronghold, but trust instead in their earned wealth and grow strong by destroying others. He snatches them up, uproots them and removes them from their homes (Ps 52:5-7).

Therefore, it does not make sense for us to be wise in our own eyes. If we fear the Lord and shun evil, God will bring health to our body and nourish our bones (Proverbs 3:7-8). In Exodus 20:18-20, God shows His mighty power to the Israelites. They are so convicted of their unholiness in His sight, and are so fearful of His awesome power, that they cower behind Moses. The wise will hear this message and learn from it (Matthew 7:24).

Prayer:

Lord God, You are a great God and most worthy of our praise. You are to be feared above all gods. For other gods are mere idols made of wood and stone, but You are the one who made the heavens. We will fear You and praise You and we pray that all of our descendants will honor and revere You (1 Chronicles 16:25-26; Psalm 22:23).

Thought for the Day ~

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...without it, we are reduced to fools.