God's Goodness and Grace

God's name is used in our society more in cursing than as a prayer. The last several generations have less of a concept of sin. They consider wrong as right, and right is often viewed as wrong (Romans 1:32).

Sin is the norm for many, and church is foreign (Ephesians 4:21, 6:1; Colossians 3:9). They view Christ's death on Calvary's cross as a waste of a life, rather than as the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation.

Until we understand that God's Word is our ultimate authority, we will not comprehend our disobedience to it, and our need to ask Jesus for forgiveness (John 14:15, 23).

Even the law of our land teaches us that there are consequences for our behavior. The police person and courts hold us responsible to uphold the law, or we are sentenced to make amends.

When we transgress God's law, we deserve to suffer the penalty of death (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Yet, Jesus suffered our eternal punishment for us (John 3:16-18). He gives us His life in our spirit, which was formerly dead in sin (Galatians 2:20).

When we decide to live for God, rather than for our self, we are no longer separated from Him. Jesus makes it possible for us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven (Romans 10:13).

When we die physically, we will not die spiritually. The last breath we breathe on earth is followed by our first breath in Heaven (Matthew 25:46). We can trust our life on earth to God's perfect plan for us (Ephesians 2:10).

We find fulfillment, peace and joy through His love and forgiveness (Romans 14:17). We collapse into God's waiting arms with the confidence that He will catch us and never, ever let us go (Hebrews 13:5).

Prayer:

Father God, there are not enough days in our lifetime to show our appreciation to You for all that You do for us each day. Remind us not to take Your goodness and grace for granted. Teach us to praise You for all of the blessings You shower on us each and every day. Thank You for abiding in our spirit and making such a huge difference in our life.

Help us to learn to discern the leading of Your Spirit as we commit each moment of our day to You. We do not want to depend on our human reasoning, because this reaps mediocre results at best. We want to walk in Your Will by the direction of Your Word under the power of Your Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day:

God improves our spiritual, mental, emotional, financial and physical health as we trust Him, follow the direction of His Spirit, and live, move and exist only in His will. - Acts 17:28

God's Fullness - Abiding in God's Presence

Any area of our life, which we do not surrender to God, holds us back from receiving the fullness of His presence. Negative emotions are the indicators of areas to which we are still clinging.

When we feel negative, we can inspect our soul to discover the root of the issues. We may need to repent of our attitude or actions, to forgive our self or someone else, or to change our focus about this issue until it no longer bothers us.

Total surrender opens the windows of heaven to fill our life with all of God's fullness and blessings. Obeying God's Word and walking in the Spirit are the steps for success in our journey through sanctification (Galatians 5:15-25).

As we yield to God's will, we learn that He always works out everything - even the most painful human experience - for our ultimate good, if we will only relinquish our plans and embrace His will (Matthew 13: 44-46).

Satan will attempt to hinder us with his lies, fear of the unknown, grudges over past treatment, and carnal desires that thwart God's purposes in our life.

However, Christ in us is greater than Satan and his demons (1 John 4:4). We are filled with God through Christ in us. He fills us with his holiness, peace and joy as He fills us with His Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

We realize that we are simply stewards of all the material blessings, which God gives us; and if we use then as He directs us, He will give us more, and often something better to use and share.

As we grasp the immensity of God's love, we live and walk in His presence, giving preference to His will in our life, rather than pursuing our own goals, dreams and desires.

We have no greater desire than to be used by God to further His Kingdom in this earth and to take as many people to heaven with us who will humble their pride and surrender their life to Him too.

Prayer:

Father God, show us the reality of Your presence indwelling within us (Matthew 28:20). Thank You for walking through the trials of this life with us, giving us green pastures and still waters, and restoring our soul (Psalm 23:1-2).

Remind us not to have faith in what we want You to do for us, but to have faith to do what You want us to do for You. Help us to focus on Your will and to understand that the prayer that never fails is, "Lord, not my will, but Yours be done on earth, in my life and in Heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

Thought for the Day:

The intense focus of God’s heart is to live as one with us, just as He is one with Jesus. - John 17:22:23

God's Fullness - His Spirit and Word

 

Once we fully surrender to the power of God's love within us, we can experience the unimaginable treasure of that love, which surpasses anything we ever experience in our life without God.

This happens as we submit to His Spirit, who will strengthen our soul and spirit with God's glory until He completely sanctifies and transforms our character, nature and personality (2 Peter 1:4; Psalm 51:10; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24; Titus 3:5).

Jesus Christ makes His permanent home in our spirit, and we exhibit total faith in His absolute faithfulness. He is always with us and never leaves or forsakes us for any reason (Hebrews 13:5).

We send the roots, of our faith in Him, deep into the soil of His love for us. This firmly establishes us in His Kingdom and strengthens us through every trial we ever experience.

God's love is much more multi-faceted than human love. Our love is self-centered and biased. God's love is sacrificial, unconditional and all encompassing.

He gives us His love to enjoy and to share with those He brings into our life. Living in Christ removes the drudgery of life on this earth and gives us purpose and meaning.

When we live in God's presence, we actually live in the fullest life possible for us on earth, because Jesus is our way, truth and life (John 10:10). We obey His Spirit and His Word.

God's Word is quick and alive and sharper than a two-edged sword, helping us to discern between what comes from our flesh, the world or the devil, and what is God's will for us (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:50).

We stop focusing on the petty concerns of this world and we walk in a new life, embracing God's truth and enjoying the fullest measure of His presence each moment of the day.

Prayer:

Father God, we thank you for flooding our life with the richest measure of Your presence. You comfort, encourage, calm, and instruct us by Your existence in our body, soul and spirit. Remind us to immerse our self in Your Word, to consult Your Spirit, and to walk in Your will every moment of our day (Galatians 5:15-25).

Enlarge our heart by Your presence, Your love and Your Word throughout our lifetime, so that we can view each moment from Your perspective instead of from our narrow human focus. Draw us ever closer to Your heart and make us aware of Your presence abiding within us (Psalm 119:32).

Thought for the Day:

It is God's Spirit, which gives us His new life, and His Word, which are full of His Spirit and abundant life. - John 6:63