Friday, March 31, 2006

The Holy Spirit Will Help You

JOHN 14:16 NKJ
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another
Helper, that He may abide with you forever,

If you allow Him to, the Holy Spirit will guide you in every
area of life; from the words you should speak, to the spouse
you should marry, to the investments you should make.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity of God. It
is difficult for humans to understand how there can be only one
God, as the Scriptures teach, yet He can reveal Himself as
three persons. So do not let it be an obstacle for you, or be
drawn into fighting about it.

The Holy Spirit is a person, not just a force. He should be
treated with the utmost respect and gratitude.

I have personally found the Holy Spirit to be a wonderful,
wonderful Helper -- in so many ways. Even in simple, practical
things, like reminding me of things, or helping me to find
misplaced items. The Holy Spirit is truly interested in
everything that affects you, and desires to help you -- if you
will allow Him to.

No doubt, the Holy Spirit has been helping you, too. You just
may not have recognized it. You may have called it "a hunch" or
"it just came to me" or "I just had an idea." Start giving
thanks to the real source of your help -- the Holy Spirit of
God.

The Bible mentions several ways the Holy Spirit helps: teaching
you all things, bringing the Word to your remembrance, telling
you of things to come, revealing to you the things of God,
comforting you, encouraging you, empowering you to be a
witness, and bringing life and healing to you.

You are not facing life all alone -- as an orphan would. The
Holy Spirit is with you continually -- living with you. When
you need help He is never far away, but always right with you,
waiting for you to call on Him for His help.

SAY THIS: Holy Spirit, I appreciate your help. Thank you for
guiding me in life and helping me in every way.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

God Is Not A Liar

NUMBERS 23:19 ICB
19 God is not a man. He will not lie. God is not a human being.
He does not change his mind. What he says he will do, he does.
What he promises, he keeps.

Too many of us judge God by ourselves, or those we normally
deal with. Unfortunately, honesty is scarce today. We are
accustomed to people lying to us.

But God is different. He does not lie. Not ever.

TITUS 1:2 NKJ
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised
before time began,

SAY THIS: My God is not a liar. He will do what He said He
would do.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

God Loves You More Than You Love Yourself

ROMANS 5:8 NKJ
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God has proven His love for you. So don't doubt it.

What proves that God loves you more than you love yourself? He
died in your place -- suffering the punishment for sin that you
deserved, so you could go free. God was more willing to suffer
Himself than to see you suffer.

Of course, the devil constantly tries to get you to doubt that
God loves you. That's why you must rely on what the Bible says
-- not what your feelings or circumstances may tell you.

You may think you don't love yourself -- maybe you think you
hate yourself. Even if you don't think too highly of what you
have done, you still love yourself in the sense that you desire
the best for yourself. You don't desire pain or loss.

So it is with God -- He desires good for you -- even more than
you do. And He demonstrated at Calvary that He would put your
interest before His own.

1 JOHN 4:16 NKJ
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God
in him.

There are at least two reasons why God loves you so much.
First, it is His nature to love. The Bible says that God is
love. Love is the word that best describes God's nature.

Second, you are His creation. God loves you just as good
earthly parents love their offspring. People may not seem very
special to others, but to their mother and father they are
always special. This should help you understand how God could
really like you -- even though you may not like yourself very
much.

Also, God sees you as you can be and will become -- not just as
you are now. God has faith in you and in His ability to make
you someone special.

SAY THIS: I choose to believe what the Bible says: God loves
me.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

You Are Part Of Christ's Body On Earth

1 CORINTHIANS 12 NLT
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up
only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.
17 Suppose the whole body were an eye--then how would you hear?
Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you
smell anything?
18 But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each
part just where he wants it.
21 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The
head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
22 In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least
important are really the most necessary.
27 Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of
you is a separate and necessary part of it.

Scripture says we are a Body -- not just that we are "like a
body." You ARE connected to everyone who acknowledges Jesus
Christ as Lord -- whether you like them, or think they are
necessary, or not. Whatever happens to ANY member of the Body
does have an affect on EVERY member.

Remember this the next time you are tempted to speak ill of
another believer, or mistreat them. Even if they don't believe
exactly like you, or go to the same church -- they are still
connected to you in Christ. So be nice to your Body!

SAY THIS: I am a member of Christ's Body on earth. Today I will
let Jesus Christ manifest His love and wisdom through me.

Monday, March 27, 2006

We Shall Be Like Jesus

1 JOHN 3:2 NKJ
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is
revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

God's plan is to change you. He will not quit until you are
like Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 8:29 NKJ
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to
the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many
brethren.

God has already made the decision. You WILL be like Jesus! (It
may take awhile -- but God has plenty of time.)

Surely this doesn't mean an identical physical appearance, but
perfection. Perfection morally, spiritually -- and yes, even
physically and mentally.

So don't be discouraged with where you are now. God is still at
work and He is no quitter.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 NKJ
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a
good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus
Christ;

How is God doing this? Primarily through His Word. So, stay in
the Word. The more you expose yourself to the accurate Word of
God, the more you will be changed into the likeness of Jesus
Christ.

SAY THIS: God is at work to make me like Jesus!

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Prayer Guidelines

Prayer is communication with God. Talking with Almighty God is
the greatest privilege you have.

God desires a growing relationship with you. Communication is
essential for a relationship to develop. Involve God in every
part of your life: every decision and every action. In that
sense you should pray without ceasing -- always being in
communication with God.

However, we need special prayer times focused completely on the
Lord. He is worthy of our time and attention -- and we require
this time with Him to develop spiritually.

Remember the instruction given in Psalm 100:4, "Enter into His
gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise." If
you seem to run out of words to praise God, use some of the
Psalms, or praise and give thanks in tongues (1 Corinthians
14:16-18).

Many use the model prayer our Lord gave in Matthew 6:9-13 as a
guideline for their special daily prayer time. Some of the
principles taught are:

*You are praying to your Father.
*First worship and honor God.
*Pray that God's will be done before praying about your own or
others' needs.
*Ask for God's forgiveness and help.
*Finish by praising God.

During times of prayer many find it helpful as a memory aid to
have a prayer list of people and things to pray for. Also,
keeping a journal of your prayer requests and answers is
beneficial and will bless you tremendously as the years go by.

Always base your prayer on Scripture. Scripture is God's
answer. Receiving from God in prayer involves taking His answer
(His Word) to Him and receiving your request by faith.

Also, every believer can and should develop the habit of
praying much in tongues. This not only edifies you spiritually
(1 Corinthians 14:4, Jude 1:20), but allows you to pray with a
wisdom beyond your ability and knowledge (Romans 8:26-27).

SAY THIS: Prayer is a privilege.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Possess The Land

NUMBERS 33:53 NKJ
53 'you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell
in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

JOSHUA 1:3 NKJ
3 "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I
have given you, as I said to Moses.

In Old Testament times the people of God received promises to
possess the physical land. They faced literal giants keeping
them from possessing what God said was theirs.

Today we face a similar challenge: overcome the obstacles and
possess the promised blessings given in the New Testament.

How can we possess and enjoy these promised blessings?

Faith!

HEBREWS 6:12 NKJ
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who
through faith and patience inherit the promises.

What belongs to us? What has God said is ours to "possess"?

"All things!"

2 PETER 1:3 NKJ
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain
to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called
us by glory and virtue,

ROMANS 8:32 NKJ
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for
us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all
things?

1 CORINTHIANS 3:21 NKJ
21 Therefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours:

As New Testament believers our "giants" are demons and
unbelief. Every promise of blessing is ours to claim and
possess by faith.

SAY THIS: I will possess my "land" in Jesus' Name!

Friday, March 24, 2006

Why Pray?

JOHN 15:5 NKJ
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,
and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do
nothing.

There are three reasons to pray: for God's benefit, for your
benefit, and for the benefit of others.

To Benefit God

Just as earthly parents enjoy talking with their child, our
Heavenly Father enjoys hearing from you.

Also, God desires certain things done on Earth, but He has
delegated authority to mankind. Through our requests, God can
justly intervene in earthly situations and bring His will to
pass. So, praying in line with God's Word benefits God.

To Benefit You

Prayer is communication with God. It includes listening,
discussion, and giving thanks -- not just asking for things.

Relationship requires communication. Your relationship with the
Lord will never grow without communication.

Time spent in prayer helps you stay tuned-in spiritually --
remaining sensitive to God. Prayer keeps you "connected" with
God. It helps keep your focus on God and how great He is.

Prayer is a way of humbling yourself and is the opposite of
doing things by yourself. Receiving direction from God is the
greatest help you can get. If you fail to seek God's help, you
are headed for trouble, because the devil sets traps to destroy
you.

Also, talking with God forces you to honestly face your
situation -- for you know you cannot fool God.

To Benefit Others

All around us, people are in great need. Through prayer we can
appropriate heavenly help on their behalf.

God can do more in one minute than you can do in a lifetime.

SAY THIS: I will pray because prayer is beneficial.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

You Must Control The Devil

JAMES 4:7 NKJ
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee
from you.

Most believers expect God to control the devil, but God gave
you that responsibility.

EPHESIANS 4:27 NKJ
27 nor give place to the devil.

Would God tell you not to let the devil have any place, if you
had no say about it? If the devil does have a place in your
affairs, it's because you allow it.

The devil will take over -- if you let him.

Jesus won the victory. It legally belongs to you. But the devil
is a criminal, who doesn't obey the law unless forced to. You
must enforce Jesus' victory and Lordship in the situations of
life, or the devil will take control by default.

No human being, in themselves, is any match for the devil. So
you can't resist him in your own ability or name. You are not
more powerful than the devil, but you do have more authority as
a believer in Jesus Christ.

Just as a policeman in uniform has the backing of the entire
government and all its forces, so believers have the backing of
God and all His forces, when we stand against the devil in
Jesus' Name.

God gave you authority to resist the devil, and expects you to
use it. If you disobey God by not using it, things will not go
very well in your life.

Praying to God to stop the devil's operations is no different
than my son asking me to take out the trash, after I told him
to do it.

God told us to resist the devil and he would flee. We must
believe and act on God's Word.

SAY THIS: I will resist the devil and he will flee from me.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

God's Word Is A Seed

Most people expect God's Word to work like a stick of dynamite
-- but Jesus told us God's Word is like a seed.

LUKE 8:11 NKJ
11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

The Holy Spirit, through Peter, also said God's Word is a seed.

1 PETER 1:23 NKJ
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but
incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides
forever,

God's Word is alive. Just like a seed -- the Bible is full of
unseen life.

JOHN 6:63 ICB
63 It is not the flesh that gives a person life. It is the
spirit that gives life. The words I told you are spirit, and so
they give life.

Jesus said His words are alive. They contain life, so they give
life. The words in your Bible may look lifeless and powerless.
Seeds do, also. But they are not without life or power.

In Mark 4:30-31, Jesus explained that the kingdom of God works
like a seed. So, if we are to understand God's kingdom and how
He operates, we need to understand seeds.

SAY THIS: God's Word is good seed. I will plant it in my life
and it will bring forth a good harvest.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Your Hairs Are Numbered

LUKE 12:7 NIV
7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't
be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Have you ever wondered how God has time to keep count of how
many hairs you have today?

God probably built a program into your brain that tracks your
total hair count, which He can quickly scan without having to
spend much time on your hair. (Your life might also be better
if you spent less time on your hair. ;-)

(Or, maybe He assigns each of us a hair angel to do the job.)

The point is not that God spends all His time counting hairs,
but that there is nothing about you God is not fully aware of
at all times.

If your hair count is important enough for God to monitor --
however He does it -- surely He monitors everything else that
concerns you, also.

Think of that! God is aware of the smallest detail of
everything in life that affects you. It matters to Him.

You are His child. Every detail of your life concerns God.

Knowing that, Jesus said, "Don't be afraid."

SAY THIS: God keeps current on every detail of my life.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Does God Supply Only What We Need?

What is a need? Who is qualified to determine what is a need?

Is it something essential? What is essential? Essential to
what? To survival? To health? (Physical health only, or mental
and emotional health, as well?)

Are essentials universal? Or do they vary from person to
person, or from country to country, or from age to age?

Is having more than just my essential, survival needs met proof
of my greed or selfishness?

If God will only meet our needs, why do some Christians have
more than they need? How did they get it? Did the devil give it
to them?

If God only meets the needs of Christians, who will ever have
any extra to give to others?

What is need and what is greed; what is too much and what is
just right? Are you qualified to judge? For yourself? For me?
For someone in a different country? For all people?

Is it wrong for a Christian to accept a job paying more than a
survival wage? Should they only work part-time to stay below
abundance?

Does God play favorites? Did the Apostle Paul say, in
Philippians 4:18, that he had more than he needed? Did God ever
give anyone else an abundance?

Does creation testify to a God of abundance? Why are there so
many shapes and colors of fish? Why do we need flowers?

Can you give scripture clearly saying God will supply only what
we need to barely get by? Are there not many scriptures that
tell us He supplies abundance? Have you ever read the entire
Bible?

What is a need? Are you qualified to judge?

SAY THIS: Has my view of God's provision been correct?

Sunday, March 19, 2006

The Deceitfulness of Riches

MATTHEW 13:22 NIV
22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is
the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and
the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

How are riches deceitful? (The word really means a delusion.)

Riches promise more than they can deliver. They promise
security, happiness, and satisfaction in life, but fail to
deliver.

Does this mean God is against wealth? No! He just doesn't want
you to be deceived by it. Or, to trust in it. For it will
surely disappoint you.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17 NKJ
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be
haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living
God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

According to Jesus, life does not consist of the abundance of
one's possessions. You should believe Him. He knows.

LUKE 12:15 NASB
15 And He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against
every form of greed; for not {even} when one has an abundance
does his life consist of his possessions."

Watch out! Don't let money deceive you.

Having wealth -- a bunch of stuff -- will not give you a
satisfying, fulfilling life. It promises to. But it can't
deliver.

Things will not make you happy -- not for long. It's your
inward attitude, and doing God's will, that determines whether
you will enjoy happiness in life.

If having more money was the answer, why do rich people commit
suicide?

Money promises security, but can never quite attain it. In
contrast, God delivers security -- for eternity.

HEBREWS 13:5 NIV
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content
with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave
you; never will I forsake you."

Money can leave you and forsake you, even when you need it
most. But God will never abandon you.

Riches will let you down. God never will.

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to the
deceitfulness of riches.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Rahab

HEBREWS 11:31 NKJ
31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish . . .

Rahab was not a descendant of Israel. She was a harlot from the
city of Jericho, which God commanded Israel to utterly destroy.
But because of her faith, all that was hers was spared. She
also became an ancestor of Jesus of Nazareth, being the great-
great-grandmother of King David (Matthew 1:5-6).

No matter who you are, or what you have done, there is hope for
you. Through faith in God, and His provision, your life can be
changed.

Rahab asked that all her family and all their possessions be
protected. This action evidently pleased God because Hebrews 11
commends her faith, and tells us that without faith it is
impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6,31).

JOSHUA 2:12-13 NKJ
12 "Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I
have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my
father's house, and give me a true token,
13 "and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters,
and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."

Note that Rahab asked for a token, a sign. They told her to
place a blood-colored cord in her window -- representing her
faith in God's provision of blood under the Old Covenant.

JOSHUA 2:18,21 NKJ
18 ". . . bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through
which you let us down . . . .
21 Then she said, "According to your words, so be it." And she
sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet
cord in the window.

JOSHUA 6:23,25 NKJ
23 And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out
Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she
had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them
outside the camp of Israel.
25 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household,
and all that she had . . . .

We should stand in faith just as Rahab did and ask for the
lives of all our family members, and for all our possessions.

Then we must "display the scarlet cord" in our windows -- the
Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. When the devil comes to
steal, kill, or destroy us, or anything that belongs to us, we
must make sure he sees the Blood of Jesus.

If a harlot, who had no covenant with God, by her faith
received God's protection for all her family and possessions,
surely as believers in the New Covenant established by Jesus'
Blood, our faith can do at least as much.

SAY THIS: By faith, I place the blood of Jesus over all my
family and all our property.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Plead The Blood

Pleading the Blood of Jesus is not begging -- but a legal term.

REVELATION 12:10-11 NKJ
10 . . . the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before
our God day and night, has been cast down.
11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to
the death.

The devil is our accuser. The only successful plea is the Blood
of Jesus. Pleading our ignorance, our innocence, or our merits
will fail. Only relying on the Blood of our substitute
sacrifice, the Lamb of God, will win our case before God the
Judge.

When we pray, we should base our prayer on the Blood of Jesus
-- the price paid for our needs to be met -- instead of on our
need or our worthiness.

When we resist the devil, we cannot resist him based on who we
are or what we have done, but only on the price paid for our
complete redemption -- the precious Blood of Jesus.

Faith in Jesus' Blood, released in testimony against the devil,
will always cause him to flee. We must resist him, steadfast in
faith, for as long as it takes.

Our enemy can always be overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and
the word of our testimony. We have victory over every evil
because of Jesus' shed Blood.

PSALM 107:2 NKJ
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed
from the hand of the enemy,

We must SAY we are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. Here are
some example statements you could use in pleading the Blood.

In the Name of Jesus, I plead the Blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ against this problem.

I cover my home with the Blood of Jesus to protect all
occupants and possessions from all evil.

Especially in times of violence we need to cry out for the
protection of the Blood for all our household. Parents can put
the Blood on their "door" -- taking in all that pertains to
them -- and claim salvation and protection for their entire
family. The Blood is the one thing that will keep your family
safe in these perilous days.

When we awaken in the morning we should call for the Blood to
be upon us and all that belongs to us. Before we sleep we
should, in the same way, call for the protection of the Blood.

SAY THIS: I plead the Blood of Jesus over all my household and
all our possessions.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Redeemed By His Blood

1 PETER 1:18-19 NKJ
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things,
like silver or gold . . .
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot.

Some Christians shy away from talking about blood -- but not
the Bible. In fact, the Bible presents blood as an integral and
honored part of Christian teaching.

Blood represents life, and Jesus freely gave His life to redeem
you.

COLOSSIANS 1:13-14 NKJ
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and
translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins.

The blood of Jesus -- representing the giving of His life --
was the payment for your freedom. You should give bold
testimony to the power of the precious Blood of Jesus. It is
what has set you free!

Sin opens the door for the devil. But Jesus' Blood cleanses us
from all sin and closes the door of opportunity to the devil.

1 JOHN 1:9 NKJ
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus' Blood enables us to stand before God as if sin had never
existed. We have no other plea for entrance into God's presence
but the precious Blood of the Lamb.

HEBREWS 10:19 NKJ
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by
the blood of Jesus,

The blood of Jesus represents all that God accomplished for you
in His great redemption.

We should display the token of Jesus' Blood over the boundaries
of our lives -- anywhere the devil might have an opening -- by
releasing our faith in the sufficiency of that precious Blood
through words.

SAY THIS: I am set free by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Christ Is Our Passover

God gave instructions to the Israelites so they could escape
the judgment coming on the Egyptians.

EXODUS 12:7,13 NKJ
7 `And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two
doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.
13 `Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where
you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and
the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the
land of Egypt.

The Egyptians had no protection from the destroyer, but the
people of Israel who put the blood of a lamb on their dwellings
were safe.

The blood represented the Blood of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world -- Jesus Christ (Rev. 13:8). Judgment
was legally avoided because of it.

The blood applied stopped the destroyer. Action was required --
not just passive belief in the blood.

PSALM 105:37 NKJ
37 He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was
none feeble among His tribes.

Not only were the children of Israel spared from destruction,
but they all left Egypt in good health carrying away the wealth
of Egypt.

Christ is our Passover. Can we not expect Him to provide us as
much protection and deliverance as the lamb provided the
children of Israel in Egypt?

1 CORINTHIANS 5:7 NKJ
7 . . . For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

HEBREWS 8:6 NKJ
6 . . . He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was
established on better promises.

LUKE 22:20 NKJ
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This
cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

New Covenant believers have the right to draw a faith Blood
line the devil cannot cross. By speaking words of faith we
apply the Blood over the "doorposts" of our lives -- the outer
edges of all that belongs to us.

With blood on the door of the Israelites in Egypt, no evil
dared enter their dwelling. Likewise, we are kept safe through
the protection of the divine Blood of Jesus.

Wherever we have authority we should apply the Blood -- and
never leave the protection the Blood of Jesus provides.

SAY THIS: Jesus Christ is my Passover who protects and delivers
me and my family.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Hang On!

HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Sometimes it seems like there's no hope and no help. Like you
have no more strength or ability to go on. You're at the end of
yourself and just can't do any more.

Don't worry. Just hang on to your faith in God.

God is faithful. He will not forsake you. He has not forgotten
you. (It just seems that way when you face a trial of faith --
but it's a lie.)

It may seem dark and hopeless, but God is holding on to you.
God is working behind the scenes. Things will work out.

When you don't know what to do, just continue to trust in God,
and know that He is helping you. Persevere even when you feel
like you can't. Just don't give up.

JAMES 1:2-4 Barclay
2 My brothers, you must regard it as nothing but joy when you
are involved in all kinds of trials,
3 for you must realize that when faith has passed through the
ordeal of testing the result is the ability to pass the
breaking-point and not to break.
4 This ability must go right on to the end, and then you will
be perfect and complete, without a weak spot.

Trials are no fun. But we should not be surprised when we find
our faith being tested.

The devil is doing his best to steal your faith in God, but his
best is not good enough. God is greater than the devil. Hang on
to your faith!

Remember that God is for you. God is on your side. God will
help you and see you through.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep praising
and thanking God -- especially when you don't feel like it.
Don't give up. Hang on!

SAY THIS: I won't give up on God. I trust in Him.

Monday, March 13, 2006

Balance In Life

MARK 6:31 NIV
31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they
did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with
me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Balance is a difficult thing to achieve.

Success usually requires discipline, a large commitment of
time, and a lot of hard work.

But sometimes what's needed is to take a vacation!

Taking a trip is not always necessary, but taking a break from
your normal routine is.

You need time to think, and time to listen to what God is
saying to you -- as well as physical rest. Without taking time
to "recharge your batteries" you will never be your best.

People who face relentless responsibilities, such as pastors,
mothers of young children, care givers, and owners of small
businesses, especially need an occasional break.

(Be creative. It doesn't have to be expensive.)

We want to lead productive lives and be fruitful in our walk
with the Lord, but we cannot take the place of God. We cannot
do everything. We are not God.

Burning out is not a good witness for the Lord, as it makes Him
look like a hard taskmaster.

Humans require rest. To continue to be healthy and productive
for many years, we must live a balanced life which includes
rest and taking time off.

Always keep the big picture in mind. That includes eternity.

SAY THIS: Lord, help me to achieve balance in my life.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Imagine You Were God

Imagine you were God -- all alone -- nothing but you and space.
Wouldn't you want to have others around to keep you company?

So you decide to create some other beings. You want to have
some intelligent conversation and relationships, so you create
them with freedom of choice. Things are perfect. You have a
wonderful universe with no problems. Then some of your created
beings decide they don't want to do things your way. They rebel
and want to run the universe, instead of obeying you. Suddenly
there is no peace. What do you do?

Realizing you must preserve order and protect those who didn't
rebel against you, you decree judgment on the rebels. But they
accuse you of unfairness -- saying you're not qualified to
judge them -- that you don't know what it's like to live under
your rule.

This accusation cannot stand unanswered if you want to preserve
peace and order in the future. So you choose to allow a "jury
trial" to decide the rebels' fate. But who can be on the jury?
It can't be those involved. There's only one solution: create
some new beings -- human beings -- to be the jury.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:3a NIV
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels?

The rebels insist on equal access to the jury. You agree,
giving your word allowing the jury complete freedom to choose.
If these humans choose to follow the rebels, you will not
interfere. Only if the humans freely choose to follow you and
your way -- rejecting the rebels and their way -- will the
loyal humans then pass judgment on the rebels. You realize this
is risky but it's the only way to settle the issue so your
motives and judgment will not continue to be questioned.

So, you create a man and a woman, putting them in a perfect
environment. To be fair, you allow the rebels access. Then it
turns sour. The rebels score a knockout blow. Man rebels by
disobeying the simple command which you gave to allow them the
opportunity to rebel. It seems the rebels were proven right --
your way was not what an impartial jury would decide to do.

Is it over? Do you give up and let the rebels take over the
universe and destroy it with their selfishness, as you know
they will?

Or, do you do something bold and unexpected? What can you do?
After all, the jury has been completely taken over by the
rebels.

It's time to quit imagining and read the Bible -- with
a little more understanding of what God may have faced.

Whether everything written above is the way it happened, we
don't know. We do know that God made a bold move in becoming a
human and dying to prove His love and redeem us.

We also know how it all turns out in the end, by reading the
book of Revelation in the New Testament.

SAY THIS: I'm glad I'm not God! And I'm glad that Jesus is!

Saturday, March 11, 2006

All Things Are Possible

MARK 9:23 NKJ
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are
possible to him who believes."

From our early years we are educated in what is impossible.

But progress continues to be made by people who attempt the
impossible and achieve it.

Some have said that mankind's only real obstacle is between our
two ears.

We ARE limited by what we believe, according to Jesus.

So, how can we change what we believe? Only by getting new
evidence, which is available from the Word of God.

MATTHEW 17:20 NKJ
20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for
assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and
it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

A conventional approach will not achieve the "impossible." It
will require acting different than the crowd, who probably
won't understand you or support you. Speaking to things and
telling them to move, as Jesus taught, is certainly not
conventional.

Acting different than everyone else can be scary. It's like
getting out of the boat to walk on water. But do you want
conventional results?

As you read the Bible and see the instructions God gave us, you
will usually find them unconventional. But the person who acts
on God's Word will be blessed.

SAY THIS: All things are possible!

Friday, March 10, 2006

Be Thankful For What You Have

COLOSSIANS 3:15 CEV
15 Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were
chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes
from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.

If you are reading this, there are literally millions of people
who would trade places with you. They envy you and would be
very grateful to enjoy all that you do.

Usually the more someone has, the less thankful they become.

So how can you overcome ingratitude? Only by changing your
beliefs. As long as you believe you're getting a raw deal, or
less than you deserve, you will never become a thankful person.

An attitude of gratitude is the result of what we focus on.

Remember, you deserved punishment. Instead, God gave you what
He deserved, and EVERYTHING you have -- every breath -- is a
gift. Keep this in focus and you will become a thankful person.

(An extra bonus is that a thankful person is a happy person.)

HEBREWS 13:5 NIV
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content
with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave
you; never will I forsake you."

What could be greater? Almighty God promises to always take
care of you! Never will you be forsaken! Never will you be left
facing life all alone! (You may feel forsaken, but it's a lie.)

A rewarding, satisfying, and fulfilling life does not depend on
being rich. Jesus is the one who told us, and He knows.

LUKE 12:15 LB
15 Beware! Don't always be wishing for what you don't have. For
real life and real living are not related to how rich we are."

SAY THIS: I will be thankful.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Do You Want To Be Happy?

What are you waiting for?

Most people are waiting for something -- something "special"
that will make their life great, so they can be happy.

Ask yourself: have others had this, and are they all happy? No,
they're not, and it won't give you lasting happiness, either.

Happiness is not determined by external circumstances, but by
internal circumstances.

Everyone chooses how happy they are by what they choose to
think about.

Your attitude is determined by your perspective, which is
determined by what you think about -- your focus. You choose
your focus, so ultimately, you are the one who chooses whether
to be happy, or not.

Perspective is what the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) are about.
Seeing a bigger picture than just this one small moment of
time. (The Beatitudes are where Jesus explained how some are
blessed, or happy -- even in difficult situations.)

(The word we translate as "happy" in the New Testament is
usually translated as "blessed.")

You won't get happiness by chasing what the world has to offer.
It has already been tried and found wanting.

And, you will never be happy as long as you are self-centered.
A focus on self is guaranteed to prevent happiness.

Right after Jesus performed the menial task of washing his
disciple's feet -- akin to cleaning toilets today -- He told
them:

JOHN 13:15,17 ICB
15 I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have
done for you.
17 If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

You will be happy if you help others. If you take your focus
off yourself. That's what Jesus taught.

SAY THIS: I choose to focus on God and be thankful and happy.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Pride and Selfishness

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 NKJ
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but
in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but
also for the interests of others.

Pride and selfishness always go together. A truly humble person
cannot be selfish.

Pride is self-importance and self-focus -- which leads to
selfishness which is selfish thinking and selfish acting -- the
opposite of Jesus' command of agape love in John 13:34.

Pride produces selfishness. All selfishness is a manifestation
of pride -- thinking you are better, or more important, than
others.

Pride is the root of selfishness -- and thus the root of all
evil. Pride is hidden but manifests as selfish acts.

JAMES 3:16 TEV
16 Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also
disorder and every kind of evil.

Selfishness causes all evil. All evil proceeds from selfish
actions. Selfishness is the only manifest problem, but pride
feeds it. Dealing with the root cause of the problem is the
only lasting solution.

Submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and realizing we
are not the center of the Universe, is the answer.

Without Jesus, you can do nothing. Apart from His grace, you
would not be able to take that next breath of air!

SAY THIS: Jesus is Lord and I submit to Him.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Selfishness

The only thing necessary to change heaven into hell -- if God
were to allow it -- is selfishness.

Selfishness is mankind's fundamental defect. Selfish means:
self-centered, self-serving, self-important.

At the root of every problem is selfishness.

JAMES 3:16 TEV
16 Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also
disorder and every kind of evil.

Every selfish person is potentially your enemy.

All sin is selfish. No one ever sins for someone else -- we do
it for selfish reasons.

Divine love is the opposite of selfishness. Giving is the
opposite of acting selfishly.

We are products of a corrupt culture that teaches selfishness,
so it's not unusual for us to think it's not so bad.

But you must die to selfishness -- or self-destruct. However,
you're unable to change by yourself. You can't change the fruit
without changing the root. That's why you must be born again!
Only by receiving Jesus Christ and letting Him change you
inwardly can you become a truly unselfish person.

No other "religion" teaches to put others first, to love your
enemies. Only Christianity teaches you can be totally changed
and become a person with a new nature. There is no cure apart
from Jesus!

SAY THIS: Jesus, please cure me of being selfish.

Monday, March 06, 2006

The Message Of The New Testament

Mankind has a fatal defect, which manifests as selfishness.

There is a cure -- but only one which is effective permanently.

The cure requires injection of new life into your inner being.
This life is called eternal life, because it is the life that
God, the Eternal One, has.

The cure is free, but the only way to obtain it is to receive
and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord.

Freedom from this defect requires two things. First, the gift
of eternal life, which can be obtained now by receiving the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Second, knowing that God loves you greatly -- even more than
you love yourself.

Therefore, you no longer have to live a self-centered life,
worrying about and seeking your own welfare -- because you know
that God Himself watches out for you.

God will protect you and provide for you -- not just enough to
barely make it -- but an abundant, joy-filled life.

All people who reject this freely offered cure, must soon be
placed in quarantine, to be kept from spoiling life for those
who do partake of God's cure.

To receive Jesus and His new life, you basically do it the same
way you get married. You say: I want to, and I do.

Jesus is listening now, waiting for your decision. He loves you
enough to die for you.

SAY THIS: I receive and acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Lord.
Change me, Lord, into what I should be.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Healing Can Never Pass Away

PSALM 107:20 NKJ
20 He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from
their destructions.

Many Christians have been taught that healing and miracles have
ceased. They think such things only happened long ago. (Funny,
that's what they thought in Jesus' day, too.)

But since God's Word will never pass away, healing can never
pass away!

MARK 13:31 NKJ
31 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no
means pass away."

1 PETER 1:23 NKJ
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but
incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides
forever,

Yes, healing from God's Word comes in "seed form" which has to
be planted in our hearts to see it's full fruition. But, once
planted and watered, God's living Word will bring health and
healing to all your flesh.

PROVERBS 4:20-22 Amplified
20 My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my
sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center
of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, healing and health
to all their flesh.

"But how can the Bible bring healing and health to all my
flesh?"

God's Word is full of life. But, just like medicine from a
doctor, God's Word must be ingested to be effective. But if you
faithfully take it, you'll find it's the best medicine.

God's Word heals -- and it will endure forever. The case is
settled. Healing can never pass away.

Will you believe God's Word? Or must you have Jesus touch you
(or you touch Him -- like Thomas), before you will believe?

God is a Healer. He never changes. So healing will never cease.

All things are possible. So YOU can be healed!

SAY THIS: Healing from God is still available.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Make Prayer A Habit

ROMANS 12:12 NRSV
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in
prayer.

Prayer is a habit that, like every other good habit, must be
developed.

You know you need to pray. You need God's help, His wisdom and
His guidance. But you must persevere in prayer. The activities
of life try to keep you from praying. So persevere!

LUKE 21:36 BBE
36 But keep watch at all times with prayer, that you may be
strong enough to come through all these things and take your
place before the Son of man.

In communing with God, you gain strength that comes in no other
way. You find the wisdom and courage to face life and overcome.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:17-18 ICB
17 Never stop praying.
18 Give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you
in Christ Jesus.

Learn to always include God in your thoughts. Ask Him about
everything. Cultivate your relationship by continual
communication. And one of the most important things for you to
communicate to God is your gratitude. Thank God for everything.

Don't relegate prayer to just when you're on your knees. As you
go about your activities, include God by constant communion
with Him.

Talk to God about everything!

SAY THIS: Lord, help me to develop the habit of continual
communication with you.

Friday, March 03, 2006

Temporary!

This is what you should say to your circumstances when they
don't line up with God's Word:

Temporary!

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NIV
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is
eternal.

You may not realize it -- but problems often "speak" to you.
They say things like, "You can't get rid of me. I'll be with
you as long as you live."

"Your parents died from this and you will, too."

"Your family was poor and you'll always be poor. You'll never
have abundance. You'll never get out of debt."

Actually, it's the demonic forces behind the problems that
speak to our minds -- trying to keep us in doubt and unbelief.
We must resist those thoughts -- and the first step is to talk
back!

We should speak to thoughts of doubt and unbelief that are
contrary to what God has said in His Word -- for His Word is
truth.

Don't be passive. Resist!

The Bible tells us to resist the devil. That means to resist
his thoughts and ideas, too.

Long ago, God gave mankind dominion on earth. That dominion
included naming things. You still have that form of dominion
today. If you name your troubles as "yours" and "permanent" --
they will stay. But if you call them "temporary" -- they will
eventually leave.

Jesus told us to speak to our mountains and tell them to be
gone. But what should you say after you have spoken to the
mountain and it's still there?:

TEMPORARY!

SAY THIS: My circumstances are subject to change!

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Jesus Is Lord

ACTS 2:36 NKJ
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Many preachers tell people they "need to make Jesus Lord."

While I understand what they're trying to say -- it's too late!

Jesus ALREADY is Lord! God made Jesus the Lord almost 2000
years ago.

ACTS 10:36 NKJ
36 "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching
peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all--

What we must do is recognize and agree that Jesus is Lord. The
Bible calls this "confessing," which certainly involves more
than just glibly speaking a few words.

ROMANS 10:9 NKJ
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in
your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

We need to realize we're not the center of the Universe, but
Jesus Christ is, and therefore, we should submit to His
Lordship, instead of trying to run our own lives.

But we don't really "make Him Lord" -- we just yield to His
Lordship.

No matter what it may seem like at times, Jesus Christ is Lord.
He is ruler, boss, king: the One ultimately in charge.

It's true that Jesus has not yet exercised His prerogative and
taken charge of everything that's His by virtue of being Lord
of all -- but that's only a temporary situation.

PHILIPPIANS 2:10-11 NKJ
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Eventually, everyone will know the truth. You have the great
privilege of knowing it, and acting on it, today.

Jesus is Lord!

SAY THIS: God made Jesus to be Lord, and I accept His Lordship
over my life, and over all creation.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

When To Rejoice

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16 KJV
16 Rejoice evermore.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16 NASB
16 Rejoice always;

If you only rejoice when things are perfect, you may not
rejoice much in this life.

Why miss out on something so pleasant?

ROMANS 12:12 NRSV
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in
prayer.

You can rejoice in hope! That means to rejoice ahead of time.

Why? Because you expect deliverance. You know God's blessing is
coming your way -- because God is faithful. So rejoice now!

PHILIPPIANS 4:4 NIV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

God never changes. He's always good. Focus on Him and you will
have something to rejoice about.

SAY THIS: I will rejoice in the Lord always.