Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What Is Worship?

MATTHEW 4:10 NLT
10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the
Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve
only him.'"

Today we have what we call "worship services" that usually
consist mainly of singing songs and listening to a sermon. Many
also have "worship leaders" whose job is to lead the singing at
their church meetings.

There is nothing wrong with that. When we focus our attention
on the Lord, singing to Him from the depths of our heart,
giving time and attention to Him and His Word, instead of other
things, it indeed can be true worship.

But worship, as taught in the Bible, is certainly not limited
to these things.

In the New Testament, the main word used for worship can be
summarized as submission, or an attitude of submission because
of profound reverence.

In the Bible, worship is always demonstrated by doing
something. It may be bowing down prostrate on the ground before
someone. And it is often connected with giving -- a sacrifice.
But worship is always an action that demonstrates how much
something is valued.

Worship is a way of showing "worth-ship."

We show how much we value something by what we are willing to
give up to get it.

The only way of measuring how much we value someone is by what
we give to them, including such things as time, attention,
respect, loyalty, love, devotion, and also material things.

JOHN 4:23 NIV
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for
they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

SAY THIS: I will be a true worshiper of God.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Focus On Helping Others

PHILIPPIANS 2:4 NLT
4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an
interest in others, too.

It's not unusual for someone to feel like life is not worth
living. Many, if not most, feel this way some time.

My recommendation for those who feel this way is to begin
focusing on helping others. Lift the burdens of others and make
their life better. That will produce a life with meaning and
joy.

Only those who live to help others will ever find true
satisfaction in life.

It may seem like other plans people use to make themselves
happy are working in the short term, but in the long run they
always fail to bring lasting joy, fulfillment, and
satisfaction.

If you desire to be like God -- who is happy and joyful -- then
be a helper.

God helps everyone. He produces and gives an abundance of good
things for everyone. Air, water, food -- the list is endless.

At the end of your life here on earth, only what you have done
to help others will be valuable to you. All that you did for
only selfish reasons will be a disappointment.

The best tonic for depression is to get involved in helping
others.

When you begin to help others, it is amazing how your own
problems seem to shrink.

Do you want your life to be better? Then focus on what you can
do to make life better for others.

SAY THIS: I will act like God and help people.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Jesus Perfectly Pleased The Father

God not only approved of everything Jesus did -- He was very
pleased with everything Jesus did.

JOHN 8:29 NKJ
29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me
alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Why is it important for us to look at this?

Many people are unclear what God's will is in many areas. There
is much confusion over what many call "acts of God" which bring
destruction. But if we understand that Jesus always did God's
will perfectly, and that God was thrilled with everything Jesus
did, then we can examine what Jesus did and see what God's will
is.

Did Jesus ever make anyone sick -- even to teach them
something? Did Jesus ever tell anyone it was not the will of
God for them to be healed? Did Jesus ever tell anyone that God
would not love them and help them? Did Jesus ever destroy
anyone's property or steal it from them? Did Jesus ever kill
anyone's family member?

No. Never. Jesus did what was pleasing to God. Those things are
still not pleasing to God, and He should not be blamed for
them.

Is God pleased when people are helped? Is God pleased when
people are healed and delivered from bondage? Is God pleased
when people's needs are met? Is God pleased when people have
their sins forgiven? Is God pleased when people know that God
loves them?

Yes. Those are the things Jesus did, and He perfectly pleased
God.

SAY THIS: God is pleased when people are helped like Jesus
helped them.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

God Is Like Jesus

If you want to know what the unseen Almighty God is like --
look at Jesus Christ in the pages of the New Testament.

Everything Jesus said and everything Jesus did was the exact
will of God -- and perfectly revealed God to us.

JOHN 1:18 TEV
18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as
God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

COLOSSIANS 2:9 PHILLIPS
9 Yet it is in him that God gives a full and complete
expression of himself in bodily form.

Don't be satisfied listening to what someone else believes God
is like -- read the New Testament and see for yourself. Watch
Jesus of Nazareth in action and know that everything He did
perfectly pleased the Father God and perfectly revealed the
Father God.

JOHN 14:7-9,11 NKJ
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also;
and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is
sufficient for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you
have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the
Father; so how can you say, `Show us the Father'?
11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or
else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

JOHN 12:44-45 NKJ
44 . . .Jesus. . .said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in
Me but in Him who sent Me.
45 "And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.

SAY THIS: Jesus fully and completely reveals God to me.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Jesus Revealed God To Us

2 CORINTHIANS 4:4 ICB
4 The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those
who do not believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News
-- the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is exactly like
God.

What is God like?

Before Jesus of Nazareth came on the scene, the human concept
of God was a bit fuzzy. (It still is for those who have not
understood this truth.)

But Jesus perfectly revealed to us what God is like. He was
(and is) Heaven's perfect representative.

COLOSSIANS 1:15 ICB
15 No one has seen God, but Jesus is exactly like him. Christ
ranks higher than all the things that have been made.

COLOSSIANS 1:15 WEYMOUTH
15 Christ is the visible representation of the invisible God,
the Firstborn and Lord of all creation.

HEBREWS 1:3 WEYMOUTH
3 He brightly reflects God's glory and is the exact
representation of His being, and upholds the universe by His
all-powerful word. After securing man's purification from sin
He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

The scriptures above should have made it clear that God is like
Jesus. Now let's look at a verse summarizing the life of Jesus
on earth.

ACTS 10:38 NKJ
38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Notice that Jesus went about DOING GOOD -- not doing bad. Not
hurting people, but helping people. That is what God is like.

SAY THIS: God is good and likes to help people.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

You Are A Citizen of Heaven

PHILIPPIANS 3:20 NRSV
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that
we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, you have a new citizenship. Your
name is written in Heaven. Heaven is your homeland.

Because you are its citizen, Heaven is responsible for you. If
necessary, Heaven will send its soldiers (angels) to assist
you, and when necessary, to evacuate you.

Although we live on earth, we operate under the laws of our
homeland, Heaven, as well as the laws of earth.

As a citizen you have certain rights and obligations. To
understand them you need to read the Bible with the help of
illumination by the Holy Spirit. You need to ask the Lord to
teach you and give you understanding of these things.

COLOSSIANS 1:13 NRSV
13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred
us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,

As believers, we are no longer under the authority or control
of the devil. We have been transferred into a new kingdom.

One of our rights as citizens of Heaven is to resist the devil
and all his works. Anything that is of the devil, we do not
have to submit to.

SAY THIS: I am a citizen of Heaven. Jesus is my Lord and King!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

God Is A Person

2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 LB
14 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. May
God's love and the Holy Spirit's friendship be yours. Paul

God has feelings, emotions, and desires.

God does not enjoy being neglected any more than you do.

God has none of the weaknesses we associate with people, but
nevertheless, God is a person.

God knows, thinks, and communicates.

God is not just a force. God has personality. We are made in
His image. We are like God, even though the image has been
marred by sin.

God is a Father. His intention is no less than a close,
personal relationship with you.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 ICB
9 God is faithful. He is the One who has called you to share
life with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

God desires a relationship with you. But a good relationship
cannot be one-sided.

Love, respect, and communication are essential in any healthy
relationship.

When we ignore God and go about our lives like He doesn't even
exist, we can't expect our relationship to flourish.

And if the only time we talk to Him about anything is when we
run into a problem we can't handle, what kind of relationship
is that?

Fortunately for us, God is not touchy and doesn't treat us the
way we treat Him. But for us to continue treating God in such a
way is wrong.

It's time for us to grow up, quit acting like self-centered
babies, and treat God as He deserves.

SAY THIS: I will not neglect or ignore God.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

God's Word Will Make You Free

John 8:31-32 NRSV
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you
continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free."

Many people think God's Word will put them into bondage. (I
used to think that.) Like most of the world's ideas, this is
opposite to the truth.

A major reason people go their own way instead of turning to
Jesus Christ is because they think following Him and His Word
will restrict them and keep them from enjoying life. What a
deception!

The only way to know true freedom in this life is found through
the Word of God: the Bible.

Also notice that the "truth" Jesus refers to is found in His
Word. Just knowing any "truth" does not guarantee freedom.

If you desire freedom, you now know the guaranteed formula to
achieve it. Will you follow the directions?

SAY THIS: I will continue in the message of Jesus Christ. As I
do I will know the truth. As I act on that truth it will make
me free.

Monday, January 23, 2012

How Much Does God Love You?

Only God can answer this question. Fortunately, we have a
book available where we can find out what God thinks: the
Bible.

(What a wonderful thought that is! We can read and know what
GOD thinks! Don't let yourself be robbed of this great
privilege by being too busy.)

PSALM 103:13 NIV
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has
compassion on those who fear him;

One way we can begin to get an inkling of God's love for us is
to know what it is like to have our own children. Psalm 103:13
tells us that the same deep feelings a parent has for their
child, are also present in God toward us. The word in this
verse means much more than "compassion." It is a very deep
feeling -- hard to express in words. This is what God feels for
you!

(You may wonder why. I may wonder why God would feel that way
about you or me. All I can say is: parents can think their own
children are really special, even though others may think they
are quite normal!)

Another way we can judge how much God loves us is by what He
was willing to go through to redeem us and have us in His
family. A lot!

We are familiar with John 3:16, but often being familiar with
something keeps us from grasping it as fully and clearly as we
should. Think about it: God so loved the dirty, rotten,
rebellious world of people -- even those who hated Him -- that
He decided to suffer the punishment that justice demanded so
they could go free.

God loves you -- no matter who you are -- no matter what you
have done. He loves you more than you can imagine or
understand.

God loves you more than He loves Himself. That is proven by the
fact that He put your interest and your feelings ahead of His
own, choosing to suffer so you could go free.

How can anyone not love and worship such a Being as our
wonderful God?

SAY THIS: God loves me. God loves me. God loves me.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

God Is Not Guilty

JOB 40:8 LB
8 Are you going to discredit my justice and condemn me so that
you can say you are right?

Many are quick to blame God for all the bad things in their
life and in the world. "After all, God is ultimately
responsible, isn't He?"

Is a parent responsible for the choices their grown children
make? Certainly, they had influence in raising their children.
But ultimately, each human makes their own choices and we are
each responsible for our own actions. We cannot blame our
parents -- our spouse -- or anyone else. If we choose to do
wrong, it is our choice.

People are guilty. The devil is guilty. Not God.

"But what about storms, earthquakes, and such?"

Jesus rebuked the storm in Luke 8:24. Are we to believe that
Jesus was rebuking something that God was responsible for?

Although it is not clear now to most people, one day it will be
clear to all: God is not guilty of anything. The devil and
people shoulder the blame for all the heartache, misery, and
pain on earth.

JEREMIAH 9:24 NIV
24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands
and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.

SAY THIS: I repent of ever blaming God for any wrongdoing. God
is not guilty.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Words Bring Success

JOSHUA 1:8 NKJ
8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but
you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to
do according to all that is written in it. For then you will
make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

God's Word never changes. What God promised would work for
Joshua will work for you, also. The problem with most of us is
that we are just too busy to put God's Word first like we
should. But we are not too busy to work trying to get ahead.
Explain that.

God never lies. Follow His instructions given above and you
WILL have prosperity and good success. Maybe not in 10 minutes.
Maybe not even for 10 years. But you will. God promises it.

Notice that Joshua 1:8 does not just say to think about God's
Word. No -- the Word must continually be in your mouth! Words!

1 PETER 3:10 NKJ
10 For "He who would love life and see good days, let him
refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile;

Speaking and thinking in line with God's Word will cause you to
prosper and succeed. If you would like to see good days, the
Bible admonishes you to watch your words!

Never confess defeat. Confessing Jesus as Lord of every
situation brings glory to God.

SAY THIS: I will keep God's Word in my thoughts and in my
mouth. Then I will have good success in life.

Friday, January 20, 2012

God Gives Seed

LUKE 8:11 NLT
11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God's word.

God usually gives us things in seed form. When we look at an
acorn, we don't see an oak tree, or a forest of oak trees, but
God can.

Ideas are seeds. When God desires to send a blessing into your
life, usually He gives you an idea. When you act on the idea,
blessings manifest in your life. (Of course, not all ideas are
from God, so we should judge them before acting.)

2 CORINTHIANS 9:10 NLT
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then
bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase
your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity
in you.

Most of what God gives us comes in seed form. This is why so
many think God has failed to provide for them or that He
doesn't care. It's because they did not recognize God's
provision, because it came in seed form.

ISAIAH 55:10-11 NLT
10 "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on
the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always
produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it
will prosper everywhere I send it.

God gives us seed, but we must value it and protect it. If we
are moved by the storms of circumstances that try to convince
us God's Word will not work, we allow the devil to steal it
from us.

MATTHEW 13:19,23 NKJ
19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not
understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what
was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the
wayside.
23 "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears
the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and
produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

When we understand God's message and steadfastly act on it,
regardless of circumstances or feelings, it always results in a
harvest of blessing. God's Word always works!

SAY THIS: God has given me valuable seed for a purpose.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

God Knows

EZEKIEL 11:5 NLT
5 ... "This is what the LORD says to the people of Israel: I
know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes
into your minds.

God not only knows all things but He also understands all
things because He created everything (including you). So it is
senseless to try and fool God or manipulate Him.

HEBREWS 4:13 NLT
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is
naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we
are accountable.

God knows how to make your body healthy and strong.

God knows how you can live in financial freedom and abundance.

God knows how to make your family be like Heaven on earth.

God knows how to solve every problem you will ever face.

Whatever you need, God knows how to get it. Whatever your
question, God knows the answer.

MATTHEW 6:4 NLT
4 Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all
secrets, will reward you.

God knows everything you don't know. And He is willing to share
His knowledge with you. But... it will not just happen. You
have to desire it. You have to seek it.

God is not in the habit of forcing Himself, or His ideas, on
people. He gave us freedom to choose. Sadly, many of us have
been making a lot of wrong choices.

You may wonder, "How do I get God to tell me what He knows?"

There is no formula for making God tell you something. God is a
Person, not a machine. What you need is to develop a
relationship with God -- to get to know Him.

All relationships are built on communication. You need to spend
time listening to what God says in His Word. You need to talk
to God. You need to ask Him questions. You need to draw near to
God. This is God's desire because He loves you, and loves to
spend time with you.

You need to esteem your relationship with God and spending time
focused on Him as more important than other things.

"But I don't have time to spend seeking God and developing a
closer relationship with Him because then I wouldn't have time
to watch all my favorite television shows."

If someone treated you the way you treat God, would you be
inclined to favor them, to help them, to go out of your way to
do things for them?

Fortunately, God is gracious, merciful, and forgiving. And He
loves you exactly as you are right now, although He is well
aware of all your shortcomings. So you don't need to be afraid
of God. But He is still a divine Person with feelings and
deserves to be treated with respect.

Ignoring God effectively shuts Him out of our life. Not that
God excludes us, but we are the ones making the choice to
exclude Him.

If you desire the fullness of God's blessing and favor, then
you should not put Him last place in your life, your time, and
your devotion.

SAY THIS: God knows!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Gift of Righteousness

ROMANS 5:17 NIV
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned
through that one man, how much more will those who receive
God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of
righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

The New Testament reveals the good news that God offers
righteousness as a free gift to everyone who receives the Lord
Jesus Christ.

Righteousness means right-wise-ness, or being right. So
righteousness is right standing, or good standing with God.

Righteousness is a GIFT from God -- not something you can earn
or achieve. God simply declares that you are innocent, as far
as He is concerned, because you believe in Jesus.

You are righteous if Jesus is your Lord. In fact, Jesus is your
righteousness. So, you are really as righteous as God is --
because He IS your righteousness. As a believer in Jesus, you
will never be more righteous -- no matter what you do.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:30 NIV
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has
become for us wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness,
holiness and redemption.

SAY THIS: I receive the gift of right standing with God through
my Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You Father God for this wonderful
gift.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Words Will Judge You

MATTHEW 12:36-37 NKJ
36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak,
they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words
you will be condemned."

ROMANS 10:9-10 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.
10 For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with
the mouth confession is made to salvation.

The reason we are taking time to look at the importance of
words is because most believers have neglected this area of
studying what the Bible teaches. So we need to spend extra time
on this subject.

Looking at Matthew 12:36-37 we see that according to Jesus our
words will play a big part in judging us. You may wonder why
that is the case, instead of just being judged by our actions.
Because words precede actions. What you say indicates what you
are thinking -- what is in your heart -- and all action is
dictated by what is inside us.

Also, notice in Romans 10:9 the important part given to
confessing the Lord Jesus in salvation. It is not enough to
just believe in our heart -- we must also confess with our
mouth that Jesus is Lord. (Confess means to speak in agreement
with. In this case we are agreeing with what God has said, that
Jesus is Lord.) This is the way faith works in every area. You
must combine believing in your heart and speaking with your
mouth.

This is not restricted to some future time of judgment. It is
working right now. Today "with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation (which means deliverance)." If you are in
bondage today, you can change it by the words you speak.

I did not say, "Just speak a word and you will be free." This
involves a change in what you believe in your heart. It
involves changing what is coming out of your mouth all day --
not just for a few minutes when you decide to "speak the Word."
But you have to start and now is the best time to get started.

SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to get started, and keep on,
speaking in agreement with Your Word.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Hold Fast Your Confession

HEBREWS 3:1; 4:14 NKJ
1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ
Jesus,
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession.

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

Your confession is what you say. You should persistently
continue speaking in faith, agreeing with what God has said,
regardless of circumstances. If it never seemed like it was not
working, there would be no need to hold fast, or hang on, to a
confession of faith.

Some people are surprised when they act on God's Word and it
does not immediately come to pass. But there is abundant
evidence in Scripture showing that is normal. God never
promised that everything would happen instantly. The time
period involved gives us opportunity to walk in faith and
please God.

Remember that authority is released through words. When we
speak in DIS-agreement with what God says, we are giving
authority in that area of our lives to our enemy. This is why
Scripture tells us to struggle (if necessary) to keep speaking
in agreement with God's Word.

Why does the Bible tell us to "hold fast" -- or you might say
"hang on tight" or "hang on for dear life." Obviously,
something or someone is trying hard to get us to turn loose.
Who or what do you think that is?

SAY THIS: With God's help, I will keep speaking in agreement
with the Word of God, no matter what the circumstances may say.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Christian Unity

1 CORINTHIANS 12:27 NLT
27 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a
part of it.

EPHESIANS 4:3 NLT
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together with peace.

God hates discord and quarreling among brethren (see Proverbs
6:16-19).

Does this mean we should "compromise" to have Christian unity?
No!

But nowhere does the New Testament teach that having perfect
doctrine will save us, or give us favor with God. Instead,
right standing and favor with God is a gift we receive by God's
grace.

It is never compromise to show love. We can walk in love
without compromising what we believe.

In John 17:11 and 22 Jesus prayed for our unity, so we know it
is God's will. However, that does not mean every Christian
group must join together into one group.

We are to be united in our love for the Lord and for one
another. But that does not mean we should all be doing the same
thing in the same way. God is a God of diversity!

1 CORINTHIANS 12:4,6 NLT
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same
Spirit is the source of them all.
6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does
the work in all of us.

It is fine, even advantageous for us to have different groups
with different flavors. Even the children of Israel had twelve
tribes, not just one. But we should all walk in love toward
each other, being careful to not criticize or condemn others.

What we believe (our doctrine) can separate us, but Who we
believe in (Jesus) is what should bring us together.

In this life, we will never agree on every single thing that we
believe. We are all growing and learning, and we will never all
be at the same level of understanding. So our unity can only be
through Christ.

All who believe in Jesus Christ are members of His Body. So all
those who recognize Jesus as Lord are on our same team. We
should do nothing and say nothing that would harm any of them.

How should we treat other Christian believers, especially ones
who are not part of our group, or who do not believe like we
do?

GALATIANS 6:10 NLT
10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do
good to everyone -- especially to those in the family of faith.

We should live as we believe God would have us to, and let
others live as they believe God has instructed them. If we
think they are misunderstanding Scripture, we can humbly and
gently tell them privately what we believe. But never should we
publicly criticize and condemn others who acknowledge Jesus as
their Lord. We are not called to be critics or judges, but
helpers.

All who belong to Jesus are our brothers and sisters. If they
need corrected our Heavenly Father is well able to handle that
job without our help.

SAY THIS: I recognize that I am in union with all who
acknowledge Jesus Christ, so I will not harm them by word or
deed.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Life Can Be Tough

JOHN 16:33 ICB
33 "I told you these things so that you can have peace in me.
In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have
defeated the world!"

Jesus never promised us that everything would be perfect here
on earth. He recognized that we would encounter trouble. But
His instructions were to be of good cheer -- not to let it get
us down.

As we encounter difficulties in life, it will help us to
remember the big picture. First, God is our Father and has a
wonderful eternal plan for us. We are His children and He loves
us. Second, this time is but a training period for our future
life with God. We are supposed to be learning to trust God and
to obey Him.

So, every problem we ever face is an opportunity to walk in
faith and please God. Every problem is an opportunity to
overcome with God's help. How can we expect to receive the
blessings promised to the overcomer if we never have anything
to overcome?

What is the answer when we seem overwhelmed with trouble? Look
to Jesus. He has already won the victory. He has overcome and
defeated the world. In Him is victory.

You may ask how you can look to Jesus. It is mostly a matter of
focus -- what you choose to think on. What God says in His Word
will set you free and give you peace. What the circumstances
say is not the final word.

So, go to God's Word. Cling to the promises. Speak them. Sing
them. Shout them. Rejoice over them. And thank God for them.

Also, you need to develop a closer relationship with the Lord.
That is His desire and it should be yours. All relationships
are based on communication, so you must talk to the Lord to
deepen your relationship with Him. Develop the habit of talking
with Him about everything. You can speak freely to Him -- after
all He knows what you are thinking anyway.

SAY THIS: No matter what I face, the Lord is with me, and I can
overcome because Jesus already won the victory.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Don't Let Your Heart Be Troubled

JOHN 14:1 NIV
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also
in me.

Because Jesus told us to NOT LET our hearts be troubled, it
means we can do it. Jesus would never tell us to do something
that was impossible for us to do.

JOHN 14:27 NIV
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give
to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.

JOHN 16:33 NIV
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world."

As this verse indicates, believers are not exempt from trouble
in this world. But Jesus the Victor is always with us to lead
us into victory, no matter what we may face.

PROVERBS 4:23 NLT
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the
course of your life.

ISAIAH 26:3 NLT
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all
whose thoughts are fixed on you!

The information you feed into your consciousness determines
what you believe.

If your heart is troubled, it means you are looking at, and
feeding in, the wrong information.

What you feed on, listen to, and watch is important.

Look to God and His Word. Refuse to doubt God's never-failing
love and provision.

SAY THIS: I will not allow my heart to be troubled, but I will
trust in Jesus.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

God Gives You Ability To Get Rich

DEUTERONOMY 8:18 ICB
8 But remember the Lord your God! It is he who gives you the
power to become rich. He keeps the agreement he promised to
your ancestors. So it is today.

I don't want to be critical, but so many preach, using this
verse, that God wants to prosper people for one sole purpose:
to give the money to God so He can afford to proclaim the
Gospel to all the world. But I just don't buy it.

I do believe God desires His people to be givers. And clearly
we should proclaim the Gospel to everyone. Being selfish is the
worst thing you can do. And usually the biggest enjoyment you
can get from something is to give it away to someone who is
thrilled with it.

But surely God is not waiting around till we get enough money
to finance Him. And surely God is not worse than normal earthly
parents. What earthly parent would give their children toys on
Christmas, then tell them the ONLY reason they were given those
gifts is so they could give them away to the neighbor kids?

I already said selfishness is wrong. If you are not a giver,
you are not in God's will. But God does not give you things
only for the purpose of giving them all to someone else.

Deuteronomy 8:18 is simple: it says God is the One making you
rich, and He is doing it because He said He would -- not
because we deserve it!

I especially like:

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.

God is not the kind of being who will make you just barely
scrape by -- He gives us RICHLY all things to ENJOY. God gives
to us because He enjoys it and because He keeps His word!

SAY THIS: I trust in the living God, Who gives me richly all
things to enjoy. He gives me the power to prosper because He
said He would.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Jesus Is Our Pattern

ROMANS 8:29 NLT
29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to
become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn,
with many brothers and sisters.

Jesus is not only our Saviour, but also the model of what we
are to become.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:49 NKJ
49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall
also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

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 whole program with mankind is to eventually make us all
like Jesus Christ.

COLOSSIANS 3:10 NLT
10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know
your Creator and become like him.

Jesus is our pattern, our example. He is the one we are to
follow, to imitate.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 NKJ
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

JOHN 14:12 NKJ
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the
works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these
he will do, because I go to My Father.

We can't make ourselves like Jesus. Otherwise we would not even
need a savior. But God can, and is.

SAY THIS: God is working to make me like Jesus.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Hundredfold Blessing

MARK 10:29-30 NKJ
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there
is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father
or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the
gospel's,
30 "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time --
houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and
lands, with persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal
life.

Many think it is extreme to believe God could multiply their
giving by 100 times. But if you look at God's creation, you see
that is not abnormal.

One corn seed can easily produce 800 kernels of corn from one
plant. So it is not extreme to think God can multiply a seed
100 times.

GENESIS 26:12-14 NKJ
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a
hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.
13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he
became very prosperous;
14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds
and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.

What happened to Issac can happen to you. God does not play
favorites.

Hearing, understanding, and acting on God's Word is the key.

MATTHEW 13:23 NKJ
23 "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears
the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and
produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

SAY THIS: I believe God can provide a hundredfold return of
blessing for anything I give for His sake.

Monday, January 09, 2012

God Is A Father

EPHESIANS 3:15 AMPLIFIED

15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named --
[that Father] from whom all fatherhood takes its title and
derives its name.

I have included these different translations, with the notes
from the margin, to show that the Bible says that all
fatherhood derives from God. In other words, God is the
original Father. Everything good that fathers are, was in God
first. All earthly fatherhood is but a replica of what was
first in God.

EPHESIANS 3:14-15 NIV
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives
its name.

NIV NOTE: Or whom all fatherhood

EPHESIANS 3:14-15 NRSV
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its
name.

NRSV Note: Gk fatherhood

One mission of Jesus on earth was to show us what God was like,
to reveal Him to us. Jesus introduced the concept of God as
Father. The Jews did not know God as Father because the Old
Testament does not teach it. No other religion had looked to
God as a Father. Instead God was generally thought of as a
judge at best, and often as a despicable character who could
only be trusted to let you down; someone who would play tricks
on you just for his amusement, and delight in disappointing
you.

Concepts of God haven't really changed much, have they!

But Jesus revealed to humanity that God was not like they
thought -- He was a good Father. Not someone who would do them
wrong, but someone who would take care of them with their best
interest always at heart. Someone who would love them more than
they loved themselves.

How do you think of God?

SAY THIS: God, I am glad to know You are a Father. Please help
me to always remember that.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Prosperity God's Way

PROVERBS 28:19 NLT
19 A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases
fantasies ends up in poverty.

The world's way is to "get rich quick" by any means. God's way
is slower, but sure, and will not end up destroying you.

JEREMIAH 17:11 NET
11 The person who gathers wealth by unjust means is like the
partridge that broods over eggs but does not hatch them. Before
his life is half over he will lose his ill-gotten gains. At the
end of his life it will be clear he was a fool."

The world's idea of how to get rich is winning a lottery. Yet a
careful study of those who have won reveals that it usually
ruined their lives, instead of blessing them.

PROVERBS 28:20 NLT
20 The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person
who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

PROVERBS 28:22 NLT
22 Greedy people try to get rich quick but don't realize
they're headed for poverty.

MATTHEW 6:33 NKJ
33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.

In explaining the Kingdom of God, Jesus said it works like a
seed planted in the ground. The seed produces a large harvest
of increase, but it does not happen overnight. It results from
gradual but continuing growth.

MARK 4:30-32 NLT
30 Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What
story should I use to illustrate it?
31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the
smallest of all seeds,
32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows
long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade."

LUKE 16:10 NLT
10 "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful
in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you
won't be honest with greater responsibilities.

Those who have been found faithful in handling little are
entrusted with more. God's way is not to trust you with more
than you can handle. This is because He loves you.

Premature prosperity (before someone is able to handle it) can
ruin a life. Money is not evil, but it can buy you more
opportunities to do evil.

Actually, money is morally neutral, but powerful. If the person
who has money is evil, it will likely be used to promote evil.
But if the person who has money is good, it will likely be used
for good.

Money gives you more choices, and allows you to make them
faster. In the life of someone who is not prepared to handle
great riches, it can easily bring destruction.

God's will is that every single person always have enough not
only to meet their every need, but also sufficient to share
with others. The reason this is not happening is because the
devil has stolen from us through our ignorance of God's will.

So there is no need to try to get God to prosper you. Instead,
concentrate on believing and following God's Word so you can
keep the devil from stealing from you what God has provided.
And understand that as you are faithful and diligent you will
increase and walk in greater and greater abundance.

SAY THIS: God's way of prosperity is best.

Saturday, January 07, 2012

God Has Already Forgiven You

2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 AMPLIFIED
19 It was God (personally present) in Christ, reconciling and
restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and
holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them];
and committing to us the message of reconciliation -- of the
restoration to favor.

A popular idea is that God is really mad at people and can
hardly wait to punish them for their sins.

The truth is that God has already forgiven people. Now you must
accept His forgiveness to enjoy a restored relationship with
Him.

What a shame it is that people are estranged from God and go
without His help and blessing -- simply because they think God
is against them and would have nothing to do with them.

1 JOHN 2:12 NKJ
12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are
forgiven you for His name's sake.

No matter what you have done -- God has already forgiven you!
More than forgiven -- you are loved!

Forgiving you was God's idea -- you do not have to convince
Him. You must believe God forgave you and thank Him.

Jesus Christ already paid the price for all your sins -- and
God is no longer holding any sin against you! You have been
forgiven.

SAY THIS: Thank You Father God for forgiving me! Thank You Jesus!

Friday, January 06, 2012

God Loves You

ROMANS 8:39 NLT
39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below -- indeed,
nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from
the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You may find it difficult to believe -- but it's true -- God
loves you. His love for you is not based on your appearance or
your performance -- but on the fact that you are His creation
-- His child.

Just as a good parent loves their children, so God loves His
children -- and even more so. You will not be able to make God
stop loving you, no matter what you do or don't do. You can
displease Him, you can disappoint Him, you can anger Him -- but
you can't make Him stop loving you.

What are the practical consequences of God loving you? First,
it means you can trust Him. No one who truly loves you will
mistreat you. Second, it means God is doing all He can to help
you and bless you.

"Then why am I not more blessed, if God wants to bless me?"
Because you must cooperate with God to receive His blessing.
That is why we need continuing instruction from the Bible -- so
we can know how to receive all that God has for us.

The promise of Jesus is that if we continue in His Word it will
reveal the truth to us and make us free. That is the blessing
which God has provided for you through Christ because He loves
you: true freedom! Freedom from fear, freedom from confusion,
freedom from lack, freedom from sickness, freedom from strife,
freedom from sin.

SAY THIS: God loves me and desires the very best for me. That
is why He gave me His Word, so I could know the truth and be
free.

Thursday, January 05, 2012

What Does God Want From Me?

HEBREWS 11:6 NKJ
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder
of those who diligently seek Him.

You may be working yourself to a frazzle trying to be perfect
so you can please God.

You may have tried so hard and become so frustrated that you
are about ready to give up. Well, maybe you should quit trying
to be perfect on your own -- because none of us will ever be
perfect through our own efforts, anyway.

God knows you are human. He does not expect perfection out of
you. If you were perfect you would not even need a Saviour.

God loves you and accepts you because He made you. And He is
able to make you into what He desires for you to be -- if you
will trust Him and allow Him to work in you.

God wants you to trust Him. He wants your love and respect. He
has certainly earned it and deserves it. Don't let the devil
keep you from giving to God what He really desires: your love
and faith.

What does God desire from you? Not perfect performance -- but
total trust. God wants you to believe that He is good -- a rewarder!

SAY THIS: I trust You Lord God. Thank You for loving me. I will
rest in your love, instead of worrying about my performance.
Work your will in me.

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Grow Up!

1 CORINTHIANS 14:20 NIV
20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be
infants, but in your thinking be adults.

It's fine to be a baby -- for awhile. But we expect babies to
grow and mature. If anyone still acts like a baby when they are
past that age -- something is wrong.

It's the same in the spiritual as in the physical realm --
we're supposed to grow up. But too many Christians seem content
to remain babies.

Babies focus only on themselves and their needs. God desires
for us to learn to love others and help them.

God wants His children to mature and be trained -- not be a
bunch of babies for ever.

EPHESIANS 4:15 THE MESSAGE
15 God wants us to grow up ....

Sometimes we wonder why our prayers have not yet been answered.
We sit in our corner and whine and complain about God not doing
what He should. We throw fits and complain to everyone we see.
We think God has failed us. But it is never true!

God is just expecting us to act on His Word, and continue
walking in faith and love. God would not do anyone a favor by
allowing them to never grow up.

God wants us to have good things, but He also wants us to grow
up, to learn His ways, and to trust Him. So, instead of just
instantly giving us everything, He encourages us to draw closer
to Him, learn to walk in faith, and learn how to receive all He
has provided for us.

So while you may not always like God's timing, it is the best
for you, even though you may not think so now. Later you will
rejoice, because you will more clearly understand what God has
done.

EPHESIANS 4:15 NASB
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all
aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ,

Facing new things as a baby is likely very intimidating. For
example, learning to walk is no doubt scary for a child. But
they can do it, and after learning they would certainly never
wish to go back.

It is the same with us now in our Christian life. God is urging
us on: to use our faith, to act on His Word, to trust Him. It
seems scary, but God knows we can do it. Once we learn how to
walk with God by faith, it is a real joy and we would never
wish to go back.

God desires for you to leave your little restricted world and
step out into His world of unlimited possibilities where you
can fellowship with Him.

SAY THIS: I will feed on God's Word and let Him mature me, so I
won't act like a baby.

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Rejoice In Hope

ROMANS 5:2 NKJ
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in
which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We may not always have good circumstances around us that would
cause us to rejoice. But we can always rejoice in hope.

What is hope?

Hope is a positive expectation for the future. Things may not
be great now, but you can have a hope that the future will be
better. (Hope is always future, by definition, but can be in
the near future -- not just when we get to Heaven.)

According to Romans 8:24, hope involves what is not seen. The
only way humans have of dealing with things that are unseen is
by using our imagination.

Hope is not seen, or detectable by our physical senses. Hope is
a positive imagination, something we can only see inwardly.

As Christian believers we can rejoice in hope. We can rejoice
when circumstances are not perfect. We can rejoice ahead of
time.

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

As we mature as Christians, we are not to be controlled
exclusively by our physical senses. Being controlled by the
physical senses is what the Bible refers to as being "carnally
minded."

Because we believe what God has said, we know that we have a
bright future. A glorious future with God! In this we can, and
should, rejoice now!

And as we rejoice in hope, our present situation will also be
affected for good.

SAY THIS: I will rejoice even before I physically see victory.

Monday, January 02, 2012

God Encourages

2 CORINTHIANS 7:6 NLT
6 But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged
us by the arrival of Titus.

God usually works through people.

The encouragement and love you receive through others, actually
has its source in God.

So as we show love and offer encouragement, we can be God's
mouth and hands extended to those around us.

2 TIMOTHY 4:2 GWN
2 Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right.
Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. Be very
patient when you teach.

As you can see from this Scripture, one of the main purposes of
the Word is to encourage us.

HEBREWS 10:25 NLT
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people
do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of
his return is drawing near.

A main purpose of Christian believers meeting together is for
encouragement. We are to encourage one another.

Scripture tells us that Jesus does not give up on people just
because they are weak.

MATTHEW 12:20 NLT
20 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering
candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.

Many are weak and need our input to give them strength to
continue. Many more would overcome in life if they had more
encouragement.

Jesus desires to help people. If you are a member of His Body
on earth, His plan is to work through you today.

SAY THIS: I will let God encourage others today through me.

Sunday, January 01, 2012

We Walk By Faith

2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 NKJ
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

God's plan for us as His children here on earth is that our
walk with Him be a walk of faith.

Faith has to do with things that are not seen, or perceived
with our physical senses.

HEBREWS 11:1 NKJ
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen.

God's Word is our evidence for our faith. We know God cannot
lie. Whatever God says -- if it is not already evident to our
physical senses -- will eventually come to pass. For whatever
God says comes to pass. According to the Bible, God only had to
speak and the universe was created.

You will never grow strong spiritually until you learn to put
what God says in His Word ahead of what your circumstances and
physical senses tell you.

God does not ask you to deny what your physical senses tell
you, but to believe His Word above all other evidence. God
simply wants you to believe that He tells the truth.

In this regard, the Bible tells us Abraham was an example of
faith.

ROMANS 4:19-21 NKJ
19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own
body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old),
and the deadness of Sarah's womb.
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but
was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was
also able to perform.

God told Abraham he would be a father of many nations, yet
Abraham had no children and his wife was too old to have
children. Abraham still believed God's promise, and it came to
pass. Faith is no different for us today. God is speaking to
us through His Word, the Bible, and when we believe what God
said, impossible things become possible.

As we keep our focus on God and His Word, we can be fully
convinced, like Abraham, that God is able to do all He has
said. For faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17).

Unbelief is the opposite of faith and Scripture calls it evil
(Hebrews 3:12). The only cure for unbelief is correct teaching
of the truth from God's Word (Mark 6:6).

COLOSSIANS 2:6 NKJ
6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk in Him,

We receive Jesus Christ by faith, and we must continue to walk
our whole Christian life here on earth by faith. That means we
can't base everything on our physical sense knowledge, instead
of what God has said.

SAY THIS: I will walk with God by faith here on earth.