Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Christians Love Their Enemies

MATTHEW 5:44 NKJ
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse
you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and persecute you,

No other belief system teaches such an idea! Only followers of
Jesus preach this.

This idea will change the world! In fact, it is the only one
that will change it as it needs to be changed.

But only those who are connected to God, the source of Love,
are fully capable of loving their enemies.

What does it mean to love our enemies?

To understand this we need to have a definition. To love
someone means to desire the best for them and to work toward
that end.

Does it mean to let our enemies do whatever they will to us?
No, not necessarily.

Remember our definition of loving someone is desiring and
working toward what will be best for them.

Allowing someone to do something not in their best interest is
not love, but apathy. It means you don't really care. Stopping
someone, even with force, from doing something they will later
regret can be an act of love.

Allowing an enemy to destroy your family, instead of protecting
and defending them, certainly cannot be considered an act of
love.

But you can protect your loved ones, then later pray for the
salvation and healing of the attacker, instead of hating the
attacker and hoping they go to hell.

ROMANS 12:19 NIV
19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's
wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"
says the Lord.

Revenge is the way of the world. Forgiveness and mercy is God's
way. God asks us to love people as He loves us (John 15:12).

God's way will turn enemies into friends.

ROMANS 5:5b NKJ
5 the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy
Spirit who was given to us.

As true believers in Jesus, we have the love of God in our
hearts. But we must allow that love to control our actions. The
choice is ours. It is not automatic.

God's children have the ability to choose to love. It's
actually our inner nature as Christians to show love.

1 JOHN 4:8 NKJ
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

If you don't realize that God loves everyone, that He is
interested in, and working toward, the best for everyone --
then you don't know God.

ROMANS 12:14,20-21 NKJ
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is
thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals
of fire on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This may not be easy, but with God's love inside you and with
God helping you -- you can do it.

SAY THIS: God wants me to show love to absolutely everyone.

Monday, July 30, 2012

You Can Have Children

As a believer in Jesus Christ there are Bible promises about
having children you can claim. If you desire to have children,
you can, according to the promises of God.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 NKJ
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen,
to the glory of God through us.

All the promises and blessings of God are yours because of your
faith in Christ Jesus.

DEUTERONOMY 7:14 NKJ
14 "You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be
a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.

EXODUS 23:25-26 NKJ
25 . . . I will take sickness away from . . . you.
26 "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land;
I will fulfill the number of your days.

PSALM 113:9 NRSV
9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous
mother of children. Praise the Lord!

The Bible mentions many women who were unable to have children
before they received a miracle from God.

Sarah became the mother of Isaac.
Rebekah became the mother of Esau and Jacob.
Rachel became the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
Hannah became the mother of two daughters and three sons,
including Samuel.
Elizabeth became the mother of John the Baptist.

Multitudes of women living today have also experienced the
miracle of having a child after having been barren. God is
still working in the lives of people. And He will work in your
life too!

ACTS 10:34 NKJ
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive
that God shows no partiality.

God does not play favorites. What He did for them, He will do
for you, if you will believe it. If you seek God as they sought
God, He will answer your prayer also.

But when you read the Bible stories of barren women having
children, you notice that often their children were born after
many years of waiting. So don't make the mistake of thinking
that just because you have not received a quick answer to your
prayer that God is saying no.

The will of God does not always come to pass quickly. Sometimes
we have to stand in faith for an extended period -- much longer
than we would choose.

These verses should give you hope. They should help you realize
that having children, if you want them, is God's will. It is
possible. It may not be easy, but it is possible.

The Bible says all things are possible!

LUKE 1:37 NKJ
37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."

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

MATTHEW 17:20 NKJ
20 . . . 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.

MARK 11:24 NKJ
24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you
pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Even if medical experts tell you it is impossible, remember
that Jesus said all things are possible with God.

Miracles still happen. I have heard of a man who sees perfectly
without an eyeball, and another man who talks and sings without
vocal cords.

Some dear women have already had operations at a young age that
medically render them unable to ever have children. But some
women who have undergone these complete hysterectomies have
later produced natural children. Yes, miracles still happen!

Not everyone will believe this is possible. But all things are
possible with God -- if we will believe.

All of us can have "spiritual children" -- those we help to
know the Lord and learn His ways. Producing and raising
"spiritual children" can be just as important and fulfilling as
having natural children.

ISAIAH 54:1 NKJ
1 "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into
singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child!
For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of
the married woman," says the LORD.

Adoption can also be wonderful, both for the children and the
parents who adopt them. If it is your desire, God will help you
to adopt children if you will look to Him. He can make
difficult things seem easy if you trust Him.

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for giving children to those who
desire them.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Is All The Bible True?

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 NKJ
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness,

We can have complete confidence that the Bible tells us the
truth. All of it is a message of truth. But some things in the
Bible are truly reported but are not the truth.

For example:

GENESIS 3:4 NKJ
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.

It is true that the serpent made that statement. But the
statement he made is not truth.

There are other places in Scripture where what someone says is
truly recorded, but that does not make it all true. For
example, God said all the things spoken by Job's friends
throughout the book of Job were not right. Toward the end of
the book, we read:

JOB 42:7 NKJ
7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job,
that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is
aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not
spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

So, according to God, some things spoken by these people which
are recorded in the book of Job, are not truth.

JOHN 17:17 NKJ
17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

If God said it, it is truth. I believe in the inspiration of
the Bible, that every single word was given by God and can be
depended upon that it happened just as it was recorded.

2 TIMOTHY 2:15 NKJ
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker
who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.

SAY THIS: The Bible always tells me the truth, but not every
statement made in the Bible is a statement of truth.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Delay Is Not Denial

LUKE 18:1 NKJ
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to
pray and not lose heart,

Many people give up too easily in prayer. When they don't see
the answer almost immediately, they quit.

God is not pleased with this approach.

You may say, "God knows my need. Why doesn't He just give it to
me, instead of playing games?"

Whether you agree with God's ways, or not: God is still in
charge and makes the rules -- not you. So, it does you no good
to argue or complain. Better to just line up with God instead
of fighting against His plan. Besides, in reality God's ways
are perfect, it is just that we are often too immature and
ignorant to understand all God is doing.

Scripture has many examples of people pressing in and receiving
answers to prayer. We should never be quitters when it comes to
prayer.

It is God's will to answer your prayers. He is the One who told
you to pray. God actually delights in answering your prayers.

(Never forget that God loves you more than you can imagine. God
loves you more than He loves Himself, and proved it by dying in
your place, so you could go free.)

"Then why are there so many delays?"

There is an enemy, the devil, who hates you and is against you
receiving your answer from God.

Second, some prayers involve other people, and God does not
force people to do His will, but works with them patiently so
they can see and do the right thing willingly. This takes time.

Third, there are things that God is working in you while you
are persevering in prayer. God's plan is for you to grow up
spiritually. God wants to enlarge your faith and encourage you
to develop a closer relationship with Him. If every answer
always came immediately, would you really press in and spend
time drawing closer to God and studying His Word?

Don't despair in prayer. Keep on praying in faith as long as
you are praying according to God's Word. A delay, even a very
long one, does not mean that God is saying no to your request.

SAY THIS: I will persevere in prayer.

Friday, July 27, 2012

If You Don't Know What To Believe

JOHN 17:17 NKJ
17 ". . . Your word is truth.

According to Jesus, the Word of God is truth. Yet many people
proclaim quite different messages -- all using the Bible as
their text. How can you know who to believe?

Jesus also told us that continuing to abide in the Word of God
would produce freedom -- not bondage.

JOHN 8:31-32 NKJ
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you
abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free."

So, look at the fruit produced by the message proclaimed. Is it
freedom? If not, then it must not be the ACCURATE message of
Jesus Christ.

The true message of Jesus Christ will set people free -- not
put them in bondage. It truly is good news, and makes people
happy when they correctly understand it.

JOHN 10:10 NKJ
10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they
may have it more abundantly.

If it produces death, stealing, or destruction, it is not God's
plan for you. Jesus came so you could have life in all the
fullness God intended.

What you need to do now is simple:

1) Stop listening to lies.

Anything that makes you think God does not love you, or that
you are hopeless or helpless -- is a lie. God is not against
you or mad at you. All your troubles have been caused by the
devil, and your ignorance, not by God.

2) Listen to the truth.

God's truth is good news. It will build you up -- and give you
an inheritance. It will give you good things, not take anything
good away from you.

ACTS 20:32 NKJ
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of
His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Primarily, you need to read the New Testament for yourself.
Don't just depend on others to tell you what God said. And
before you read, ask the Lord to teach you and reveal Himself
to you.

Secondarily, listen to teachers and preachers who feed you the
Word of God which builds your faith and makes you love and
appreciate God more. Otherwise, quit listening to them.

Remember, the accurate message of Jesus makes you free. (Not
free to sin without consequences, but free from the bondage and
the effects of sin and its curse.)

SAY THIS: I will stop listening to and believing lies, and I
will listen to and believe the truth. God loves me and will
help me.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Prayer Strengthens You

ISAIAH 40:31 NKJ
31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength...

Too many people think of prayer only as asking God for what
they want. But prayer is much more than that. Prayer is
communication and communion with Almighty God. Somehow, in the
act of prayer we receive a transfusion of God's strength.

LUKE 22:46 NKJ
46 ..."pray, lest you enter into temptation."

Being strong enables you to not enter into temptation. Time
spent in prayer strengthens you spiritually. (Temptation
strikes us all. But we decide whether to yield to the
temptation, or not.)

JUDE 1:20 NKJ
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy
faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

According to Jude, praying builds you up, or edifies you.
Prayer is a spiritual exercise; the more you do it the stronger
you get spiritually.

Some may protest that they don't know how to pray. Just begin
to talk to God. And listen for His response, not through a
voice, but through His Word, or thoughts in line with His Word.
God is not so particular about how His children visit with Him.
Just do it!

SAY THIS: I choose to spend time with God each day in prayer
and receive God's strength and help.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Fight The Good Fight Of Faith

1 TIMOTHY 6:12 NKJ
12 Fight the good fight of faith . . . .

Christians are supposed to fight -- just not with each other.

Our struggle is about our faith. The devil wants our faith in
God to wither and die. God wants our faith to grow stronger.

The battlefield is your mind. The devil tries to keep his
evidence foremost in your thoughts: negative circumstances and
what your senses tell you. God's evidence is contained in His
unchanging Word: the Bible.

We must choose to feed the truths of the Bible into our
thinking to keep our faith strong.

The devil still tells mankind his old lie, "Has God said?"
which we could modernize as, "Did God really mean that?"

Yes, God meant what He said and said what He meant.

"Then why doesn't it seem that way when I look around at my
circumstances?"

Because you are supposed to fight the good fight of faith and
actively receive the promised blessings. God will bring His
Word to pass in your life when you actively believe it. God's
program is set up to reward those who trust Him.

You should resist and even rebuke thoughts of doubt, knowing
they originate with the evil one. You can say, "Doubt, I resist
you. Leave me alone. God is faithful and His Word is true."

You have authority over what you think. The Bible tells you
what to think about in Philippians 4:8. But you must exercise
your authority through words spoken. Otherwise, authority
doesn't benefit you.

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

Faith involves things not seen, or not discerned by
your physical senses. If you can see it or feel it you don't
need to have faith for it. Faith is your evidence until it
manifests to your physical senses.

God does not lie. His written Word is your faith evidence until
the blessing is evident even to your physical senses. Resist
the devil by continuing to believe God's Word.

A good fight is a fight you can win.

SAY THIS: With God's help, I will fight the good fight of faith
and win.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

God's Protection

God doesn't want us to live our lives in fear. Over and over
the Bible tells us to fear not.

Yet with all the terrible things happening in the world, how
can we not be afraid? How can we overcome the temptation to
fear?

We must know and remember that God loves us and has a good plan
for us: including a home in Heaven and going to be with Jesus
when we die.

Also, we must know and remember the promises of God given in
the Bible concerning protection from evil, accident, and harm
in this life. For example:

PSALM 91:9-11 NKJ
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the
Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near
your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in
all your ways.

This is not to say that victims of tragic events are sinners,
or are not loved by God. Only that if we walk with God and heed
His direction, God promises to protect us.

We know many good people have died unexpectedly and tragically.
Yet the promise of God stands true and should not be doubted.
There is a place of protection as you live close to God and
walk in faith.

SAY THIS: God gives His angels charge over me, to keep me safe
in all my ways.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Pray For Our Leaders

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 NASB
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers,
petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may
lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Praying for our leaders is not a useless ritual. God would not
tell us to do something in His Word, unless it would make a
difference.

Sometimes, when bad things happen, people ask why God allowed
them to happen. But we should be asking ourselves why we
allowed them to happen: by not obeying God and praying.

If believers are praying as we ought, we can expect many bad
things and difficult times to be avoided.

Since God told us to pray for our leaders, it is our
responsibility.

Of course, we shouldn't limit ourselves to praying only for our
leaders. We should pray for all people. But we must not forget
to pray for our leaders. And not just when we face difficult
times, either.

SAY THIS: Father, I pray that you would give our leaders
wisdom, understanding, and insight into all the situations that
we face, and the courage to do what is right.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

God Is A Good God

Luke 6:35-36 NKJ
35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for
nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will
be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and
evil.
36 "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is
merciful.

Unfortunately, not many people understand that God is truly
good -- but He is. The world has been deceived into accepting
an image of God that's mean and vindictive, harsh and strict.

But the Bible, especially the fuller revelation given in the
New Testament, paints a different picture of God. He is a
Father -- a good Father.

It would be good news if we had a God who was kind to the
average person. But God doesn't stop there. According to Jesus,
who knows, God is kind to unthankful and evil people, too!

That may not be what you often hear preached, but that's what
Jesus said. The Most High God is kind to evil people.

Jesus also said that not only is God kind to evil people, but
He is merciful. In fact, one passage even says that God
delights in mercy! (Micah 7:18)

Too often people think God is mad at them, so there is little
chance He would help them. The opposite is true. Jesus told us
that God so loved the world . . . .

And He hasn't changed His mind.

SAY THIS: My Father God is a good God. He loves the people of
this world, including me.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

You Are Special, But Please Don't Act Like You Are

MATTHEW 23:11 ESV
11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.

Jesus was our perfect example (as well as being our Savior and
Lord). No one could ever be more special than Jesus Christ, but
He did not consider Himself too good to work hard and even to
do menial tasks like washing feet (which would be equivalent to
cleaning toilets today).

You are special because God created you. You are very valuable
-- valuable enough for Jesus Christ to die so you could be in
God's family.

But as a child of God, you are to be "clothed with humility."
Acting like you are better than other people does not please
God. And it won't make you many friends, either!

1 PETER 5:5 ESV
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one
another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble."

You are valuable and precious, but so is every other human
being. God loves us all. So don't treat anyone else as if you
are better than they are.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:7 NLT
7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do
you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have
is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

When we look at others and are tempted to think we are somehow
superior to them, we need to realize, "There, but for the grace
of God, go I." The only reason you are not in their shoes is
because of God's grace. Without God's help, you could be in
worse shape than they are.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:10 ESV
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am . . .

SAY THIS: I am valuable because God loves me, just as He loves
all people.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Respect The Elderly

LEVITICUS 19:32 NLT
32 "Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect
for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD.

When I was young a popular idea was that you should not trust
anyone over the age of 30.

Now that I have lived many years I see how that idea was from
the devil -- who would like to steal good things from people by
cutting them off from the wisdom of those with much experience.

1 TIMOTHY 5:1a NLT
1 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him
respectfully as you would to your own father.

Why should we respect the elderly? First, because they are
people made in the image of God and we should respect everyone
-- regardless of age.

Second, because by living you learn. If you pay attention, the
longer you live, the more you can learn.

JOB 32:7 NLT
7 I thought, 'Those who are older should speak, for wisdom
comes with age.'

It's not always true that an older person has learned what they
should. But to ignore their experience and wisdom gained from
many years is not wise.

1 PETER 5:5 NKJ
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your
elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be
clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives
grace to the humble."

Young people are not the only ones devastated by pride, but
they are particularly susceptible to it. Aging has a way of
curing pride in most of us as we experience the struggles of
life.

We need both the energy and exuberance of youth and the wisdom
and experience of the aged. Too often the elderly develop an
attitude of giving up on overcoming certain problems because of
past unsuccessful attempts, while the young tend to think
anything is possible. Youth often have zeal without knowledge,
while older people often have knowledge but lack zeal. So we
need input from both young and old.

It should be stated clearly: young people, you need the wisdom
and experience of old people. And older people, you also need
the strength, energy, and enthusiasm of young people. To be at
our best, we need each other.

Whatever you face, someone older than you has already faced it.
You can learn from both their mistakes and their successes.

SAY THIS: I will respect the elderly.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Have A Happy Life

1 PETER 3:10-11 NLT
10 For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good
days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips
from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in
peace with others.

Why just tolerate life when you can have a happy life?

Obviously, you have some choice in the matter, according to
these verses. So, make the obvious choice, and ask God to help
you.

Notice that the first instructions given in these verses
concern the words you speak.

What you say is enormously important, according to the Bible.
Yet, most believers are unaware of the importance Scripture
places on the words they speak.

Why not ask God right now to help you understand and apply this
instruction, so you can reap the benefits?

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for giving me a happy life and good
days. Thank you for helping me not to speak evil or tell lies.
Thank you for helping me to avoid evil, do good, and live in
peace.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Every Good Gift Is From Above

JAMES 1:13,16,17 WEYMOUTH
13 Let no one say when passing through trial, "My temptation is
from God;" for God is incapable of being tempted to do evil,
and He Himself tempts no one.
16 Do not be deceived, my dearly-loved brethren.
17 Every gift which is good, and every perfect boon, is from
above, and comes down from the Father, who is the source of all
Light. In Him there is no variation nor the slightest
suggestion of change.

God is not doing evil that good may come from it.

"Do not be deceived," the Bible tells us in verse 16 above.
Obviously then, brethren CAN be deceived -- and many ARE.

God is NOT the one behind the bad things happening. Storms,
earthquakes, and tornados are not acts of my God. Only good
comes down from my Father God -- and He does not change or vary
from day to day.

John 10:10 LB
10 The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My
purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

John 10:10 is the dividing line in the Bible. The purpose of
the devil is made clear: to harm you. The purpose of the Lord
is also clear: life in all its fullness -- life as God intended.

Jesus is for you. The devil is against you. It's as simple as
that.

SAY THIS: The devil is against me, so I am against the devil.
God is for me, so I submit to God.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

God Is A Healer

EXODUS 15:26 NRSV
26 ...for I am the LORD who heals you."

When God first revealed Himself to the people of Israel after
their deliverance from Egypt, He called Himself "the Lord Who
Heals."

He didn't just describe Himself as a healer -- He actually gave
Himself that name. One of God's names is "The One Who Heals" or
we could just say "Healer."

Certainly God heals physically. Yet we should not limit our
thinking on this. God heals, or makes whole and sound,
everything that He touches. (So, if we need healing, our plan
should be to get closer to God.)

The idea of making whole and sound is what we should focus on.

God, by His nature, makes things whole. He IS a healer. A
healer of bodies, of minds, of relationships, of nations --
whatever needs making whole and sound.

The important point is to realize that we need not convince God
to heal, because that is His very nature.

No wonder that when Jesus of Nazareth, who was God in the
flesh, came along that:

MATTHEW 4:23 NRSV
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues
and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every
disease and every sickness among the people.

SAY THIS: I serve the God who heals. My God is a healer.

Monday, July 16, 2012

The Lord Is Good

PSALM 145:8-9 NKJ
8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger
and great in mercy.
9 The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all
His works.

The greatest deception is making people think God is bad. God
is not guilty -- of anything bad!

The devil wants us to believe God is bad: that He is uncaring,
that He does bad things to us, and that He is holding out on us
-- keeping us from enjoying good. But it isn't true. God loves
you more than you can imagine.

The devil is a liar -- he works by deception. The devil tries
to make us believe God is like him, and he is like God, which
is, of course, not true.

Because of satan's efforts to distort the truth, many people's
idea of God is actually what the devil is like.

PSALM 34:8 NKJ
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man
who trusts in Him!

We must, as Scripture admonishes, taste and see that the Lord
is good. Unless you have a relationship with God, you won't
know how good He is.

1 JOHN 4:8 NKJ
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God is a God of love. He puts the interests of others first. He
is not selfish. He desires the best for everyone.

SAY THIS: God is good to me. Thank You Lord for being good to
me. I refuse to believe the devil's lie that You are bad.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Don't Wait For Tomorrow

PROVERBS 27:1 NIV
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day
may bring forth.

Do what you need to do today.

Don't wait to receive Jesus. Don't put off doing the will of
God. Don't wait to tell someone you love them.

JAMES 4:13-15 NIV
13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to
this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and
make money."
14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is
your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and
then vanishes.
15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we
will live and do this or that."

You don't know what tomorrow holds -- or even if you will be
here tomorrow.

Keep your focus on God. Trust in Him, and do His will today.

SAY THIS: I will do what God leads me to do today.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

God Is Your Father

2 CORINTHIANS 6:18 NKJ
18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and
daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."

I am truly sorry if your earthly father was not a good father.
But there are good fathers -- and certainly God is one.

Have you really thought about what it means to have God as your
Father?

Think of His power, His wisdom, His wealth. Then remember that
God loves you more than anyone else has ever loved you -- even
more than you love yourself.

No earthly father ever loved his children more than God loves
you.

Are you living your life in the light of this knowledge? Or,
are you acting like an orphan and worrying like you have no one
to take care of you?

JOHN 14:18 NIV
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

SAY THIS: God is MY Father. He loves me and takes good care of
me. I am not facing life all alone.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Ask Jesus In

REVELATION 3:20 NKJ
20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with
him, and he with Me.

Although this verse has been used to encourage sinners to
receive Jesus, it is actually addressed to those who are
already believers.

Jesus is not a gate-crasher. He only enters the areas of your
life into which He is invited.

It is a common mistake to reserve areas of our lives which we
do not invite Jesus to enter. But we need His help in
everything. He is our Savior, the One who can deliver us.

Remember, Jesus did not come to condemn us but to deliver us
from bondage. He proved how much He loves us by dying to save us.

JOHN 3:17 NKJ
17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

We cannot hide anything from God. He knows our every thought
already. Yet He loves us and desires to help us. But He allows
us to choose to open up to Him, or not.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 NKJ
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship
of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus is not a dictator. He is a ruler, and He deserves to be,
because of His capability. But He allows us to choose. If we
refuse Him and His way, Jesus won't knock the door down and
force His will on us. Instead He invites us by love to
fellowship with Him. This word fellowship means sharing
everything.

Every area of your life that you do not welcome Jesus into,
will be an area less blessed than it could be. Jesus, the
Creator, knows everything. He understands how everything works.
There is no wisdom or knowledge greater than Jesus has.

If you will only invite Jesus in, and allow Him access to every
part of your life, you can be the recipient of all that Jesus
is and all that He has.

SAY THIS: I am not a fool, so I invite You Jesus into every
area of my life.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Jesus Will Not Reject You

JOHN 6:37 LB
37 But some will come to me--those the Father has given me--
and I will never, never reject them.

People may reject you. But Jesus won't.

Jesus died for sinners. He loves them and will help them -- if
only they will come to Him.

Jesus didn't come to condemn us, but to help us. Think of the
Bible account of the woman caught in adultery.

JOHN 8:11 NIV
11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you,"
Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Religious people will reject you for any number of reasons. The
length of your hair, the food you eat, or the clothes you wear
are only examples of reasons they may reject you.

But Jesus is different. He will accept you just as you are.

Many people think they need to clean up their life and get
their act together before coming to Jesus. But they have it
backwards. They should come to Jesus now, and let Him "clean
them up."

If we could make ourselves perfect -- we wouldn't need a
Savior.

SAY THIS: Jesus is my Savior.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

You Are Righteous In Christ

ROMANS 5:1 NLT
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by
faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our
Lord has done for us.

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. It
does not mean human "perfection."

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, and that
makes you righteous.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:30 NKJ
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom
from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

You ARE righteous if Jesus is your Lord. In fact, Jesus IS your
righteousness. As a believer in Jesus, you will never be more
righteous -- no matter what you do.

Romans 3:10 is a well known verse on this subject that is often
misunderstood. It is a quote from the Old Testament, and is
part of a passage that continues on to say that NOW we can be
righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 3:10 NKJ
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;

ROMANS 3:21-22 NKJ
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is
revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God which is through faith in
Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no
difference;

Romans 10 gives instructions on how to become righteous.

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.

SAY THIS: Jesus is my righteousness. I am in right standing
with God through what my Lord Jesus did for me.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Message Of Reconciliation

2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 NIV
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not
counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us
the message of reconciliation.

The Good News is about reconciliation between God and man.
Jesus Christ accomplished it.

Mankind was estranged from God. We had gone our own way, were
lost, and couldn't find our way back to fellowship with God.
Fortunately, God loved us and did something to help us.

Two extremely important ideas are presented in the above verse.

First, God is not holding people's sins against them! As far as
God is concerned, Christ's sacrifice paid the penalty for all
sin -- and God considers the world reconciled back to Him.

Second, this wonderful good news of what God has done has been
committed to us. Human beings must tell it. If we don't -- it
won't be told.

People can live and die and never know the glorious truth that
God is not holding any sins against them -- if no one tells
them. They need to know they are forgiven, loved by God, and
welcome to come back into fellowship with Him through Christ.

Think about this: God is interested in reconciliation. Not in
shutting you, or others, out. He is inviting humanity in,
saying all is forgiven.

SAY THIS: Thank You Father God for reconciling me and not
holding my sins against me. Please help me to share this
message with the right people in the right way.

Monday, July 09, 2012

Faith Is Released Through Words

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.

If you have faith -- you will do something -- according to
Jesus. You will speak!

Faith and authority are exercised through words. You must open
your mouth and speak in line with what God says.

All we receive from God must be received by faith. (See Romans
5:2 & Galatians 3:14.) So, you will only receive God's blessing
in line with the words you speak.

What you say is what you believe. Or, we could say, you believe
what you say.

If you want to know what someone truly believes, just listen to
what they say -- especially when they're under pressure. Then
the truth will come out.

MATTHEW 12:34-35 NKJ
34 "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good
things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings
forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure
brings forth evil things.

Your mouth speaks forth what is in your heart. So to bring
forth good things in your life, you need to speak good words.
To speak good words, they must first be put into your heart in
abundance. You know what that means. Get into the Bible and get
it into you.

SAY THIS: With faith, nothing is impossible. My faith is put
into action by the words I speak. The words I speak are
determined by what I put into my inner being.

Sunday, July 08, 2012

Fasting

Fasting means going without something, usually food.

MATTHEW 9:14-15 NKJ
14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we
and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom
mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will
come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then
they will fast.

The New Testament does not command us to fast. But it indicates
that fasting will be done and can be useful.

Fasting can help you, if approached correctly. But if you
approach fasting as a way to gain points with God, you are
wasting your time (see Luke 18:9-14 where Jesus tells of the
religious Pharisee who fasted twice a week).

Fasting will not force God to do anything. There is no need to
do that anyway. God is perfect and perfectly willing to help
people. God is not the problem.

Fasting is not a magic wand. Nor is it a substitute for
studying God's Word or praying.

But we don't want to be among those whose god is their belly.
That is, we don't want to allow our bodies to control us.

PHILIPPIANS 3:19 NKJ
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and
whose glory is in their shame -- who set their mind on earthly
things.

Food and bodily comfort should not be our entire focus in life.

LUKE 21:34 KJV
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this
life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

This verse indicates it is possible for a person to be so
focused on eating, drinking, and the normal activities of life,
that it affects their spiritual life.

Fasting can be beneficial for spiritual growth when it causes
you to get your focus off your physical body and physical
senses and to realize that the real you lives inside your body.

When you are relieved of the burden of gathering and preparing
food to eat, you have more time you can devote to God's Word
and prayer.

You can also give some of the resources you saved to help
others.

Fasting helps you have a better grasp of reality. You learn
that you don't die just because your body does not immediately
get everything it wants. You learn that you can control your
body instead of allowing your body to control you. It helps you
realize that your body is a tool to use here on earth, instead
of your master, telling you what to do and what not to do.

So fasting can help you have a better perspective on
controlling your appetite. Once you know you can go an entire
day without food, it's easier to not overeat or to skip
dessert.

And for those of us blessed with sufficient to eat, it can be
good for us to remember what it is like to feel hunger -- which
multitudes of people do every day.

Also, it can be good to give your body a break, allowing it to
rest from the job of digesting food. Then instead of using
energy to digest food, other jobs can be done. This is why many
people have found improved health by at least moderate fasting.

For most people fasting can be a healthy practice, although
there are differences of opinion. Some say fasting used to be
healthy for the body, but now that there are so many toxins in
our system an extended total fast is not as safe. Each one of
us should look to the Lord for His direction and follow it.

In the Bible we read of people fasting food for up to 40 days.
Most people can fast that long before they begin to actually
starve, because the body can live for awhile from what it has
stored. It depends on our stores of fat, but most of us could
go a lot longer without food than is commonly thought.

However, unless the Lord leads you otherwise, most people
should only attempt shorter fasts of 1-3 days. Anyone fasting
longer than that needs to be very careful in how they resume
eating.

On any extended fast it is vital to drink plenty of water.

(Interestingly, after about 3 days completely without food,
physical hunger will stop. Its return (after maybe 40 days), is
the signal that starvation has begun. So in an extreme food
shortage, it can be easier, and you will be stronger and feel
better, if you do not eat at all instead of eating very
little.)

Some people fast to impress people with their devotion or
spirituality. Jesus told us not to do that. So if you are
telling the world about how much you are fasting, that may be
the only benefit you will receive.

MATTHEW 6:16-18 NKJ
16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites,
with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that
they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you,
they have their reward.
17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your
face,
18 "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your
Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you openly.

What could this mean? How will God reward you? If you are
fasting to draw closer to God by being more focused on Him,
then being rewarded would be getting what you were seeking, a
more intimate relationship with God.

Fasting helps us focus more on the things of God by removing
our focus from the normal feeding of our body.

The only instruction on fasting in the Letters to the Church is
found in 1 Corinthians 7 which is directed towards a husband
and wife. So while fasting can have a place in our spiritual
life, it should not be given more of a place than Scripture
gives it.

1 CORINTHIANS 7:5 NKJ
5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time,
that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come
together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your
lack of self-control.

A person who fasts a lot is not necessarily more spiritual or
Godly than one who does not. Fasting, by itself, does nothing
to build you up spiritually. It mainly allows you time and
opportunity to focus more on spiritual things.

We should not feel guilty about eating, but enjoy our food and
thank God for it. For God gave us richly all things to enjoy (1
Timothy 6:17).

Feasting is not evil and God is not against it. In the Old
Testament we find three great yearly pilgrimage feasts, but
only one day a year (the day of atonement) that was a fast. In
Heaven we will feast at the marriage supper of the Lamb. And
Isaiah 25:6 says the Lord will prepare for all people a feast.

So, while fasting has its place, we should seek the Lord for a
proper perspective and balance.

Whether we are feasting or fasting, we should stay focused on
the Lord and let His joy flow through us every day.

SAY THIS: Fasting will not change God, but it can change me.

Saturday, July 07, 2012

In Everything Give Thanks

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NKJ
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.

Are you giving thanks to God today? You should. If you want to
be happy, you must. For, without being thankful, you will never
be happy.

Just because things are not going the way you would like is no
excuse. The Bible clearly says that God's will for you is to be
thankful -- always.

The Bible does NOT teach that we're to thank God for evil,
because God is not responsible for evil. No, God is not guilty
of any wrongdoing.

What the Bible does teach, is that we should always be thankful
-- even when evil happens. Being thankful is part of an
attitude of faith, and faith will overcome evil.

Although the Bible does say we should give thanks to God FOR
all things, that only means the things for which God is
responsible. For example, if a guest at your home said, "Thank
you for everything," you wouldn't think they were thanking you
for what someone else did.

God doesn't do bad things to people. He's not the one who comes
to steal, kill, and destroy. That's the devil, and people
motivated by selfishness and demonic influence. So you have the
devil "to thank" for the bad things in life.

Yet, during the bad things in life, we are to continue thanking
God, no matter how we feel. This helps us keep our eyes on God
and keep things in perspective.

No matter how dark and hopeless the situation may look -- give
thanks. This is God's will for you.

Thank God for the opportunity to see His deliverance. Thank Him
for His mercy and grace. Thank Him for His faithfulness. Thank
Him for defeating the devil and setting you free in Christ.
Thank Him that Jesus is Lord. Thank Him that your name is
written in Heaven. Thank Him for loving you and taking good
care of you. Thank Him!

SAY THIS: In everything I will give thanks to God for what He
is doing. All God does is for my good.

Friday, July 06, 2012

Don't Worry

1 PETER 5:7 NLT
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about
what happens to you.

Probably the biggest temptation most believers face is the
temptation to worry.

What is worry? Worry is thinking that leaves God out. Worry is
the opposite of faith. Instead of expecting God's help -- you
expect the worst.

1 PETER 5:7 CEV
7 God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.

The Bible has much to say about not worrying. Worry is not
appropriate for a child of God.

MATTHEW 6:32 CEV
32 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about
such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of
these.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 ICB
6 Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for
everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks.

SAY THIS: I will not worry. I will trust in God. He will take
care of me and everything that concerns me.

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Instructions For Success

JOSHUA 1:8 NIV
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth;
meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do
everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful.

If you desire to succeed, here are the instructions.

You may follow other plans that promise success, but you have
no guarantee they will work long-term. People may give you
advice that works for awhile -- but can you be sure it will not
fail you someday?

With God you have an eternal guarantee: His Word will never
fail. Heaven and earth will disappear before even the smallest
detail of God's Word will fail.

Look at God's success instructions again. Study them in detail.
Surely if anything is worth your time, this promise of God is.

First, speak in line with God's Word. Isn't it interesting that
the first instruction from God for success has to do with what
you say? Some people proclaim that what you say doesn't matter,
but God puts it at the top of the list.

Second, meditate on what God said. This is the opposite of
worry. This is more than just reading the Bible. (Although if
you never read it, how could you meditate on it?) This is
thinking about what God says and how it affects everything.

When are we to think about God and His Word? When it is day, or
when it is night. Any other time, you can safely shut God out
of your thoughts.

Look at what God promises will be yours if you follow these
instructions: prosperity and success. What everyone wants, but
few are willing to do what it takes to achieve.

Of course you can ignore these instructions. But why would you?

SAY THIS: I will speak God's Word, meditate on it, and act on
it. Then God promises I will be prosperous and successful.

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Your Words Are Important

MATTHEW 12:36-37 NIV
36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day
of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words
you will be condemned."

Few people realize the importance of the words they speak.

There is almost no way to overemphasize the importance of what
we say. Yet most people give it almost no thought -- usually
speaking without even thinking.

Jesus came from Heaven and revealed to us that words are
important. Very important. The Bible has much to say on this
subject. We ignore it at our own peril.

You may not be familiar with what the Bible says about the
importance of words, but if you knew only the verse above,
Matthew 12:36-37, that should be enough to convince you. Your
judgment will be determined by the words you have spoken.

Certainly, this is not a negative message. When we understand
the importance and power of words, we can use them for good.
The Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue
(Proverbs 18:21). Just as fire can cause great destruction,
tamed and controlled it can be a great blessing to us. So it is
with words. Life is in the power of the tongue. That means life
is controlled by words.

I repeat: life is controlled by words. Words release authority.
Words determine the course of events. Words matter.

What should you do about this?

First, you need to study what the Bible says about words. Jesus
said if you continue in His Word you would know the truth and
the truth would make you free (John 8:31-32).

Also, you need to ask the Lord to teach you and help you to
speak correctly -- because we must have God's help to tame our
tongue.

SAY THIS: Lord, please teach me and help me to speak the right
words.

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

You Are Not An Orphan

JOHN 14:18 NIV
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

You are not facing life all alone -- no matter how you feel.

Jesus is with you. He promised to never forsake you.

Our enemy loves to make us think we have no help, that God does
not care, and we have no hope. But the devil is a liar.

"But why does God allow things to look so bleak? Why doesn't He
help me sooner?"

God desires faith and trust from us. Without testing times we
would have no opportunity to show our faith. Without obstacles
we would have nothing to overcome.

We must always remember that God is raising a family, preparing
us for eternity with Him. It can be a great error to judge
everything by "the bottom line" today.

We must trust our Father God, because only He really knows what
the "true bottom line" is. And we can trust Him, because He is
good and trustworthy.

SAY THIS: Thank you Father God that I am not facing life all
alone -- as an orphan. You are my Father and are taking good
care of me. I trust You -- for time and eternity.

Monday, July 02, 2012

Count Your Blessings

EPHESIANS 1:3 NLT
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
realms because we are united with Christ.

An old song says: "Count your blessings, name them one by one,
and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

It's easy to lose perspective. We all face challenges and
difficulties in life. And if we are not on guard, they can
divert our attention from all the Lord has done for us.

Yes, you may face obstacles, but you need to remember the man
who complained that he had no shoes till he saw a man who had
no feet.

We may not have everything we would like, but we all have
something to be thankful for.

Your children may be a challenge, but at least you have
children.

Your spouse may tempt you to pull your hair out, but there are
millions who would gladly trade places with you.

Your boss may be ruthless, but there are many in the world who
would literally give anything to have any job so they could
feed their family.

Your attitude is determined by your focus. When you focus on
the negative -- you turn negative, making your life, and those
around you, miserable.

It is amazing how different you feel after taking just a few
minutes to truly thank God for what you have.

I can read!
I can see!
I can smell!
I can hear!
I can talk!
I can think!
God loves me!
Jesus died for me!
I have a home in Heaven!

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord for every blessing you have provided
for me.

Sunday, July 01, 2012

God Loves Sinners

JOHN 3:16 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.

Many people quote John 3:16 -- but how many believe it?

God never changes. If He loved the people of the world in the
past -- He still loves them today. Yet many people think God is
mad at sinners -- and hates them.

ROMANS 5:8 NIV
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God is NOT mad at sinners. He loves them enough to die for them
-- even today! We should not be mad at sinners either. They are
deceived and enslaved by sin. They need to be delivered, and no
one can do it except Jesus.

Of course, God doesn't want people to remain sinners. He loves
them too much for that. Sin destroys. It brings death. But the
gift of God is life -- and that gift is found in a Person: the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the best friend a sinner will ever have. They need to
know that. Someone has to tell them the truth. They think Jesus
hates them because they're a sinner and not perfect. (The devil
already fed them that lie.)

Let's tell them the truth!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 NIV
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not
counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us
the message of reconciliation.

God is not holding people's sins against them. People need to
know that. When they do -- they will love Jesus.

SAY THIS: Jesus loves sinners -- so I love them, too. I love
them enough to tell them Jesus will help them.