Friday, August 31, 2012

Does God Hear Sinners?

JOHN 9:31 NKJ
31 "Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone
is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.

This says God does not hear sinners, but the word "hear" does
not always mean just perceiving a sound. It can also include
acting on what is heard.

God surely listens to every human prayer. Jesus said He knows
the number of hairs on our head. Experts say we lose many hairs
every day, so the number is always changing. If God makes the
effort to know this about every human, surely He listens to all
we say, no matter who we are.

God must listen to sinners in order to be able to save them
when they call on Him.

It seems God is pleased when anyone truly calls on Him, whether
they are sinner or saint. At least they are turning toward God,
acknowledging His existence, and realizing they need His help.

True prayer that God responds to is always based on His Word
that He already gave us. When, in faith, we bring God His Word
as the basis of our request, God will always answer our prayer.

1 JOHN 5:14-15 NKJ
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we
ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

We cannot expect to have prayers answered that don't line up
with God's will. However, that does not mean God does not
listen to the prayers of everyone. If God did not listen to
every prayer, how would He know which ones were in agreement
with His will?

You could say that God "ignores" (in the sense of not
answering) those who do not pray in line with God's Word. But
God truly ignores no human being. He is always willing and
ready to help everyone. But He only answers prayer that is
according to His Word.

Because the Bible teaches it is God's will to provide everyone
with every good thing, we have no need to worry about God not
answering any prayer that would be good for us.

Another thing we should remember is that part of the good news
for all who have received Jesus Christ is that He is our
righteousness (or right standing with God). So, God does not
consider us who are in Christ as sinners, (1 Corinthians 1:30,
2 Corinthians 5:21), but as His children (1 John 3:2, Galatians
3:26).

SAY THIS: God listens to all who call upon Him.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Life Is Not Over

JOSHUA 14:10-12 NIV
10 "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive
for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses,
while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today,
eighty-five years old!
11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm
just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.
12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that
day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and
their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping
me, I will drive them out just as he said."

Too many people, especially as they accumulate some years,
settle into a rut and quit expecting.

It's time to dream again. Expect God to show Himself strong
on your behalf.

Don't believe the devil's lie that it's too late.

You are never too old for faith to make a difference; remember
Abraham and Sarah, who had a child when she was 90 years old.
The key is to keep your focus on God and His ability instead of
on yourself and your shortcomings.

GENESIS 21:2 NIV
2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old
age, at the very time God had promised him.

God, who created this universe, is ready, willing, and able to
bring forth new things in your life.

You may have failed before -- but you are still alive. With God
you can succeed this time.

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

All things are possible!

Life may be full of challenges, but with God you can meet the
challenge and overcome.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that bad is ahead of you.
The good old days can be the days ahead. It depends on your
attitude and focus.

If you don't quit, God won't quit. Keep on believing the
promises of God. Keep on expecting blessing.

PSALM 92:14 NKJ
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh
and flourishing,

SAY THIS: My life is not over. With God's help, my best days
are still ahead of me.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

God Cares

1 PETER 5:7 AMPLIFIED
7 Casting the whole of your care -- all your anxieties, all
your worries, all your concerns, once and for all -- on Him;
for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you
watchfully.

EXODUS 3:7 NIV
7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in
Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave
drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.

ISAIAH 63:9 NIV
9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of
his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed
them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

JOHN 11:35 KJV
35 Jesus wept.

Of course, the question arises, "If God cares, why doesn't He
do something?"

The answer is that God has already done something. Now it is
our turn to act. God has redeemed mankind and set us free from
the dominion of darkness by the sacrifice of Calvary. Now we
must believe God's Word and act on it.

The truth, which you may find hard to accept, is that God is
already doing all He can to help you. But often, we are
blocking God's help in our lives by our unbelief and acting
contrary to the instructions of God's Word.

The solution is to ask God to help us see the truth and act on
it. We should ask God to show us how we can stop hindering Him
from blessing us as He desires.

SAY THIS: God cares about me and everything that concerns me.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Life Is Good

God says that all He made is good.

GENESIS 1:31 NKJ
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was
very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The devil wants us to believe that life is bad.

(One way he tries to accomplish this is through all the bad
news reported daily. Feeding too much on bad news is not good
for you. You can get the top news stories without spending
hours every day listening to the bad things the devil is trying
to do in the earth.)

If you think life is bad, you will be depressed, or maybe even
bitter.

If you think life is good, you will be thankful.

No matter what your circumstances are, there are always things
to enjoy and rejoice about. If we focus on the goodness and
greatness of God: all He has created and all He has done for
us, life will seem good. If, instead, we focus on our pains and
problems, we will not enjoy life much.

Even the bad things of life -- which are all the result of sin,
not what God did -- can benefit us IF they cause us to draw
nearer to God and act on His Word.

God's main purpose is to prepare us to be fit companions for
Himself for eternity. (See Romans 8 -- we WILL be conformed to
the image of Jesus Christ.) What God wants you to do is submit
to Him, feed on His Word, be thankful, walk in faith, and let
Him make you like Jesus Christ.

God's plan is good.

Marriage is good. If we disobey God by husbands not loving
their wives, and wives not respecting their husbands -- it can
be bad. But only because we make the wrong choice, to disregard
God's instruction.

Work is good. It is satisfying to do a job well and accomplish
something. But when we don't do our work as unto the Lord, or
try to make our jobs our source, worshiping and serving money
instead of God -- work can be bad.

Family is good. Being surrounded by those you love and care
for, and who love and care for you, is a wonderful blessing.
But, when we fail to walk in love, and allow strife into our
relationships -- it can be bad.

If your life is not good, then you need to make adjustments
based on the Bible.

When you see your cup as half full, instead of half empty --
life will be better for you. Take time to smell the flowers,
and rejoice in all the goodness of God. Rejoice in all the
beauty of God's creation -- life.

SAY THIS: God made life, and it is very good.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Live Long And Strong

DEUTERONOMY 34:7 NIV
7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet
his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.

Old age should not be a time to dread. We can look to God and
receive strength, health, and provision for a full and
enjoyable life.

God's plan for you is NOT an old age full of sickness, poverty,
and loneliness.

Moses and Caleb are examples for us.

JOSHUA 14:10-11 NKJ
10 "And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said,
these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to
Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I
am this day, eighty-five years old.
11 "As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses
sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength
for war, both for going out and for coming in.

GALATIANS 3:13-14 NKJ
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone
who hangs on a tree"),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in
Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.

Galatians 3 tells us we are to receive the blessing of Abraham
-- through faith -- because of what Jesus has done. Now, read
the following verses about Abraham.

GENESIS 13:2 NKJ
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

GENESIS 25:8 NASB
8 And Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an
old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his
people.

Because Jesus has redeemed us from the curse, we also should
believe God for a long, enjoyable, and productive life. And we
should resist the devil who would try to steal it away from us.

We have the promise of God that He will satisfy us with life.
(If you are not satisfied with your life, make some changes.
God intends for you to be satisfied.)

PSALM 91:16 NKJ
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My
salvation."

PSALM 103:5 NKJ
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth
is renewed like the eagle's.

God made our bodies to repair and renew themselves. As we walk
and talk in faith, looking to the promises of God, the life of
God will renew our bodies. (We should also allow God to guide
us in the things we take into our bodies -- only putting good
things into our mouths.)

PSALM 92:14 NKJ
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh
and flourishing,

ISAIAH 46:4 NIV
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will
sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will
sustain you and I will rescue you.

God is faithful. He will always be our wonderful Father, our
great Provider, Helper, and Healer -- no matter how old we are,
or what we face.

SAY THIS: Jesus redeemed me from the curse, so I will live a
long, enjoyable life to the glory of God.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

One Thing I Know

JOHN 9:25 NKJ
25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do
not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I
see."

Others may say all kinds of things about Jesus Christ.

But I know the change Jesus Christ has made in me.

I know the change Jesus Christ has made in the lives of
millions of others now living on earth.

I know the miracles and healings I have seen that were done in
the Name of Jesus Christ.

I know Jesus is alive and that His Word is true, because of
what has happened in my life.

Skeptics may loudly proclaim their theories. But they are too
late to convince me.

Those who think they are scholars may tell me God has changed
and does not do miraculous things in our day, but they are too
late to convince me.

I have tasted and seen for myself that the Lord is good. I
encourage you to do the same.

SAY THIS: I know God is real and Jesus Christ is alive.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Don't Give Up!

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 THE MESSAGE
13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the
course of what others have had to face. All you need to
remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let
you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help
you come through it.

All of us have been tempted to lose hope and give up. But we
always have a choice: focus on God and stay in faith, or focus
on the problem and give up.

Problems -- no matter how huge they seem to us -- are no
problem to God. Nothing is too hard, or complicated, for God to
solve. But God wants us to trust Him.

So what should you do when you are being tempted and feel like
giving in and giving up?

Refuse!

Just keep your focus on the Lord and rejoice in His
faithfulness. Remember that God cannot lie, and will never
fail. God will see you through.

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

When the devil tries to steal your faith, he tries to get you
to quit speaking in agreement with the Word of God. Don't let
it happen! Hold fast to speaking your faith! Keep on saying
what the Word of God says about you and your situation. Don't
be moved by the circumstances.

GALATIANS 6:9 NIV
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Don't grow weary. Keep your eyes on the Lord. His Word will
work and produce a harvest of blessing in your life. Don't
doubt it!

SAY THIS: I will keep trusting in God and never give up!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Be Quick To Listen

JAMES 1:19 NLT
19 My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to
speak, and slow to get angry.

You learn by listening -- not by talking.

The biggest barrier to learning is thinking you already know a
subject. If you think you already know everything, it is
difficult to learn anything more.

You can learn from every person -- if you will just listen to
what they have to say. Everyone knows something you do not
know.

Pride robs you from learning from others. Pride keeps you
ignorant -- while making you think you are wise.

ROMANS 1:22 NLT
22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.

This is not to say you should accept everything you hear as
truth -- just that you should be humble enough, and respect
people enough, to listen and evaluate what they have to say.

Listen and learn. Talk too much and only embarrass yourself.

PROVERBS 17:27-28 ICB
27 The person who has knowledge says very little. And a person
with understanding stays calm.
28 Even a foolish person seems to be wise if he keeps quiet. He
appears to have understanding if he doesn't speak.

Proud people act as if they have a duty to display their
superior knowledge to all who will listen. They are quick to
speak, because they "know" they are right.

PROVERBS 10:19 ICB
19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin. If you are wise, you
will keep quiet.

It is not wrong to talk -- just don't talk too much. And don't
be so anxious to impress people with what you know.

ECCLESIASTES 5:3 NLT
3 Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, being a fool
makes you a blabbermouth.

SAY THIS: I will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to
become angry.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Be Heaven's Ambassador

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 LB
20 We are Christ's ambassadors. God is using us to speak to
you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading
with you, receive the love he offers you--be reconciled to God.

An ambassador is a resident representative for the head of state
of their own country.

As citizens of Heaven, we are authorized to represent our King,
the Lord Jesus Christ, here on Earth.

An ambassador is a very important person. Unless they do their
job correctly, misunderstanding can easily develop -- and
possibly even war.

This is Heaven's problem. Its ambassadors have not always
clearly communicated the correct message to Earth's
inhabitants. That is why so many people are "at war with God"
instead of enjoying the blessings of peace with God.

The problem comes from people misunderstanding God, and not
realizing the sin problem has already been dealt with in
Christ.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 NLT
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering
for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through
Christ.

The logic supporting the plea in verse 20, to be reconciled to
God, is found in verse 21: the sin separating us from God has
been dealt with through Christ. So we no longer need to hide
from God, or fear His judgment. Instead, we can enjoy His gift
of being made right with Him.

A good ambassador for Heaven must know the message of God, and
speak His message -- accurately.

One way of determining the accurate message of Jesus Christ is
found in John 8:31-32. Jesus said His message would make people
free -- not beat them down or put them in bondage.

God has a message that He desires for every person to hear: He
loves them, and will help them, if they will only turn to Him.

We must communicate that message clearly.

This message of God's love for mankind was displayed in and
through a person: Jesus of Nazareth. We learn of Him, and His
message, through a book -- the Holy Bible.

Actually, Jesus Himself was, and is, God's message. We need
only present Jesus to people as He truly was, and is -- and
they will be drawn to Him, because there is no fault in Him.

An ambassador does not speak for himself -- he speaks the
official policy and message of the country he represents.

So we are not here to give our opinion, but to proclaim what
God has said in His written Word, the Bible -- Heaven's
official message.

SAY THIS: I will be a good ambassador of Jesus Christ, to
represent Heaven, and speak His accurate message here on Earth.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

God Is Working

PHILIPPIANS 2:13 NLT
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the
power to do what pleases him.

The Christian life is not supposed to be a struggle to be good
enough for God to accept you. That was the Old Covenant way.

God's Old Covenant message was "Do right and I will accept you
and bless you."

God's New Covenant message is, "I love you and accept you
because of your faith in Jesus. So you are blessed. You are now
my child, so I will work with you and help you do right."

The Old was dependent on human effort. The New is Good News
because it is dependent on God's effort.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:23-24 NLT
23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may
your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our
Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

God will do it! God will make it happen! We can trust Him.
(Trusting ourselves doesn't work.) Our salvation does not
depend on us striving to do good, but on trusting God.

God now accepts responsibility to make you perfect. The
responsibility to perform is now on God -- Who cannot fail! (Of
course we must cooperate, because God never forces His will on
us.)

God's standard of perfection has never changed. His desire and
plan for all of us is that we be perfectly whole and wholly
perfect in every way. But there is a huge difference between
the Old Covenant approach and the New Covenant.

Under the Old Covenant the responsibility to perform was on us.
"You shall..." and "You shall not..."

God has not lowered His standards in the New Covenant. But He
has said He Himself will be responsible for meeting them.
Notice in the following passage describing the New Covenant
that God says, "I will... I will... I will..."

HEBREWS 10:16-17 NLT
16 "This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that
day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I
will write them on their minds."
17 Then he says, "I will never again remember their sins and
lawless deeds."

The New Covenant is Good News! It should make you happy!

ROMANS 4:6 NLT
6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of
those who are declared righteous without working for it:

Keep your focus on Jesus. You fall short -- that is why you
needed a New Covenant and a Savior. But God is working!

Don't hinder God's work by refusing to believe His message of
love toward you. When you try to earn God's acceptance through
your performance, you are rejecting God's gift through Jesus
Christ.

ROMANS 10:3 NLT
3 For they don't understand God's way of making people right
with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their
own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.

Don't reject the Gift of God and try to establish your own
righteousness. Your own attempts to do better will always fall
short. Only God can make you perfect.

EPHESIANS 2:10 NIV
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are the result of God's work -- not our own striving. We
can't make ourselves perfect. We can't attain God's standard by
our own efforts. That was the purpose of the Law -- to show us
we fell short so we would know we needed a Savior -- someone
who could help us (Galatians 3:22-25).

ROMANS 8:28 NIV
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose.

God is always working for your good! Things may not always be
good, but God is always behind the scene working things out for
your good.

So when thoughts come like "There is no hope!" respond by
saying "God is working!"

In fact, any time is a good time to say "God is working!" It
helps you keep your focus in the right place.

SAY THIS: I believe God is working in my life!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Bless And Do Not Curse

ROMANS 12:14 NLT
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that
God will bless them.

(Fallen) human nature retaliates. If someone wrongs us, we want
revenge.

But children of God, who have the love of God in their hearts,
should act differently (Romans 5:5).

1 PETER 3:9 NLT
9 Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when
people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That
is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

We have been delivered from the power of darkness and placed in
the Kingdom of Love, where Jesus is Lord (Colossians 1:13). Our
King desires that all people be blessed (John 3:16, 1 Timothy
2:4, 2 Peter 3:9).

God loves the whole world. We are His representatives to give
them that message (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). We cannot win the
world by cursing them. We are supposed to love them.

JOHN 13:34 NLT
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.
Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

We are to love as Jesus loved. Even when treated badly, He
never cursed those who mistreated Him.

LUKE 23:34a NLT
34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what
they are doing."

People do evil because they are trapped in spiritual darkness.
Our only real enemy is the devil and his forces, not people.

EPHESIANS 6:12 NLT
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but
against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil
spirits in the heavenly places.

Just as Jesus was mistreated, we will not avoid being
mistreated in this life.

JOHN 15:17-21 NLT
17 This is my command: Love each other.
18 "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.
19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged
to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to
come out of the world, so it hates you.
20 Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater
than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will
persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would
listen to you.
21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have
rejected the One who sent me.

1 PETER 2:19-23 NLT
19 For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is
right and patiently endure unfair treatment.
20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are
beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and
endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering,
just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you
must follow in his steps.
22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten
revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.

We can expect to suffer the same things Jesus did in life,
primarily rejection and mistreatment. (Note that Jesus never
suffered sickness or lack during His life, until He died on the
cross for us.)

Yet in all this, we can rejoice, knowing that God our Father is
just, and He will protect us and reward us for doing His will.

SAY THIS: God loves me, so I can love others, even when they
act unlovely.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Jesus Is Coming Back

ACTS 1:11 NKJ
11 ...This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,
will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Jesus of Nazareth, born into this earth by the virgin Mary, who
was the pre-existent, eternal, Creator God, and who suffered
and died on a cross as mankind's substitute, is coming back to
earth again.

You probably have questions, such as "When?" and "Why?"

Fortunately, the Bible does give us answers, just not as many
as most of us would like. (This attitude is really a matter of
pride, thinking we know better than God how much information He
should share with us.)

Godly people, throughout history, have not all reached the same
conclusion by studying Scripture, about the specific timing and
events surrounding the second coming of Jesus Christ.

What is crystal clear from Scripture is that Jesus Christ will
return to earth in triumph to rule over all. And that all
people should live in a state of readiness for His return.

(Since all the details are not clear, let us not fall into the
trap of fighting over this doctrine. The Bible does not say
that a perfect understanding of this subject is necessary for
you to be saved.)

My personal opinion is that the coming of Jesus Christ is
drawing very near. (Of course, I have been wrong about other
things.) One thing is sure: it will happen some day!

For a believer, the return of Jesus Christ to earth is the most
wonderful thing that could happen. Any fearfulness is a sign
that you do not know the Lord as intimately as you should.

As believers, we should look forward to the triumphant,
physical return to this planet of its rightful owner and ruler:
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here are a few things Jesus said about His return.

MATTHEW 24:3,4,14,27,36,44 NKJ
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to
Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And
what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the
age?"
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one
deceives you.
14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the
world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will
come.
27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the
west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the
angels of heaven, but My Father only.
44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour when you do not expect Him.

Jesus will return!

Be ready!

SAY THIS: Come Lord Jesus. Come back and straighten everything
out.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Offering Time

2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 NIV
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to
give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver.

Most people regard offering time as a necessary evil, at best.

As usual, our ideas are much different than what the Word of
God teaches.

God does not encourage giving just to meet the needs of His
work on earth. No, God does it for our good, so that we can be
blessed. (Also, to combat selfishness.)

Every offering time is an opportunity for us to worship God and
express our love to Him in a tangible way. But God, being so
good, has designed it so that when we do give to Him it also
functions like planting a seed, which will produce a harvest
of blessing in our life.

God designed His creation to work in such a way that money and
blessing will come back to us in even greater measure than we
give out.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6,8 NIV
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap
generously.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in
all things at all times, having all that you need, you will
abound in every good work.

One way the devil tries to suppress the spread of the Gospel is
by making people believe that messages like this are just to
get money, as if preachers dreamed up the Bible for their own
benefit. No, God planned all this, and He is smart enough to
know that without adequate funding, those whom He has called to
teach and equip His people will be held back, unable to be as
effective as they should be.

When we give to those proclaiming the Word of God on earth, God
considers it giving to Him, and a seed sown.

A farmer does not hate planting his crops. Farmers don't whine
about having to put their seed in the ground. No, they look
forward with joy to the time of harvest they know is coming,
because they understand how seeds work.

If we believe God's Word, then we know our giving works exactly
as the seed the farmer plants in the ground.

You don't have to believe this (or anything God teaches us in
His Word). But surely you can understand that refusing to
believe God's Word is NOT a way to please Him.

SAY THIS: I will plant my financial seeds with joy and
thanksgiving, as I worship God with my money.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Be Fruitful

GENESIS 1:28 NLT
28 Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply.
Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea,
the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the
ground."

These are the first words God spoke to a human being.

Being fruitful means being productive. That can include
producing children, but it certainly is not limited to that. It
means to produce something or accomplish something.

Being fruitful gives you a sense of accomplishment, the feeling
that you made a difference.

It does not have to be something others consider great or
something that will make you famous. Keeping a clean home and
providing for your family is being productive. Here are some
more ideas:

Fix something.
Bake something.
Build something.
Plant something.
Start something.
Invent something.
Nurture something.
Help someone.

Anything that helps people can be fulfilling. This is your
purpose as a human being. This is what will fulfill you and
give you satisfaction. (Of course, without God we will never be
satisfied, no matter what we do.)

People who are not productive are not happy because God created
us to be productive. We are designed to accomplish.

Every living human being is capable of this. No matter who you
are, or what your limitations are, there is some way you can
make a difference. For example, everyone can pray for others.

Things such as too much entertainment can keep us from being
fruitful. When that happens we feel unsatisfied and
unfulfilled. But more entertainment is not the answer. Only
walking with God and being fruitful will satisfy us, because
that is how God designed us.

SAY THIS: I can, and will, be fruitful.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Make Room For Jesus

LUKE 2:7 KJV
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn.

You probably think it was terrible that there was "no room in
the inn" and the baby Jesus had to be born in a stable and lay
in a manger.

If the people then truly understood who Jesus was, no doubt
they would have gladly opened their homes and provided much
better for Him. But do we not often make the same mistake?

The situation for Jesus today must be even more sad. Most of us
still do not make room for Jesus in our lives.

For some the reason is busyness, just being so caught up in
making a living and trying to take care of things that they
feel they just don't have time. (The truth is that with Jesus'
help, life will be better and easier.)

For others, it is fear: fear of what Jesus might think, or say,
or do, if He were invited, or even allowed access, into their
lives. (This fear is baseless because Jesus does not wreck
things but improves them. They need to know Jesus truly loves
them and desires the best for them, which He does.)

For some the reason is just lack of knowledge: they don't know
about Jesus and His love. (For these people, you are the
answer. You can share the wonderful story of God's love for
mankind.)

REVELATION 3:20 LB
20 "Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly
knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I
will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.

Jesus is persistent and still reaches out in love, expecting
that someday people will see Him as He truly is, overcome their
busyness and fear and ignorance, and enthusiastically invite
Him into the center of their lives.

Jesus does not enjoy being ignored, or being put in an inferior
place. Surely Jesus would like for us to accept and appreciate
Him for what He truly is: the Central One, Creator and
Sustainer of all, who knows more and can do more than we can
even imagine.

You may acknowledge Jesus and claim He is your Lord and Savior,
but do you neglect Him, or give Him a central place?

Do you talk to Him about everything? Do you thank Him for
everything good? You should.

Jesus does not want you to feel guilty about neglecting Him. He
loves you and just wants you to return His love. Jesus desires
a central place in your life so He can bless you more.

Don't ignore Jesus.

SAY THIS: I will always make room for Jesus in my life.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

God's Word In Your Mouth

EPHESIANS 6:17 NIV
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.

The sword, or weapon, of the spirit is speaking the Word of
God. Left sitting in a book on your shelf, it does you no good.

A weapon must be used against an adversary to be of any
benefit. Our adversary is the devil and a weapon he uses is
doubt. We must speak God's Word to actively resist doubt, so it
won't defeat us.

JAMES 1:22 NIV
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.

We need to personalize the Bible, and act on it. The first, and
main, way to accomplish this is to speak in agreement with what
the Bible says.

For a short basic confession to get you started, look at
http://www.believers.org/helps/basiccon.htm

SAY THIS: I take the sword of the spirit and put it in my mouth
by speaking in agreement with the Word of God.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Light and Easy

MATTHEW 11:30 KJV
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Christians often struggle in their walk with the Lord, but it
should not be so. Have you ever thought, "It's so hard to be a
Christian!"?

I have.

At one time I believed it was so difficult being a Christian
that I had no motivation to tell others about the Lord. Living
for Jesus just seemed too hard for normal people.

How wrong and deceived I was!

Never forget that the message about Jesus Christ is the gospel
-- which means good news!

If you are having a hard struggle, it's not because of what the
Lord is requiring of you. The problem lies with yourself -- in
pride and unbelief, which the Lord will help you overcome.

Walking with the Lord is meant to be a joy, not a burden. Yes,
there are trials and difficulties. But the Lord always helps us
and delivers us. (Even if it results in martyrdom, we will be
delivered!) Therefore, we can always trust in the Lord and
rejoice in Him. When we do that, every day can be a joyful day.

Living the Christian life is not supposed to be just a matter
of our willpower, but a matter of trust -- faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ. He is the One who carries the load. We are not
qualified and capable of saving ourselves by our own effort.
That's why we need a savior.

Too many people are trying to save themselves, instead of
trusting in Jesus to save them and make them into what He wants
them to be.

PHILIPPIANS 2:13 NKJ
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for
His good pleasure.

We do need to change -- to do better and be better. But our
focus needs to be on Jesus and not on ourselves. We need to ask
Him and expect Him to work in us and change us. The Christian
life is meant to be a constant fellowship with Jesus and
looking to Him in faith. Otherwise, in our own ability, it is
impossible.

Remember, Jesus is not out to condemn us, but to help us. He
loves us, and proved it by dying in our place.

SAY THIS: Living for Jesus is easy because the Lord is my
Helper.

Monday, August 13, 2012

How To Confess Your Sins To God

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

This is the only verse under the New Covenant that mentions
confession of sins to God.

The meaning of the Greek word here translated "confess" is "to
say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with."

So replacing the word "confess" in the verse with its meaning,
gives us this:

1 JOHN 1:9
9 If we (say the same thing as God about) our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.

So let's see what God has said about our sins under the New
Covenant, so we can say the same thing as He has said about
them.

HEBREWS 8:12-13 NKJ
12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their
sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first
obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is
ready to vanish away.

HEBREWS 10:16-17 NKJ
16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and
in their minds I will write them,"
17 then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will
remember no more."

Since God says He does not remember our sins, is it polite or
wise to keep bringing them up to Him?

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

EPHESIANS 1:7 NKJ
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of His grace

This says we have the forgiveness of sins. There is no need to
ask for something you already have. Doing so is disrespectful
to the One who has given you forgiveness.

COLOSSIANS 2:13 NKJ
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with
Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 NKJ
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has
committed to us the word of reconciliation.

God reconciled the world to Himself in Christ and He is no
longer holding our sins against us (which is what imputing
means).

In Christ, God extended complete and total forgiveness for all
the world. He is not holding the sins of anyone against them.
For God to do so would be unjust, because Jesus already
suffered the penalty for all sin.

Yet we must receive God's forgiveness for it to benefit us. God
did His part, now we must respond in faith and be reconciled to
God.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-21 NKJ
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were
pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be
reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him.

For us to beg God for forgiveness is rude. God already said He
has forgiven. Now it is up to us to believe and accept His
forgiveness.

(Showing remorse for our sin is not wrong. Remorse is what many
people think of as repentance, but actually repentance means a
change in thinking which results in a change of action. Remorse
is not required for true Biblical repentance.)

Using the definition of what the word confess means, here is
one example of a correct way to confess sin.

"Lord Jesus, what I did was a sin. Thank You for already paying
the price for that sin on the cross. Thank You for loving me
and suffering the punishment so I can go free. Thank You God
that I have been forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
Sin is deadly so please work in me and help me to stop it."

Asking God to forgive you is not New Covenant confession of
sin, because God says you are already forgiven. Don't ask God
to do something He has already done! Instead, acknowledge the
sin was wrong and thank Him for forgiveness and cleansing by
the precious blood of Jesus.

SAY THIS: If I sin, I will agree with what God says about it.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Destroyed For Lack Of Knowledge

Hosea 4:6 KJV
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . . .

Are people's lives destroyed because God does not love them? Do
people come to ruin and live in misery because God is callous
and uncaring?

NO!

People are destroyed for lack of knowledge -- even God's
people. What kind of knowledge? Knowledge that is available in
the Bible: how to walk in faith, how to overcome, how to get
prayers answered, how to resist the devil, etc.

God is not to blame for our troubles. God has already made
provision for us. But we must avail ourselves of what God has
provided.

How can we benefit from God's great provision if we don't even
know about it? So, we should seek the knowledge of God on our
own, and receive teaching from others, also.

There is not one among us who does not have much to learn. No
one yet is walking in the absolute fullness of what God has
provided.

This must be one of the saddest verses in the Bible. To think
that God's people are destroyed simply because of a lack of
knowledge. As God's children, they are our brothers and
sisters. It is our relatives being destroyed, and we should do
what we can to stop it.

Let's quit giving place to the devil by our lack of knowledge
of God's Word. And, as we learn from God's Word we should share
our knowledge with others, so they can walk in freedom and
victory, too.

SAY THIS: I will study God's Word so I can know the truth and
not let the devil destroy me for lack of knowledge.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Jesus Is The Only Way

JOHN 14:6 NKJ
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.

The word translated "way" means road. Jesus is the road to God.

The Bible is clear. Jesus did not lie. There is no salvation or
access into Heaven without receiving Jesus Christ.

ACTS 4:12 NIV
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other
name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

The Bible clearly teaches there is only one name by which
people can be saved. That name is not Buddha, Confucius, or
Mohammed, but the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no other way to God than through Jesus Christ.

SAY THIS: Jesus is the way for me to God.

Friday, August 10, 2012

God Is Just

PSALM 89:14 NIV
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.

Every decent human being deeply detests injustice. When we see
it in life, or even in a movie, it agitates us. Nothing makes
our blood boil more than injustice.

We instinctively know injustice is wrong because God put that
within us when He made us in His image. You can be sure that
God's reign will never involve injustice of any kind.

PSALM 11:7 ICB
7 The Lord does what is right, and he loves justice. So honest
people will see his face.

While we may not understand all that God might do in judging
the human race, surely we can be confident with Abraham who
said in Genesis 18:25, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do
right?".

God is fair. God is just. God does what is right. God is
righteous. All these statements are equivalent.

People who would condemn God now are judging Him before the
time -- before all the evidence is in -- before God has
finished His great work with mankind. Then, and then only,
shall we see and understand fully the greatness of the mercy
and the justice of our wonderful God.

ISAIAH 9:7 NIV
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no
end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

SAY THIS: God is fair and just, and He is the ultimate and only
judge that really matters.

Thursday, August 09, 2012

God Is Not Poor

PSALM 50:12 NASB
12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is
Mine, and all it contains.

HAGGAI 2:8 NASB
8 `The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' declares the LORD
of hosts.

You probably knew that God is rich. But have you thought about
what that means?

Since God is not poor, surely He would not desire His children
to suffer poverty.

Misunderstanding has developed because most Christians think
Jesus was poor and that His followers should also be poor. Not
necessarily true, but a strong tradition.

Why did God create all the wealth of this world? Surely not for
the devil and his crowd.

God does not withhold good from us but desires blessing for all
His children. If it were otherwise, God would not even be as
good as earthly parents.

Any court would condemn an earthly father, who, although rich,
withheld support from his children. Should we think our Father
God is any less loving and caring and giving than an earthly
father? NO! Jesus taught that our Heavenly Father is much more
gracious and generous than any earthly father.

MATTHEW 7:11 NASB
11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven
give what is good to those who ask Him!

Just because you have not yet received the fullness of God's
blessing does not mean God does not desire that you have it. We
must grow up and quit blaming God. Instead, we should seek Him
for understanding and help so that we may receive all God has
for us.

Yes, God warns against trusting in riches or being deceived by
them. Anything can be dangerous if not used properly. Fire can
maim and kill, yet properly controlled it is a great blessing.
So it is with money.

God is not against His children having wealth. He just does not
want us to trust in it and worship it.

PSALM 35:27 NASB
27 . . ."The LORD be magnified, who delights in the prosperity
of His servant."

Let's line our thinking up with the Bible and quit letting the
devil rob us of the blessings God intends for us.

SAY THIS: God is my wealthy Father Who loves me and delights to
bless me.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

When Did The New Covenant Start?

HEBREWS 8:13 NKJ
13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first
obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is
ready to vanish away.

The part of the Bible we call the Old Testament is not exactly
the same as the Old Covenant, nor is the part of the Bible we
call the New Testament exactly the same as the New Covenant.

The Old Covenant was an agreement between God and the children
of Israel. We have the record of it in the Old Testament.

The New Covenant is an agreement between God and Jesus Christ.
(Therefore it includes all who are united with Jesus Christ, or
as the Bible says, all those who are "in Christ.")

The New Testament is the name we give to the 27 books of the
Bible from Matthew through Revelation. The New Testament book
is not the New Covenant, but reveals it and explains it.

The New Covenant did not start until after the death of Jesus
Christ. For it was sealed by the precious blood of Jesus paying
the price for the complete remission of sins for all who
believe in Him.

Jesus himself plainly said the New Covenant involved His blood
being shed.

MATTHEW 26:28 NKJ
28 "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for
many for the remission of sins.

The following passage in Hebrews also makes clear that the New
Covenant could not begin until after the death of Jesus Christ.

HEBREWS 9:14-17 NASB
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in
order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of
the transgressions that were committed under the first
covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of
the eternal inheritance.
16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the
death of the one who made it.
17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is
never in force while the one who made it lives.

Why does it matter when the New Covenant started?

Because it is the key to rightly dividing the Word of God,
which 2 Timothy 2:15 reveals is necessary.

Without a clear understanding of when the New Covenant starts,
and what the New Covenant is, we will be confused. (Not
understanding this clearly is why so many teach different
things about what is required to be in good standing with God.)

The entire earthly ministry of Jesus happened under the Old
Covenant and was directed only to Israel (Matthew 15:24, Romans
15:8). When Jesus first sent out His disciples He told them to
only go to the people of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6). But after His
resurrection they were sent into all the world to tell the Good
News to everyone (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19).

So every word spoken by Jesus before His resurrection was
spoken before the New Covenant existed.

Does this mean we should ignore what Jesus said before His
resurrection, or that what He said was not true? Certainly not!
Jesus is Truth! It just means we have to remember He was
talking to people under the Old Covenant, not the New Covenant.

For example, in Matthew 19:16 the rich young ruler asked Jesus
what to do so he could have eternal life. Jesus' answer in
Matthew 19:17 to "keep the commandments" is much different than
the answer in Acts 16:31 which says simply to "believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved," or 1 John 5:13 which
says those who believe in the Son of God may know they have
eternal life.

Under the Old Covenant, keeping the commandments was required
as the way to have good standing with God. Under the New
Covenant, good standing with God is a gift which comes with
believing on Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17-18, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

1 JOHN 5:11 NKJ
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal
life, and this life is in His Son.

Eternal life is not gained under the New Covenant by "keeping
commandments" but as a gift. This is why Jesus came, to bring
in a New Covenant established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6).

ROMANS 6:23 NKJ
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans tells us that "eternal life" is a gift. If we have to
earn it in any way, or pay any amount for it, then it cannot be
a gift.

We must realize things changed dramatically because of the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without that
realization, we can err greatly in understanding the message of
Jesus.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 NKJ
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has
committed to us the word of reconciliation.

All the New Testament is Jesus' message to us. But the things
He said to His body, the church, after He redeemed us with His
blood, take precedence over the words He spoke under His Old
Covenant ministry on earth, because they recognize the reality
of the New Covenant.

Jesus told His disciples (right before His death) that He had
much more to reveal to them.

JOHN 16:12-13a NKJ
12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear
them now.
13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will
guide you into all truth;

So don't be confused and think what Jesus said during His
earthly ministry was His last word. If Jesus had already given
them complete truth, there would be no need of the Holy Spirit
to come and guide them into all truth.

So Jesus continued speaking through His apostles after His
ascension to Heaven. This is what we have recorded as the
letters to the church (Romans through Revelation) in the New
Testament.

Through these letters, Jesus by the Holy Spirit, has revealed
that the New Covenant includes right standing with God as a
free gift through our union with Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!

HEBREWS 10:16-17 NKJ
16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and
in their minds I will write them,"
17 then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will
remember no more."

SAY THIS: Lord, thank You for the New Covenant! Please help me
understand it clearly.

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Few Find Fullness Of Life

MATTHEW 7:14 NKJ
14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which
leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Many misinterpret this verse, thinking that Jesus was saying
few people would go to Heaven. Read it again and you will see
that Heaven is never mentioned in this passage.

Jesus was talking about life!

Few people enjoy the fullness of blessing in life that God
intends.

JOHN 10:10 NEB
10 'The thief comes only to steal, to kill, to destroy; I have
come that men may have life, and may have it in all its
fullness.

One of the biggest misunderstandings is thinking that the whole
plan of God is just having our sins forgiven so we can go to
Heaven. That is an important truth, but it is just the first
step. God's plan is much bigger than that. He is raising a
family. He is preparing us to be fit companions for eternity.

God gave us His Word, and sent His Spirit to guide us into all
Truth, so we could know how to live, both now, and for ever.

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.

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."

SAY THIS: Lord please help me to walk in the way of life as you
intended it to be.

Monday, August 06, 2012

God's Word Is Settled

PSALM 119:89 NKJ
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

Heaven is not running around trying to figure out the will of
God. His Word is settled in Heaven.

God surely had enough time before the Bible was written down to
make any changes in His plans. Now that He has given His Word,
He will keep it and see that it comes to pass.

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

ISAIAH 40:8 NKJ
8 "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God
stands forever."

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

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

The issue is settled in Heaven. Now you should settle it: God's
Word is true. God said what He meant and meant what He said.

SAY THIS: God tells the truth, so I will not doubt what He has
said.

Sunday, August 05, 2012

You Are Not A Failure

EPHESIANS 2:10 NIV
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

You may have failed, but you are not a failure.

It is not the essence of what and who you are. Failure is just
something that happened to you.

God created you, and He made you able to do good. Maybe you
have not yet discovered what you were created for, but God has
a plan for you. When you fit into God's plan you will find that
God truly made you "a work of His art."

A donkey could compare itself to a race horse and think it was
a failure. But a donkey was created for other things than
running fast.

Find out what you were created to be and do. Then rejoice as
you do it.

SAY THIS: I am God's unique work of art -- still in progress.

Saturday, August 04, 2012

Keep On Keeping On

GALATIANS 6:9 NLT
9 So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the
right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give
up.

The best advice for being a growing and successful Christian
believer is just to stick with it. Just keep on doing what you
know to do.

More than anything, keep feeding on God's Word. The Word is
what has the power to change things in your life. It is the
power that drives the whole Kingdom of God.

MARK 4:26-28 NLT
26 Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who
scatters seed on the ground.
27 Night and day, while he's asleep or awake, the seed sprouts
and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.
28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade
pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally
the grain ripens.

Jesus explained in Mark 4:14 that God's Word is the seed. So
God's Word will bring forth God's will in your life if you will
just plant it in your heart and protect it until it produces a
harvest.

Don't worry if it seems like your progress is slow. Just keep
on the right road and you will reach your proper destination.
You can't feel a tree growing by putting your arms around it
either, but day by day it surely grows stronger and stronger.

And don't quit just because you messed up and made some
mistakes. Receive your forgiveness and go forward. Just because
the devil tripped you up does not mean you should stay down.

So, keep reading the Bible. Keep on talking to God about
everything. Keep on being thankful. Keep on praising God. Keep
on walking in love. Keep on trusting God even when you don't
understand what is going on.

God understands -- even when you don't. And you can be certain
of His never-failing love for you. So, trust God and keep on
walking in faith and love. Keep on doing what you know is
right.

SAY THIS: I will not quit but will keep on walking with God.

Friday, August 03, 2012

You Are Qualified

COLOSSIANS 1:12 NIV
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share
in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

You are qualified to receive any and every blessing from God,
not because of what you have done -- but based on what Jesus
did for you.

You don't become qualified with God based on your performance,
but you were MADE qualified by God when you received Jesus.

Being righteous -- or in right standing with God -- is all the
qualification you need. And righteousness is a free gift that
you receive when you receive Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus is
your righteousness.

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.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 NIV
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God.

Righteousness is not something you have earned or done, but a
gift given by God (Romans 5:17).

Because of God's grace, you can partake of the inheritance of
the saints of God. You have a right -- given to you by God --
to share in all that God has.

You were qualified to receive every blessing of God by being
made right with God. You don't have to do anything else so you
can qualify. It's a gift! You just have to believe it!

You are qualified to be completely forgiven.

You are qualified to be filled with God's Holy Spirit.

You are qualified to receive healing.

You are qualified to get prayers answered.

You are qualified to prosper.

You are qualified to live with God in Heaven.

"But preacher, you don't know me. You don't know what I have
done."

Good news! It doesn't matter!

Jesus paid the price to qualify you. Right now -- because of
Jesus' blood -- you qualify for all of God's blessings.

So don't believe the lie that you are not good enough. The
blood of Jesus is what makes you good enough. Nothing else ever
can!

"But preacher, I just don't believe that. It doesn't seem
to work for me."

Well, you are right that if you don't believe it, it won't
happen for you. All the blessings of God are only appropriated
by faith. That means you must believe what God says before you
will see the promised blessings happen in your life.

ROMANS 5:2 NIV
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace
in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory
of God.

God has provided everything for us by His grace -- purely
undeserved by us -- as a free gift. However, we only have
access to it by faith.

SAY THIS: I am qualified for all God's blessings. God made me
qualified!

Thursday, August 02, 2012

God Has A Plan

JEREMIAH 29:11 NIV
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future.

Genesis 37 tells the story of Joseph being sold into slavery by
his brothers. At that time, I'm sure it didn't look to Joseph
like God had a plan -- at least not one that was good for him.

Joseph surely thought what many of us have, "Why did you let
this happen to me, God?"

No doubt things looked clearer to Joseph later on when he was
ruling Egypt and was able to save his entire family from
starvation. (Genesis 45-50)

Often life may seem confusing and out-of-control. But don't
despair. God has a plan for you which He is working out. If you
could only see the end He has in mind for you -- you would
begin to rejoice and thank God right now. (Hint, hint.)

SAY THIS: God has a plan for me, and I will trust Him to work
everything out in my life.

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Put God First

MATTHEW 22:37-38 NKJ
37 Jesus said to him, "`You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 "This is the first and great commandment.

The most important command is to love God with all your being.
As with all His commands, God does not give this for His
benefit, but for your benefit. Putting God first will bless
you, improving your life and well-being.

Loving people, while important, is only secondary according to
Jesus. In practice -- because God loves people -- loving Him
will result in you loving people also.

When you get your priority backward -- putting people and their
needs first -- you miss God's plan, and will be relatively
ineffective in helping people -- compared to what you could
have been if you put God first.

MATTHEW 6:33 CEV
33 But more than anything else, put God's work first and do
what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.

Determine to follow Jesus and obey Him. Don't allow anything
other than Jesus Christ to be your highest priority.

SAY THIS: My highest priority is God. I will put God first in
my life.