God Communicates

ACTS 2:28 KJV
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make
me full of joy with thy countenance.

Of course, God can communicate in any way He chooses, but it is
very rare for Him to speak so that our ears hear a voice.
However, God communicates all the time.

God normally communicates by thoughts which are whole ideas,
not just individual words.

Sometimes God may communicate through individual words
(especially if they are a quote from the Bible). But usually it
is much faster than that and comes as a complete thought, not
just one word at a time.

God lives inside the believer in Jesus Christ. As a believer,
you are joined with Jesus in your spirit.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:17 NKJ
17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

So when you are having a conversation with God, it will usually
seem like you are having an inward conversation with yourself.
Don't expect it to be coming from "outside of you."

So talking with God can sometimes seem like just talking with
yourself, because God lives inside you. 1 Cor 6:19, 2 Cor 6:16

A thought from God may also come through another person. God
lives in other believers, not just in you. Or it may have been
recorded previously, either in written, spoken, or pictorial
form.

It is not unusual for God to communicate with someone through
another person without them even realizing they have been
involved in a message from God.

God can communicate through a sermon. But that does not mean
every sermon, or every idea it may contain, is from God -- no
matter who preaches it.

Of course, every thought you have is NOT from God. Some
thoughts originate with the devil. Some thoughts are just your
flesh trying to control you. Some thoughts are the ideas of
other people you have picked up.

So you have to learn to discern which thoughts are from God and
which ones are not.

There are two criteria by which we can determine whether a
thought is from God. The first is a knowledge of the written
Word of God, the Bible.

God never changes. What He has said in the past is still what
He would say today. Truth must be consistent. So when God
communicates, those thoughts will line up with the written Word
of God. They will never contradict the Bible.

The more familiar we are with the Bible, not just the letter of
it, but the spirit of it also, the easier it will be for us to
"know God's voice" and determine when a thought is from God.

Every verse of the Bible is inspired by God and can therefore
be trusted. That does not mean it is a direct statement from
God, but that even if it is telling history or a genealogy, God
meant for it to be recorded. Thus, in that way, every verse is
a thought of God, and therefore carries a message. This does
not mean everything said in the Bible is the truth, for
the Bible even records some lies of men. But everything in the
Bible is truly recorded, and in that sense is the truth, and
therefore a message from God.

The second criteria is the inner witness. We will say more
about the inner witness on another day.

Sometimes it is said that God communicates through nature. In
the sense that God's creation gives the message of His great
power, wisdom, and brilliance it is true. We can look at all
God has created and know He is a genius.

However, God actually communicates directly with us through
thoughts. Those thoughts can be about nature, but they are
still thoughts.

God desires for you to communicate with Him, also. You should
"talk" to Him about everything. Ask Him all the questions you
want. (You won't always get an instant answer. But God doesn't
mind you being curious. And when you are ready and capable of
understanding the answer, God will get it to you.)

You can "talk" to God by actually talking out loud, or by an
inward conversation, just in your thinking. God will hear you
either way. And He will respond. Again, it may not always be an
instant response. There could be many reasons for this. But if
you will stay alert, you will realize when God responds and you
will know He did.

The more you cultivate a relationship with God, the more you
will understand this and enjoy it. Remember that all
relationships are nurtured and deepened by communication.

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

SAY THIS: Thank you God for communicating with me. Help me
learn how to know what you are saying and help me to be alert
to your communication.

You Reap What You Sow

GALATIANS 6:7 NKJ
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man
sows, that he will also reap.

The Bible says it, so you can count on it.

EPHESIANS 6:8 NKJ
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the
same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

LUKE 6:38 NKJ
38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your
bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be
measured back to you."

The world has a saying for this, "Whatever goes around, comes
around."

If you are unkind, you can expect unkindness to come toward
you.

If you are merciful, you can expect others to be merciful to
you.

If you are generous, others will be generous with you.

You cannot expect to plant carrot seeds and harvest tomatoes.
It does not work in the physical realm, neither does it
work in the spiritual realm. You will reap what you plant, and
only what you plant.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 NKJ
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully.

PROVERBS 11:24-25 NKJ
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is
one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.
25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will
also be watered himself.

Whatever you need, or whatever you desire in your life -- give
that to someone else.

If you desire friendship, be friendly to others. If you desire
forgiveness, forgive others. If you desire to be loved, show
love to others. If you desire money, give some money away.

MATTHEW 7:12 NKJ
12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to
them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

SAY THIS: I will reap what I sow.

God Is Perfect

PSALM 18:30 NIV
30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is
flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Have you ever wondered what God is really like? I can tell you.
He is perfect!

If you want to get a clear picture of what God is really like,
just stop and imagine someone who is perfect.

1 JOHN 1:5 NIV
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to
you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.

Perfect love describes God. He is someone who never has, and
never will, do one selfish, self-centered, self-serving act
that would harm anyone else.

1 JOHN 4:8 NIV
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

God is a perfect expression of love. So 1 Corinthians 13
describes what God is like.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 NIV
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not
boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.

Just imagine a perfect God -- and that is what God is. This is
why the Kingdom of God is good news. Because He is the perfect
King, the perfect ruler. Imagine having someone in charge who
is perfect in every way. Someone who does what is best for
everyone, never acting selfishly.

Everything God does is a perfect expression of unselfish love
for others -- for all those He has created.

DEUTERONOMY 32:3-4 NIV
3 I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the
greatness of our God!
4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are
just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Every good thing we have or enjoy is because of God and His
love.

Our lives and this world are not now perfect, because mankind
has turned away from God and rejected Him and His loving ways.
We fell for a lie, and turned against God. Only as we all turn
back to God will things turn back to perfection.

God is perfect and we are not yet perfect. (But because of His
grace, we will be eventually.) That is why we need to trust Him
and follow His instructions, instead of trusting in our own
ability and knowledge.

God is not trying to get people to obey Him because He is
insecure and needs to be worshipped. God is trying to get you
to do what is best. God's way is perfect. Why go any other way?

SAY THIS: There is nothing wrong with God. He is perfect!

Heaven Is Not God's Entire Plan

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

Just having people go to Heaven is not God's only interest. God
is working to make us like Jesus.

In fact, God has determined that we will be like Jesus, when we
grow up.

EPHESIANS 4:15 NLT
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every
way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the
church.

God is raising a family, causing us to mature and grow up into
being like Jesus Christ.

Too many people think they just need to get "saved" or born
again, and then they can just go on living without giving much
thought to God, while they wait to die and go to Heaven.

No! God desires to be involved with every minute of your life.

God wants to teach you and train you in many things.

God is your Father and He will not shirk His responsibility to
raise you, train you, and provide for you.

SAY THIS: God has a big plan, which includes a big family. It
is my privilege to be in His family.

Be Who You Are

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

ROMANS 12:2 WUEST
2 And stop assuming an outward expression that does not come
from within you and is not representative of what you are in
your inner being but is patterned after this age; but change
your outward expression to one that comes from within and is
representative of your inner being, by the renewing of your
mind, resulting in your putting to the test what is the will of
God, the good and well-pleasing and complete will, and having
found that it meets specifications, place your approval upon it.

God is a brilliant Creator. He only makes originals -- not
copies. According to Ephesians 2:10, you are God's work of
art.

God made you unique. So be all that God created you to be.

Don't try to be someone else. Don't try to be an ear in the
Body of Christ, if God made you a foot. Just be yourself.

This does not mean that you cannot improve, or grow. Growth is
part of God's plan. And we can certainly learn from others, and
imitate excellent actions and attitudes.

But too many people are insecure and hope to gain acceptance
from others by conforming to what they think will make them
popular or successful -- even though they hate it and know they
are not being real.

ROMANS 12:2 PHILLIPS
2 Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own
mould....

Don't let the world pressure you into conforming.

Express the originality that God put within you. God made you
the way you are for a purpose -- His purpose.

This is not to encourage rebellion, of course. But it is not
God's plan for us all to be identical and do everything in the
same way.

I am not saying you have to try to be different. Just be who
God made you -- without fear.

Not everyone may like you, or what you do. But that is normal.
You can't always please everyone. Make it your aim to please
God by expressing what He made you.

ROMANS 12:2 NLT
2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let
God transform you into a new person by changing the way you
think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you
will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

The Bible reveals many truths about who we are once we receive
Jesus Christ. We actually receive new life, a new standing with
God, and new ability. As you feed the Word of God into your
thinking, that new life will be able to manifest more and
more.

SAY THIS: I am what I am by the grace of God. I will be what
God made me and fulfil His plan for me.

Lack Of Knowledge

HOSEA 4:6a NKJ
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

People wonder why many Christians experience so much trouble in
life, instead of victory. The reason, according to the Bible,
is a lack of knowledge.

The Bible tells us the devil is out to destroy us, but it also
makes clear that we can overcome his attacks. The real problem
lies with our ignorance.

Real knowledge produces faith. When we really know something,
we have faith in it. Then we will act on that knowledge.

The reason God's people are destroyed by calamity is not
because God doesn't love us, or because God is not able to help
us. It is simply that we don't know the truth. If we really
knew the truth, we would act on that knowledge. Acting on true
knowledge makes you free -- it does not destroy you or put you
into 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."

God's Word is our instruction book. When we act on it, things
will work for us. God allows us to make choices. When we make
the right choices, we will be blessed.

Don't let the devil condemn you with this message. Instead, let
it give you hope. You can learn God's Word and act on it more
accurately in the future -- and be blessed!

SAY THIS: God gave me the knowledge in the Bible so I could
know the truth, act on it, and be blessed.

Honor Your Parents

EPHESIANS 6:2-3 NKJ
2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first
commandment with promise:
3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the
earth."

Think about this: God himself promises that if you will honor
your parents you will have a long and blessed life.

What a promise!

So we need to learn from Scripture what God means by "honoring"
our parents, so we can do it and be blessed.

MATTHEW 15:4-6 NLT
4 For instance, God says, `Honor your father and mother,' and
`Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to
death.'"
5 But you say, `You don't need to honor your parents by caring
for their needs if you give the money to God instead.'
6 And so, by your own tradition, you nullify the direct
commandment of God.

Here we have Jesus telling one way that people are to honor
their parents: by caring for their needs.

So honoring your parents is not just speaking politely to them,
or telling others that they are great parents. If your parents
have needs, you should help them. In this way, according to
Jesus, you are showing them honor.

Here is Mark's account of the same speech:

MARK 7:10-12 NLT
10 For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: `Honor your
father and mother,' and `Anyone who speaks evil of father or
mother must be put to death.'
11 But you say it is all right for people to say to their
parents, `Sorry, I can't help you. For I have vowed to give to
God what I could have given to you.'
12 You let them disregard their needy parents.

Obviously, letting your parents go with unmet needs, when you
could meet them, is the opposite of showing them honor.

Of course, the words we speak and the attitude we have toward
our parents, also indicates how we honor them.

The word translated honor means to value or prize. God is
telling us we should value our parents highly. When you
consider something valuable you take care of it, and speak well
of it. This is how you should treat your parents -- if you
desire God's blessing.

(This is not to say we should honor parents above God and His
will. Parents should not control the lives of grown sons or
daughters. But, no matter what, our parents deserve love and
respect -- not necessarily lifelong obedience.)

SAY THIS: I will honor my parents and God will bless me.

Nothing Shall Hurt You

LUKE 10:19 NKJ
19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing
shall by any means hurt you.

If you will accept it and believe it, here is a promise of
Jesus that will protect you from everything harmful.

The choice is yours. You can choose to believe it, and allow
God to bring it to pass in your life. Or, you can refuse to
believe it, live in doubt, and shut the door on what God
desires in your life.

Someone might say, "But I just had an accident and my finger
was cut off and it really hurt me."

No, the real you, is still intact. The real you is not really
harmed. For the real you is not your body. The real you is the
person who lives in your body.

So even if you were killed because of your testimony for Jesus
Christ, the promise would still be true: it would not hurt YOU.
You would simply be promoted to Heaven to be with Jesus.

(It would be wrong to limit the promise of Luke 10:19 to only
our spirit, for our body certainly is important for our earthly
activity. Yet it is also wrong to be too body-centered in our
thinking. We are much more than just a body.)

We must believe this promise of Jesus for it to work fully in
our lives. God does not force His blessing and help on us. We
must cooperate by believing His Word.

But when we accept this promise, embrace it, and fully believe
it, then God's power is released to protect us from everything
that would hurt us.

God has made the provision. Jesus paid for your protection. Now
you must (actively) receive it. You must believe it! Then God
will bring it to pass.

If you will actively believe, confess, and stand on this
promise from Jesus, your life will be protected from many evils
that would otherwise harm you.

Whatever happened to you in the past, whether you understand it
or not, just let it go. Forgive the past, then forget it. It is
time to move forward. Choose now to believe this promise of God
and change your future for the better.

SAY THIS: I accept and believe the promise of Jesus: Nothing
shall hurt me!

Believers Can Do These Things

MARK 16:17-18 NLT
17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe:
They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in
new languages.
18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they
drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able
to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed."

If you were asked what humans can do, you might say humans can
do things like walk, talk, sing, and even reproduce.

And you would be correct. Yet babies cannot do even one of
those things, and they are human beings!

So when God says these signs will follow believers, we have
been told the truth. But that does not mean it will happen
automatically and instantly.

(There is no Biblical justification for anyone trying to prove
they can do things like handle snakes or drink poison without
harm. The context is about believers going into all the world
to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. As they do, the promise of
God is that nothing can stop them, not demons, dangerous
animals, or dangerous food and water. Paul shaking off the
snake in Acts 28:3-6 is an example of how to understand this
passage correctly.)

A human parent might say "When I have children, they will be
able to do what I do" and we would have no trouble believing
that. It seems God has done a similar thing, saying, in effect,
"This is what my children will be able to do."

Should we call God a liar just because on the first day they
are born all of His children don't do everything He says His
children will be able to do?

It's always a mistake to argue with God. Instead we should
accept what He said and learn how to walk in it.

We are born again (spiritually) with all the capability of
children of God, but we must grow, develop, and learn to walk
in the authority we have been given.

JOHN 14:12 CEV
12 I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you
will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even
greater things, now that I am going back to the Father.

Jesus even said we would do the same things He did! But it
takes faith. So until we believe, it won't happen.

1 JOHN 5:4 CEV
4 Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is
what gives us this victory.

SAY THIS: I am a believer in Jesus Christ, so I can do what the
Bible says I can do.

Inexpressible Joy

1 PETER 1:8 ESV
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not
now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is
inexpressible and filled with glory,

Being a Christian believer is not supposed to be a burden but a
delight. You are supposed to enjoy your salvation.

Our enemy, through his lies, tries to give us a different
picture.

This does not mean we will never face tests or trials, but
the promise of God is that we can have peace and joy even when
we face trouble, because the Lord is with us and taking care of
us.

JOHN 16:33 ESV
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart;
I have overcome the world."

Joy is an important part of God's provision for your life to be
what it should be. Just as God has provided air for you to
breathe, God has provided joy for you. Joy should be the
atmosphere in which you live.

ROMANS 14:17 ESV
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and
drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit.

In God's kingdom, joy is present. God's kingdom is wherever He
is allowed to rule. So if God rules in our life we should be
carriers of joy.

This will not happen if you focus on your circumstances. It
requires that you look at all Jesus has done and is doing. We
must focus on Jesus to keep from having our joy stolen from us.

Our spirits have the joy of the Lord. But we must choose to
rejoice and allow the joy that is in us to flow out. The choice
is ours.

JOHN 16:24 ESV
24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you
will receive, that your joy may be full.

The joy of the Lord is given to us by His grace. It is not
something we earn or achieve. But, like everything we receive
by God's grace, it must be received by faith. That means we
must choose to actively receive it -- to take it.

ROMANS 5:2 ESV
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this
grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of
God.

Instead of allowing our human feelings and circumstances to
rule us, we should choose to rejoice in the Lord. Then we will
experience His joy flowing.

We must choose to rejoice -- to let joy flow from our lips in
worship

JOHN 15:11 NLT
11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with
my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

The Word of God has been given to us so that we may have the
joy of the Lord. God's Word (the Bible) was not given to put
you into bondage, but to make you free (John 8:31-32).

Life is not meant to be a constant struggle, but a joy. If this
does not describe your life, then you are missing out on the
full provision God has made for you.

SAY THIS: I have the joy of the Lord! I am full of joy! Joy is
flowing in my life. I live in joy!

Show Courtesy To All People

TITUS 3:2 GWN
2 Believers shouldn't curse anyone or be quarrelsome, but they
should be gentle and show courtesy to everyone.

When we fail to show courtesy to all people the reason is
always the same: pride. We think we are better than they are.
Otherwise we would treat them with respect and courtesy.

But remember that true Christianity is not based on keeping a
set of rules (such as: show courtesy to all people). Instead it
is a relationship with God through being united with Jesus
Christ. With His life in us, we can and should act differently.

When our mind is renewed to the truth, we realize the life and
love of God is inside our hearts after we receive Jesus. As we
allow that inner life to dominate, we will fulfill the will of
God by doing what the Bible says we should do.

So it is going to take more than a decision and will-power for
you to always show courtesy to all people. You will need God
working in and through you for it to happen.

One thing you can do is ask the Lord to show you how He sees
people. When you realize how much God loves people and how
precious they are to Him, you will be much less likely to
mistreat them.

TITUS 3:1 GWN
1 Remind believers to willingly place themselves under the
authority of government officials. Believers should obey them
and be ready to help them with every good thing they do.

This verse, which comes just before the one we started with
above, says to "remind believers" to do these things. It is not
a law we must keep in order to be right with God or to have God
love us. Instead it is what we should be becoming as we grow in
Christ by allowing His life and love to dominate and flow
through us. It's a matter of maturing and growing up. Just as
we grow up as physical beings, we also must grow up as
spiritual beings.

TITUS 3:3-7 GWN
3 Indeed, we, too, were once stupid, disobedient, and misled.
We were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures. We were
mean and jealous. We were hated, and we hated each other.
4 However, when God our Savior made his kindness and love for
humanity appear,
5 he saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain
his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through
the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and
renewal.
6 God poured a generous amount of the Spirit on us through
Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 As a result, God in his kindness has given us his approval
and we have become heirs who have the confidence that we have
everlasting life.

God is working in us! Living the Christian life is not just a
matter of will-power and dedication. It is yielding to God and
trusting in Him. We must decide to yield to God's will, for God
never forces us, but we can't make it happen by ourselves.

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

SAY THIS: Lord help me to see people as you see them, and to
treat them as you would treat them.

Motives

PROVERBS 16:2 NLT
2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines
their motives.

Motives are important to God.

God is interested in WHY we do things, not just in WHAT we do.

Why do you do what you do?

Is it to help others? To please God? Or do you live focused
totally on yourself?

These questions are important to ask ourselves. As First
Corinthians 11:31 says, "if we would judge ourselves, we should
not be judged."

However, we must use caution when trying to judge other people.
We don't know their motives.

PROVERBS 21:2 LB
2 We can justify our every deed, but God looks at our motives.

We often justify ourselves, but judge others harshly. We may
judge ourselves based on our good intentions, but we are only
capable of judging others by their actions.

So, we must be very cautious about judging others in a
condemning way.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:5 NIV
5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till
the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in
darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that
time each will receive his praise from God.

One main reason we are not qualified to judge others is because
we don't know their thoughts, intentions, and motives. Only God
does.

SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to be aware of my motives.

Are You In Trouble?

JAMES 5:13 NIV
13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone
happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

The Greek word translated as trouble in this verse means to
suffer trouble, be afflicted, or to endure hardship or evil.

The best thing anyone facing trouble can do is pray. You don't
have to know how, just pour out your heart to God and discuss
the situation with Him.

We are tempted to do many other things: cry, complain,
criticize others -- but Scripture says we should pray when we
face tough problems.

Notice it does not say you should ask everyone else to pray for
you. It says you should pray.

There is nothing wrong with having other people pray for you.
But there is something wrong with expecting others to pray,
while you never pray.

By praying, we do not mean begging God for help. God loves you,
and always desires to assist you.

What is needed is not twisting God's arm to get Him to help.
Usually a part of the answer is God getting us quiet enough for
long enough so He can speak to our hearts and show us what
needs to be done.

Sometimes we have missed it, and that is why we are in trouble.
Other times, we may face trouble just because we live in a
fallen world. But always, when we are in trouble, we need to
know God's direction as to what to do.

Discuss your situation with the Lord. Lay it out in detail.
Often just telling Him honestly about the situation will cause
you to realize what should be done. Pour out your soul to the
Lord, but also wait in His presence with thanks and praise. Let
your heart and mind get quiet. Let God's peace overcome your
turmoil and worry.

God tells us that if we will draw near to Him, He will draw
near to us. This is why you should pray. You need God's help.
He has the wisdom and knowledge to get you out of the trouble
you face.

Direction may not come the first time you determine to seek God
and pray. You may not seem to get the answer while you pray.
But know this: God is working, and the answer is coming. So
keep praying. Keep on drawing closer to God. Help will come.

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

SAY THIS: When I face trouble I will pray and draw near to God,
and He will help me.

You Are Important!

1 CORINTHIANS 12:22,27 NKJ
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be
weaker are necessary.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

There are NO unnecessary parts in the Body of Christ.

The devil wants you to think your part does not matter, so you
will slack off.

But your part IS important. Your prayers are important. Your
giving is important. Your witness to others is important.

It is easy to believe a famous person who ministers to
thousands is vital in God's plan. But we need to be
reminded that every member of the Body of Christ is needed --
including you!

Don't condemn yourself because you aren't doing a job that puts
you in the spotlight. Don't worry that no one knows what you
are doing. God knows.

Someone witnessed to Billy Graham. Someone prayed for Oral
Roberts to be healed of tuberculosis. Do you know their names?
God does. What if they hadn't been faithful and obedient to do
their part?

What if the person who brought you the Gospel hadn't been
obedient?

So, when you are tempted to be discouraged and think what you
do doesn't matter -- resist those thoughts!

No one but God may see what you are doing, but it is
significant.

Have confidence in God. He knows what He is doing. God placed
you where you are. God has a plan and a job for you to do
there. Be faithful and do it. When it is time for you to do
something else, God will arrange it and lead you out.

Don't try to be somebody else. Just be faithful and obey God
where you are.

Too many Christians think preachers are supposed to do all the
work in the Body of Christ. Preachers may be likened to a
mouth. A mouth is important. But a mouth is not more important
than our hidden, internal organs. We don't see the liver and
kidneys working. However, you could live without a mouth
capable of speech, but not without functioning kidneys or
liver.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:22 NLT
22 In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least
important are really the most necessary.

A body may exist without some of its parts functioning, but it
cannot accomplish as much as it would otherwise.

Do your part! God thinks it's meaningful. Don't let the devil
convince you otherwise.

Maybe all you can do is pray, but that is most important.

Obey God and be faithful where you are. You are needed or God
would not have placed you there.

SAY THIS: God says I am necessary and important.

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

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.

Bad things happen to people because the devil is out to steal,
kill, and destroy everyone.

So unless a human understands and appropriates the redemption
accomplished for them by Jesus Christ, and resists the devil's
thoughts and works, bad things will happen.

God cannot be blamed for any bad thing that happens, because He
has provided a way all people can be protected from the devil's
attacks.

It is like we were drowning and God has thrown us a life
preserver, but if we choose not to receive His life preserver
and use it, then we cannot blame God if we drown.

We can learn from observing the life of Jesus Christ, who was
Heaven's perfect representative, that bad things do not come
from God. Jesus fed the multitudes, healed the sick, rebuked
deadly storms, and loved people. Not once did He do anything to
hurt anyone. This should establish clearly that God our Father
is not responsible for the bad things happening to people.

God is our answer, not our problem; our Helper and deliverer,
not our enemy.

God does not desire bad things to happen to anyone, and He is
not responsible for any bad thing that happens.

Then, who is responsible? The truth is that we, human beings,
are responsible. Yes, the devil is behind all the evil that
happens, but he cannot operate without our cooperation. Human
beings have authority on earth, and it is only through our
wrong choices that evil is allowed to operate on earth.

Sadly, the church has not understood this as clearly as it
should have. So many often repeat lies such as "the Lord gave,
and the Lord hath taken away." That was said in ignorance by
Job, for Scripture clearly says it was satan who brought the
evil that robbed Job (Job 2:7).

Job did not know what was happening in his trial, but we can
read the story and see that all the bad happening to Job was
the result of what satan did. And satan does not work for God,
but is rebelling against Him.

Bad things happen because our Creator gave us freedom to make
choices, and many people have been making wrong choices.

Bad things happen because mankind has turned away from God,
rejecting Him and His loving ways. We fell for the devil's
lies, and turned against God. The only way to stop bad things
from happening is for us all to turn back to God.

Bad things happen on earth because mankind has allowed the
devil and his ideas a place here. And the devil is encouraging
people to make wrong decisions in every way he can.

But we can't really blame the devil, because humans have free
will to choose what we do. We can choose to do right and resist
the devil's temptations to make wrong choices. Unless some
human being decides to give the devil a place, he cannot do
anything on earth. Also Jesus redeemed us by His blood,
defeated the devil for us, and gave us authority to stop him
through the Name of Jesus.

The people of the world are in the darkness of ignorance. They
have not understood the truth. For example, life and death is
in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), but most people
are ignorant of that and always speak negatively, then wonder
why negative things happen to them, not realizing it was
because of their own words, which opened the door for the
devil.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:4 NKJ
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not
believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Many people are blinded to the truth, even those who are
children of God. Jesus said truth would set us free if we would
live in it (John 8:31-32). Just hearing the truth is not
enough. We must act on it in order to be free from bad things.

Why has God allowed this situation on earth to go on, with evil
happening? Because it allows the universe to see clearly the
results of rebelling against God. It also allows God's children
an opportunity to overcome evil and to walk in love, so we can
grow into more Christ-likeness.

So while it may seem now that God is guilty in allowing evil to
continue, it is actually God's mercy in allowing humans more
time to turn to God, and also allowing us to see the results of
following the devil instead of God.

If you still think God should be faulted for allowing humanity
to experience so much pain, you are judging prematurely. God
has promised in the end to make everything right. He will wipe
away every tear and take away all pain and sadness, so that it
will be as if it never happened, except for the lessons we
learned.

Why hasn't God stopped evil? Because He is raising a family,
and it is His desire that we, His children, learn how to stop
evil. He defeated all evil at the cross, and gave us the
authority to stop it in His Name.

After Jesus defeated the devil completely, He left him loose
here for awhile so we could practice resisting him. If the
devil still has any place of influence, it is because we
Christians have not done our job completely.

So, while God's long-term plan will exclude all evil from His
creation, He is allowing it to continue for a period so His
children might have opportunity to understand it and overcome
it (Romans 12:21, Revelation 3:21).

Part of the Good News of Jesus is that He has defeated the
devil and stripped him of authority over us. Now, by the grace
of God and through the blood of Jesus we can walk in freedom
and victory over all evil. As we do so, nothing shall by any
means hurt us (Luke 10:19).

SAY THIS: God is not to blame for the bad things in life.

Feed Your Faith Daily

MATTHEW 4:4 NKJ
4 But He answered and said, "It is written, `Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth
of God.'"

You may neglect the Word of God and still exist, but you will
not enjoy life -- really live -- as God intended, without
feeding regularly on God's Word.

Just as you need physical food to remain strong physically, you
also need spiritual food to stay strong spiritually.

God's Word -- the Bible -- is the food that feeds our faith,
and gives us spiritual strength.

Every day you need to feed, at least some, on God's Word.

A helpful key is to develop good habits, such as reading the
Word every time you eat food, or every morning when you awake,
or right before you go to sleep. The time is not important,
just that you remember every day.

There are many ways to feed on God's Word available to us
today. Reading, or listening to, teaching from the Bible is one
way. Speaking the Word -- especially when you personalize it,
can really build your faith fast. Of course, nothing can
replace your own reading of the Bible, or having it read to
you.

Most of us have busy schedules. Time is scarce, and we must
invest it wisely. Nothing will benefit us more -- both in this
life and in the one to come -- than feeding on God's Word.

All of us can find time for God's Word, if we want to. You can
write Scriptures on cards to read and meditate on whenever you
stop in traffic, or whenever you have to wait for someone.
Maybe listening as you travel, or as you prepare for work, is a
good plan for you.

The important thing is that you have a plan, so you don't let
this most important habit slip.

Seeing the Word. Hearing the Word. Speaking the Word. Thinking
about the Word. This is what builds our faith and keeps us
strong spiritually.

SAY THIS: I will feed my faith daily on God's Word.

Respect People

JAMES 3:9-10 NIV
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we
curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers,
this should not be.

It seems that respect has gone out of style. But God's
unchanging Word teaches us to treat people with respect.

Not agreeing with someone is no reason to treat them
disrespectfully. Just because they are wrong does not make them
unworthy of respect.

By His death for them, Jesus showed us He considers people
valuable and precious. So, we should not treat people as
insignificant or worthless.

Disrespecting people is actually disrespecting God who created
them.

God considers this so vital for wives, He gave a specific
command to respect their husband.

EPHESIANS 5:33 NIV
33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves
himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Certainly, we should respect all people, but Scripture gives
special emphasis to wives respecting their husbands. God did
not say this to put women in bondage, but to help them.

A wise woman will enjoy the benefits, both now and for
eternity, of acting on this command from a loving Heavenly
Father.

MATTHEW 25:40 NIV
40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you
did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for
me.'

The world respects people who are rich, famous, and successful.
Anyone can do that.

But how do you treat those who are thought to be the "least,"
who seemingly cannot help you in any way?

SAY THIS: I will respect people because they are valuable to
God and He loves them.

How Many Sons Does God Have?

HEBREWS 2:10 KJV
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are
all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the
captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

1 JOHN 3:2 KJV
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

At one time Jesus Christ was the "only" Son of God. But no
longer -- according to Scripture.

Now all those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are
also sons of God.

JOHN 1:12 KJV
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Every one who truly receives Jesus becomes a son of God. (But
just like human babies, we don't start out fully developed or
mature.)

(This has nothing to do with human gender. Female humans have
the same status with God as male humans, and we are all called
"sons of God.")

GALATIANS 3:28 KJV
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor
free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus.

Jesus is the firstborn -- the first, and the most important --
of MANY brethren.

ROMANS 8:29 KJV
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren.

God's plan is a family plan. He is raising MANY sons. We may be
new-born babies or toddlers, but we are still sons.

It may sound a little strange to hear that God has many sons.
In a quest to correctly honor Jesus, theologians have stressed
so much that Jesus is the only-begotten Son of God that it is
difficult for us to accept what Scripture plainly says: that
now, since the great redemption accomplished by our wonderful
Lord Jesus Christ, He is no longer the only son of God.

None of us will ever take the place of Jesus, and be Lord of
all. And it is true that without Him we are nothing. But we are
not without Him. He has made possible for us to have the great
privilege to also be sons of God.

SAY THIS: Today God has many sons, and I am one of them.

Read The Bible

1 TIMOTHY 4:13 BBE
13 Till I come, give attention to the reading of the holy
Writings, to comforting the saints, and to teaching.

HEBREWS 4:12 BBE
12 For the word of God is living and full of power. . .

There is no substitute for the basics.

The words of God recorded in the Bible are containers. They
contain ideas from God. They contain life. When those words
enter us through our eyes, ears, or our thinking, they impart
life and faith.

Even if we don't understand everything, we are still receiving
a deposit of life from the Word.

JOHN 6:63 NIV
63 . . . The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are
life.

Many Christian believers are weak in their faith simply because
they do not take in much of the Word of God.

If you spend hours each day listening to, watching, and
thinking about the news and views of the world, but you only
listen (half-heartedly) to a twenty minute sermon on Sunday --
you should not be surprised if your faith is weak and the
influence of the world is great in your life.

The choice is yours. Yes, you are busy, but you can, and do,
make time for what you think is important.

Fortunately, today there are many aids we can take advantage
of. You can read the Bible online, and be reminded each day by
an email. You can obtain recordings of Bible translations to
listen to while you drive or exercise or work.

"But what should I read? The Bible is so big."

All of the Bible is instructive and worthwhile. However, the
New Testament, and specifically the letters to the Church, is
written directly to us and is most applicable for us today.

If you want to get acquainted with the Lord, read the four
Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I would recommend
starting with John. Mark is the shortest.

If you want to understand redemption and what has happened to
you as a result of receiving Christ, and how to live in
victory, then you need to read the letters in the New
Testament, which are all the books except the Gospels I just
mentioned, and the book of Revelation.

Always remember that the Bible is faith food. So if you want
your faith to be strong, you need to feed it on the Bible. It
does not matter if you feel any different, for faith is not
something that you feel. Faith is of the spirit, not of the
feeling realm.

SAY THIS: I will read the Bible and it will help me.

God's Word Will Build You Up

ACTS 20:32 NLT
32 "And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace--his
message that is able to build you up and give you an
inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.

Many shy away from the Bible because they think it's just a
bunch of rules to keep them from enjoying life.

Although many have misused the Bible -- to tear people down,
its true purpose is to build people up.

Tradition makes us think a good sermon should "skin 'em alive"
and make the listeners feel guilty.

But God is on your side and He loves you. So He gave you His
Word for your benefit, to build you up and give you things --
not to take anything good away from you.

Certainly God's Word can, and will, correct you. But primarily,
if you understand it correctly, the Word will build you up --
not beat you down and make you feel guilty.

Yes, there are passages in the Bible that will not encourage
you. They are needful at certain times for certain people who
need to be corrected and called to repentance. But for those
who love God and are His children, there are words of
encouragement to build you up.

Feed on the Word of God's grace -- His favor, His love, His
goodness. It will build you up.

If what you are feeding on is not encouraging your faith, check
to see if it really lines up with the Word.

Don't spend all your time meditating on a passage from the
Bible that's not written to you. All the Bible is profitable,
and we can learn from it. But you should concentrate on what
God is saying to you, as His child: a member of the Body of
Christ.

The message God has for His family, the church, is primarily
found in the letters (epistles) in the New Testament. These are
written directly to us, the church.

God is never interested in just cutting you down, or hurting you.
His intention is to build you up, to encourage you, to make you
better.

SAY THIS: The true message of the New Testament will build me
up. It is good news.

Watch Your Words

PROVERBS 6:2 NKJ
2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by
the words of your mouth.

MARK 11:23 NKJ
23 "For assuredly, I say to you . . . he will have whatever he
says.

Words are powerful. They are the way humans express their
decisions. Words carry authority, even in the spiritual realm.

God created the world with spoken words. Humans are created in
the image and likeness of God. Therefore our words also carry
authority.

The words you speak are important and carry more weight than
you may realize.

Words can get you into trouble. And words can deliver you.

The most powerful and life-giving words in the universe are
those spoken by God the Creator.

Fortunately for us, some of what God has said has been written
down, for our benefit, in the Bible.

So, we can, and should speak words that are in agreement with
what God says. When we do, the power of God is released,
because it is God's Word we are speaking.

Remember: whatever God says never loses its power.

SAY THIS: Please help me Lord to watch my words and speak in
agreement with Your Word.

Nebuchadnezzar's Lesson

DANIEL 4:26 NIV
26 . . . your kingdom will be restored to you when you
acknowledge that Heaven rules.

King Nebuchadnezzar was one of the most powerful rulers in the
history of mankind. He learned a great lesson which we should
never forget. Wise people learn from the mistakes of others.

DANIEL 4:29-37 NIV
29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of
the royal palace of Babylon,
30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the
royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my
majesty?"
31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from
heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar:
Your royal authority has been taken from you.
32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the
wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will
pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is
sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he
wishes."
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was
fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like
cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his
hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the
claws of a bird.
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes
toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the
Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His
dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from
generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He
does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of
the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What
have you done?"
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and
splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My
advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my
throne and became even greater than before.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King
of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways
are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

What was King Nebuchadnezzar's problem?

Pride! He thought he was a self-made man. He thought the reason
he was exalted, rich, and powerful was because he was better
than others.

He thought he deserved what he had because he had done it
himself. He failed to credit God with giving him the ability
and opportunity he enjoyed. He failed to understand that all he
had and all he could do were the result of what God provided.
But he learned. And you will also learn.

You can choose the hard way or the easy way, but this is a
lesson you will also learn. For that is a main purpose of life
on earth: learning. And this is one of the most important
things you need to learn.

You may think you don't have a problem with pride, but if you
think you can make it without God, then you do. So if you
ignore God or neglect God, you have a problem with pride. The
truth is you could not even exist without God.

We need to understand that the God of Heaven rules. That does
not mean God is micro-managing every action on earth, for He
has given us a free will to choose what we will each do.
However, God has set certain boundaries, and He is in control
of the overall plan.

It is a mistake to think that God is responsible for every evil
act happening on earth, as if God were behind all the decisions
to murder, rape, and steal. All those evil decisions are made
by humans influenced by the devil, not God. So while we cannot
blame God for the evil happening on earth, He still retains
overall control of the events unfolding throughout history.

Let's be wise and never forget the last word of Nebuchadnezzar
which summarizes what he learned:

DANIEL 4:37 NIV
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King
of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways
are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

SAY THIS: I will be wise and learn from Nebuchadnezzar's mistake.

Overcome!

1 JOHN 5:4 NKJ
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is
the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God?

All of us have a choice: we can either make excuses, or make
progress in life.

Most people have an excuse. They are too young or old, short or
tall, educated or uneducated -- whatever. We all have some
reason to justify our failure.

But when we focus on God and His ability and willingness to
help us in every way -- all our excuses become insignificant.

God's intention is not for His children to be defeated by the
problems of life. No! The problems of life are opportunities
for us to experience God's help and provision.

God plans for His children to overcome.

How?

By faith!

And faith is available to anyone who will feed on the Bible.
Faith comes from God's Word like physical energy comes from
eating physical food.

So, if your faith is weak, take in more of God's Word.

Then your faith will grow strong. Then you can overcome the
problems you face. Then God will be glorified in you.

SAY THIS: With the help of God, I will overcome!

Prayer: An Exchange

ISAIAH 40:31 NKJ
31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and
not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Time is precious. Our lives are full. Life is busy. Many of us
think we are too busy to spend time in regular daily prayer.
But is that a wise choice?

In the Scripture passage above, the literal meaning is "those
who look to the Lord expectantly will exchange strength."

Prayer is an exchange of strength.

God offers to exchange what He has for what we have. As we
spend time looking to Him, this exchange takes place.

What strength does God have? Wisdom. Understanding. Insight.
Guidance. Favor. Influence. Health. Everything we need!

When you give your time to God, He reciprocates by giving His
time to you. He goes ahead of you and makes your way smooth,
giving you favor and guidance so you can walk in victory.

God will give you ideas as you wait on Him. Ideas of how to do
things better. (For example, I got this message while praying.)

You may think you don't have anything God would want. But God
wants your love and your trust. As a human, you also have God-
delegated authority on Earth, especially as a member of the
Body of Christ.

Exchanging the little strength you have for the strengths of
God is a great trade!

Don't miss this wonderful benefit!

SAY THIS: I will invest time looking to the Lord expectantly in
prayer.

Keep Thanking God

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 CEV
18 Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ.
This is what God wants you to do.

There are many things in life we may not understand. But we
can understand this verse, and know that God gave these
instructions for our benefit, to help us -- not because God is
so insecure that He needs constant thanks.

When bad things happen, what should we do?

Will it help to gripe and complain and feel sorry for
ourselves?

No. That only makes things worse.

When bad things happen they seem to contradict belief in the
goodness and care of God.

But we must remember that there is an enemy, the devil, who is
out to steal our faith, our peace, and our joy. We are
commanded in Scripture to resist him, staying strong in our
faith.

Giving thanks is a powerful way to resist the devil. Even when
we do not understand, and it seems like things are out of
control and going downhill fast -- we should force ourselves to
stay in faith and be thankful.

(I am not saying God is responsible for evil, or to thank God
for evil. Instead, I am saying we can thank God for what He is
doing, and what He has already done for us in the sacrifice of
Jesus -- no matter what may be happening.)

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT
18 No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is
God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

SAY THIS: I will keep thanking God, no matter what happens.

God Feeds The Birds

MATTHEW 6:26 LB
26 Look at the birds! They don't worry about what to eat -- they
don't need to sow or reap or store up food -- for your heavenly
Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than
they are.

Have you ever watched birds eating on a snowy day? It takes
some effort on their part. They don't just sit around waiting
for someone to put food in their mouth.

Is God feeding them? Directly or indirectly?

Jesus stated clearly that God is the one who provides food for
the birds. This implies that God provides for every creature.

Yet, if a bird sits still, instead of gathering the food God
has provided for them, they will starve.

Birds must have faith that food is available somewhere, so they
keep searching. They don't sit in the spot where they found
food yesterday and wait for more food to show up there today.
They keep looking, obviously confident that food is available
somewhere.

Yes, the birds can be a good lesson for us. Although they have
nothing stored up for their future, they don't worry. Neither
should we. They gather daily what God provides for them. So
should we. (This is not to say it is wrong to save or invest
for your future, but only that you should trust God either
way.)

I don't know whether the birds are thankful to God, or not. But
we should be thankful. And we should recognize that God is the
Source of all the good that we enjoy in life.

So work, but don't worry. (And if you can't do normal work --
still don't worry, because God cares more for you than He does
the birds, and He will provide for you somehow.)

And when you have a need, keep searching for the provision
while keeping your focus on God, because you know that God
always provides for you.

SAY THIS: God cares for the birds, so I know He will take care
of me.

Don't Hurt God

Fortunately for us, God is not motivated or moved or controlled
by His feelings. But that does not mean God has no feelings.

We are made in His image, in His likeness. Just as we have
feelings, and can be hurt, God also has feelings, as the
following verses show.

GENESIS 6:6 NIV
6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and
his heart was filled with pain.

EPHESIANS 4:30 KJV
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed
unto the day of redemption.

It is inevitable in human relationships that there will be
misunderstandings and hurts. When we are hurt, the natural
response is to strike back, to retaliate so they will know we
are hurt, and they will also hurt.

(Doing that, we hurt not only the other person -- but God
Himself. Just as a human parent is upset when they see their
child acting badly, God is hurt when we act badly.)

But the way of God is different. God's command to us is to walk
in divine love.

JOHN 13:34 NKJ
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

When you have been hurt, and are starting to retaliate, to
strike back, remember that when you walk out of love, it is God
that you hurt and disappoint.

(Often people don't even know they are hurting us. Most people
are not doing it intentionally.)

We can choose how we respond. As a child of God, we have God's
divine love deposited in our inner being. We can allow that
divine love inside us to respond.

ROMANS 5:5 NKJ
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has
been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given
to us.

After all the love God has shown you, does He really deserve to
be hurt?

SAY THIS: Just because someone hurts me, is not a good reason
for me to hurt God.

The Accurate Message Of Jesus

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."

The promise of Jesus is clear: the end result of staying in His
Word will be freedom.

So, if you are not becoming more free, you need to examine if
you are accurate in your understanding of the Word of God.

JOHN 8:31-32 KJV
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.

Whether the Greek word is translated as continue, abide, or
remain, the meaning is clear. You need to stick with the Word;
not stop and start; not try it for awhile; but jump in with
both feet and stay there.

"What do you mean by freedom, preacher?"

I don't mean a license to sin. Sin produces bondage -- the
opposite of what I am talking about.

I mean freedom in every area of life. Freedom from having to
sin. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from doubt.
Freedom from strife. Freedom from confusion. Freedom from
family problems. Freedom from oppression. Freedom from poverty.
Freedom from disease.

Note that Jesus did not promise that everyone who called Him
Master would automatically and instantly be free. Instead Jesus
indicated that time would be involved before those who truly
followed Him would see the full result of the freedom His Word
would produce in their lives.

If you continue....

If you abide....

If you live in....

If you remain in....

Don't forget the "IF." And don't forget the "CONTINUE." This
Scripture promise is NOT for everyone who claims to be a
Christian. Only for those who are willing to spend the time and
effort required to feed on God's Word.

While I do not wish to criticize any group of Christian
believers, I do think we should all individually judge our own
situations. If the Bible teachers you have been listening to
are not producing freedom in your life, you should prayerfully
examine whether the message they proclaim is accurate -- or
distorted.

Remember that it only takes a tiny amount of poison added to an
otherwise wonderful and nutritious meal to make it dangerous.

SAY THIS: I will continue, abide in, and remain in the accurate
message of Jesus Christ, without ever giving up, and it will
produce freedom in my life.

Your Body Is Your House

2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 NKJ
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is
destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.

The "real you" is not your body. Your body is just a house you
live in so you can function here on earth.

Just as someone can change houses where they live, you can, and
will someday, leave your body and still exist.

We focus too much on our body. The inner part of us is most
important. These bodies we live in are not eternal.

It is not wrong to take care of our bodies, any more than it is
wrong to take care of the house or apartment where we live. It
is a mistake, however, to spend all our time on our body and
neglect our spirit and mind.

1 TIMOTHY 4:8 RSV
8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of
value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life
and also for the life to come.

Who a person is on the inside is more important than what their
body looks like.

We judge too often on the house (body) that people live in,
instead of focusing on the real person living inside that body.

SAY THIS: My body is only a temporary house where I live.

Act On God's Word

JAMES 1:22 NKJ
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves.

How easily we fall into the trap of listening to, or even
studying, the Bible -- but not acting on its instructions.
According to this verse, that opens us up to deception. We
think we are spiritual. We think we are safe. But then, when
things don't work out we will blame God and question why He let
us down.

LUKE 6:46-49 NKJ
46 "But why do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the
things which I say?
47 "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I
will show you whom he is like:
48 "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid
the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the
stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake
it, for it was founded on the rock.
49 "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a
house on the earth without a foundation, against which the
stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin
of that house was great."

Trouble is coming -- it's part of this life. If you act on the
Word, trouble will not destroy you and your household. If you
neglect acting on the Word -- no matter how much you hear it --
when trouble comes your way, it may be devastating.

Why?

Not because it's God's will, or God doesn't love you. Simply
because you refused to act on the instructions which God -- who
knows more than you do -- gave you for your protection.

DEUTERONOMY 12:28 NKJ
28 "Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that
it may go well with you and your children after you forever,
when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord
your God.

God gave us His Word because He loves us and desires to help
us. Not because He likes to boss people around and give orders.
Acting on God's Word is for our benefit.

SAY THIS: I will act on what God says to me in His Word.