Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Weapon of the Spirit

EPHESIANS 6:17 NKJ
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God;

A soldier needs a weapon. In Bible days a sword was the most
effective weapon available. Today we have machine guns and
other sophisticated weapons.

But there is no weapon more powerful than the one God has
provided for His children: the Word of God.

To help you grasp this better it may help to remember that this
whole universe came into existence by God releasing words. To
realize how much power is in God's Words, you have to
understand how much power God has.

All the power of God is behind His Word. Once He has spoken
something, God never changes His mind but causes His Word to be
fulfilled.

So don't lightly esteem the Word of God and think it is not a
powerful weapon. You just need to learn how to use it -- the
same as with any weapon.

There are spiritual forces arrayed against us. But God has not
left us without all we need to live in safety and victory. But
unless we "take" God's provision -- His Word -- and speak it
boldly against our enemy, we will be in trouble.

SAY THIS: I will use the spiritual weapon God has provided for
me, which is speaking His Word.

Monday, December 30, 2013

I Will Be A Father To You

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

You may not have been blessed with good earthly parents. But
you are blessed with a wonderful, perfect Heavenly Father!

Earthly fathers may fail us, but Scripture reveals that our
Father God is much better than any earthly parent. God is
perfect, and He never fails!

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

ISAIAH 49:15 NKJ
15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have
compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet
I will not forget you.

You will face problems in life, but no matter what you face,
your Father God will be there to take care of you.

What did God mean when He promised to be a Father to you?

A father is someone stronger, more capable, and more
knowledgable than you are, and thus able to provide for you
when you are not able to do so for yourself.

A good father assumes responsibility for his children, to
provide for them, care for them, and train them so they can be
successful.

A school may decide to "expel" a child who is not responding as
they wish. But a good father will continue to care for their
child, no matter what.

A child does not have to be perfect to be loved and provided
for by a good parent. Nor do you have to be perfect for God to
love you. God loves you simply because you are His child, not
because you are perfect.

A good father will correct you, but His aim is to provide
encouragement, not discouragement. And a good father never
expects more from a child than the child is capable of doing.

Also a good father never does anything that would harm his
child. Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father God,
and anything harmful is from our enemy the devil.

If you are a Christian believer then Almighty God promises to
be a Father to you! What a comforting thought! This should
cause you to face life with confidence.

SAY THIS: God promised to assume responsibility for being a
Father to me!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Do Business For God

LUKE 19:13,15 ESV
13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and
said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.'
15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered
these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to
him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.

Your working life is supposed to be for more than just meeting
your needs. Your work is an avenue God can use to bless people
in many ways. You should use all that you have been given: your
influence, your contacts, your profits, to bless people and
turn them toward God.

Many people won't listen to a pastor or TV preacher, but they
will listen to someone they know and contact in daily life.

You don't have to be a pastor or a priest to walk with God and
be used by Him. Think of Abraham, David, Moses, and Daniel. Not
one of them was a preacher or a priest. Instead, they were all
involved in agriculture or government, what we consider as
secular jobs. Yet they are among the most famous and admired of
Bible characters.

Also we should keep in mind that Jesus of Nazareth spent most
of His years on earth as a carpenter -- a businessman -- not a
preacher.

COLOSSIANS 3:23 NLT
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were
working for the Lord rather than for people.

You can see God move just as much in the work place as at a
church meeting. God is interested in blessing people right
where they are.

Where you work and spend your time is your "world." God does
not expect or ask most people to win some other country for
Him. God expects you to be a witness right where you are. Be a
witness of God's blessing and goodness and love. You don't have
to force your beliefs on people, but let your associates and
customers and suppliers and co-workers see God's blessing in
your life, and as you have opportunity let them know it is
because of God's grace and goodness -- which is also available
for them.

SAY THIS: I will bloom where I am planted and faithfully use
what God has given me for His glory and the growth of His
kingdom.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Should Christians Use Their Imagination?

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NKJ
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen
are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Many Christians are afraid of using their imagination, equating
it with evil. But God surely had a reason to make mankind with
an imagination. Once, as I was thinking about this, the
question came to me, "Why did God create man with an
imagination?" I do believe He is the Creator, don't you? And
God did make man with an imagination.

When I asked God if there was any scriptural support for using
our imagination, it occurred to me to look in Hebrews 11. As I
began reading the chapter I was shocked at what I found, even
though I had read it many times before!

Right in verse 1, faith is defined as ". . .evidence of things
not seen." I thought, "If it is something you can't see, then
it has to deal with the realm of the imagination." People would
say we were believing something that is just imaginary if it
couldn't be seen. In fact the dictionary says imagine means: to
form a mental image of (something not present). What could more
closely describe the Bible definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1!

By this time I was excited, but the chapter was just beginning.
Time and again, I saw that people in this chapter had used
their imagination; that they had "seen" what was not visible to
others. I began to realize that faith is linked with
imagination like wet is linked with water. The two are
inseparable.

Then I began to understand why the devil had stirred up such a
fuss over this subject. No doubt one main reason the devil
inspired eastern religions to utilize the imagination was to
muddy the waters and make Christians afraid it might be wrong.

As I read of Abraham I thought of Genesis 15:5 where God told
him to "count the stars. . . So shall your descendants be." If
God wasn't telling Abraham to use his imagination, I don't know
what He was telling Him to do!

So be Biblical without fear. Take what God has said in His
Word, and imagine it that way in your life!

2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 KJV
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We must cast down imaginations that do not agree with God's
Word, and keep and nurture the ones that do.

SAY THIS: Imagination is part of faith, so I will imagine in
agreement with God's Word.

Friday, December 27, 2013

When You Stand Praying Forgive

MARK 11:25 NKJ
25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything
against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may
also forgive you your trespasses.

Forgiveness is a choice -- not a feeling. Your feelings may not
change while you are praying, but you can choose to forgive at
any time. It does not take long to make a choice.

How long does it take to forgive? How long can you stand and
pray?

Jesus never said anything about the person deserving
forgiveness. Nor did He say to forgive only after they asked
for forgiveness.

Anytime you talk to God, Jesus said to forgive if you had
anything against anyone. That would include people who hurt you
without even realizing they hurt you. Even people who were
still trying to hurt you. "Anyone" in this verse includes
everyone, no matter what their attitude may be.

Why should you forgive them? Not because they deserve it. But
because of the harm it will cause you if you don't forgive.
Unforgiveness acts like a poison inside you. The reason you are
to forgive others is because God has forgiven you, and He asks
you to forgive them.

Jesus indicates there is something about us refusing to forgive
others that hinders our relationship with God and the free flow
of blessings God desires for us to receive.

I understand that forgiving someone who horribly wronged you is
not easy, especially if they are not even sorry for what they
did. But Jesus makes it clear that you have no real option. You
MUST forgive if you want God's forgiveness. I need not tell you
how vital that is.

If Jesus appeared to you right now and asked you face-to-face
to forgive someone who hurt you -- would you do it for Him? We
should respect Jesus' Word just as much as we would respond to
Jesus appearing to us face-to-face.

SAY THIS: I forgive and release everyone who has ever hurt me.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Selfishness Is The Opposite Of Divine Love

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

Selfishness, not hate, is the opposite of divine love.

All the problems in the world today are the result of
selfishness. The problems in our governments and with our
economies are all the result of selfishness. The problems in
our families are the result of selfishness.

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

The answer is for each of us to desire the best for others,
even to the point of sacrificing our own benefit to see others
blessed. This describes divine love.

That's how Jesus lived. His aim was to benefit others, not to
please Himself. Jesus suffered so we would not have to suffer.

This love is a commandment for all Christian believers. But
this commandment is given for our good, not to discourage us or
condemn us. With the command we are also given the nature and
ability to perform the command.

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.

All who receive Jesus Christ can walk in the same divine love
Jesus did, because they have God's life in them. This is why
all people MUST be born again, so they can be set free from
sin's bondage by being cured of selfishness.

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.

(Christians can choose to act selfishly, but when they do, they
are acting against their own nature.)

SAY THIS: I choose to obey God and walk in divine love, which
is the opposite of selfishness.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Peace On Earth

LUKE 2:13-14 NKJ
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill
toward men!"

Peace? On earth? Who are you kidding? Earth is filled with
strife and violence.

What were the angels talking about? What could their message
mean, on that night so long ago, when they appeared to the
shepherds outside of Bethlehem?

Even Jesus made it clear that His first coming to earth was not
for the purpose of bringing peace on earth.

LUKE 12:51 NKJ
51 "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell
you, not at all, but rather division.

Then what were the angels rejoicing about? What was the big
deal that night in Bethlehem?

They were speaking of peace between God and man, not peace
among mankind.

ROMANS 5:1 NKJ
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

And that is why we can rejoice and celebrate Christmas: Jesus
did everything necessary to erase all alienation between God
and mankind.

Jesus broke down all the barriers between God and man. Now,
through Jesus, we can know God intimately, and enjoy His
fellowship.

Although the work was not finished just by Jesus being born,
yet the angels saw the love that prompted God to take on a
human form, and they looked forward in faith to the completion
of mankind's redemption.

The angels were proclaiming peace and good will from God to
mankind. That is my message, too. God is not against you. God
loves you. God is not your problem. So, turn to God, instead of
turning away from Him.

That is the true message of Christmas. Everyone can be right
with God, because of God's gift -- Jesus Christ.

SAY THIS: Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Good Tidings Of Great Joy

LUKE 2:10-11 NKJ
10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all
people.
11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

What kind of statement was this? "Great joy...to all people."?

Billions of people -- maybe two out of three on earth -- have
never even heard the "Gospel of Jesus Christ," or good news, as
the term gospel means.

Is this really for all people?

Yes, and we are supposed to tell them. God is a Savior -- one
who delivers and makes whole.

The true message of God is really good news. The kind of news
that people will get excited about when they truly understand
it.

If you say, "I don't see what there is to get so excited
about," then you don't yet understand the Gospel.

We are dealing with "good tidings of GREAT JOY -- which will be
to all people."

"So what's so great about it?"

Being made right with God as a free gift. Being set free from
the bondage of sin. Being delivered from the curse, including
sickness, poverty, and spiritual death. Being given new life
and brought into God's own family. Knowing that God is your
father and your friend...and so much more!

And all of this comes to us as a free gift simply by receiving
Jesus Christ!

SAY THIS: I have received Good News that will make people have
great joy!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Jesus Is Our Advocate

1 JOHN 2:1 NKJ
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you
may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

The Greek word translated as Advocate in this verse is
parakletos. It means someone called to one's aid; someone who
pleads another's cause before a judge; a counsel for defense, a
legal assistant, an advocate, and a helper.

Many people have never fully grasped that Jesus Christ is on
our side. Just like a defense lawyer, He pleads our case.

We should not sin, because sin is harmful -- to us and to
others. But even if we do sin, Jesus Christ is still on our
side. He is not accusing us, but defending us on the basis of
His sacrifice at Calvary.

The devil is the one who accuses us, who brings up all our sins
and shortcomings, and tells us we don't deserve anything good.

REVELATION 12:10 NKJ
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation,
and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His
Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused
them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Jesus is not the one who is trying to find us guilty. He
remains our Savior!

ROMANS 8:33-34 NLT
33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one
-- for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
34 Who then will condemn us? No one -- for Christ Jesus died
for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the
place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us.

Jesus not only paid the penalty for all our sins by shedding
His own blood, but now He is our advocate pleading our case so
that we might enjoy all the blessings He purchased for us --
regardless of our failures.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 NKJ
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Jesus took our place, suffering what we deserve, so that we
might receive, as a free gift, what Jesus deserves. This is
Good News!

SAY THIS: Jesus Christ is my defense attorney!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Love Evidence

JOHN 13:34-35 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.
35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you
have love for one another."

True followers of Jesus are different. They are marked by
divine love. They do something which is impossible for "mere
men," they walk in divine love.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:3 NKJ
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife,
and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like
mere men?

This verse shows that believers can be carnal, or ruled by
their senses and natural mind, but all believers are capable of
showing divine love.

The truth is that we need to be born again so we can have God's
love in us. Then we will be able to love others as Jesus loves
us. The people of the world are not capable of this.

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.

Even though we have the love of God in our hearts, we still
have to choose to allow it to control our actions and reactions
toward people. In this, as in every area, we must look to the
Lord for His help.

The love we are to show others is the kind of love God has
toward us. It is a giving love, and a forgiving love.

This love desires the best for others, but goes beyond just
desiring it, for it is willing to do what is necessary to make
good happen for others.

This divine love is evident when you would rather allow
yourself to be hurt than to allow someone else to be hurt.

When people see this love manifest through our lives, it should
cause them to say, "That's not normal!"

That's what Jesus was talking about in John 13:35, that those
who are His disciples would stand out from the crowd because of
the divine love being demonstrated through their lives.

SAY THIS: God put His love in me to be expressed!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Salvation Is A Completely Free Gift

EPHESIANS 2:8-9 NLT
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't
take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done,
so none of us can boast about it.

If salvation is based on our performance -- on what we do --
then it is not by grace. Our salvation is based on what Jesus
Christ did. Our part is simply to receive the gift!

ROMANS 4:1-4 NLT
1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish
nation. What did he discover about being made right with God?
2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would
have had something to boast about. But that was not God's way.
3 For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God
counted him as righteous because of his faith."
4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something
they have earned.

Salvation cannot be a free gift and also be something we must
earn. Either we earn it, or it is a gift. It cannot be a
mixture of the two.

If you claim to give me a gift, but you ask me for any payment
-- no matter how small -- then it is not a gift but something I
am buying for a reduced price. Buying something on sale does
not make it a gift. If there is any payment involved, by
definition, it is not a gift.

ROMANS 11:6 NASB
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works,
otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Today, just as in Bible times, there are those who teach that
being right with God can only be achieved by keeping their list
of rules. But this is not the true teaching of the New
Covenant.

ACTS 15:5,10-11 NLT
5 But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of
the Pharisees stood up and insisted, "The Gentile converts must
be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses."
10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile
believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were
able to bear?
11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the
undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus."

ROMANS 4:14,16 NLT
14 If God's promise is only for those who obey the law, then
faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free
gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we
live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like
Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.

TITUS 3:5 NLT
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done,
but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a
new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

Those who present a plan of salvation based on your performance
are not rightly dividing the Word. Yes, many Scriptures give
instruction on what we are to do. But they are instructions for
how to live, not how to be saved and enter the family of God.

Will there be rewards and consequences for our actions? Yes!
Scripture makes that clear. But our entrance into God's family
and our home in Heaven is not based on our performance, but on
our faith in what Jesus performed.

SAY THIS: I don't have to work to earn the free gift of God's
salvation.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Salvation Is A Free Gift

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

Salvation is a word we use for being set free from the effects
and the penalty of sin. It includes being delivered from the
dominion of the devil. It was purchased for us by Jesus Christ
through giving His own life at Calvary, as our substitute.

Salvation is not something you earn, but a free gift from God
totally by His grace.

Humans have invented many religions with all kinds of rules,
trying to make themselves acceptable to God. But being right
with God is not something we can achieve by our own efforts.
God loved us so much that He accomplished it for us, and
provides it as a free gift available to all who receive Jesus.

The Bible tells us we will be rewarded for the good we do. But
it is not by doing good deeds, performing certain rituals, or
by keeping a list of rules, that we are saved from sin and its
effects. Salvation and having a home in Heaven are not rewards
-- they are gifts.

ROMANS 3:21-24 NLT
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him
without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in
the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.
22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus
Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter
who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious
standard.
24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are
righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us
from the penalty for our sins.

You cannot earn salvation and being right with God. You can
only receive it as a gift of love from God. It comes in the
form of a Divine Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Outside of union with Jesus Christ, there is no salvation.

ACTS 4:12 NLT
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other
name under heaven by which we must be saved."

SAY THIS: I receive Jesus Christ as my free gift, making me
right with God. Thank You Lord!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

We Are Brothers And Sisters

JOHN 17:23 NLT
23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such
perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and
that you love them as much as you love me.

Jesus indicates there is something about the unity of believers
that will cause the world to believe. This does not mean we
will ever agree on every doctrine, or that we must all join the
same church denomination.

No! God is a God of diversity who makes every snowflake and
every person unique. God does not expect us all to think and be
alike. But God does expect us to obey His law of love.

We should walk in love and respect one another. Really we
should do that toward all people -- how much more those in
God's own family, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We will never agree on every detail of everything simply
because we are all learning and growing. None of us knows
everything yet. We are like the Apostle Paul and only know in
part.

JOHN 17:21 NKJ
21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I
in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may
believe that You sent Me.

Our unity must be based on being in Christ and our submission
to Him as our Lord, not in all of us thinking and acting the
same. Humans, being unique, will always approach things in
their own individual way. Our unity can never be on the basis
of conformity. Brothers and sisters are not all alike. We have
different giftings, different callings, and different
perspectives.

Maybe you are certain that your doctrine is right and everyone
else is missing it. You may be right! Regardless, your brothers
and sisters have not been kicked out of God's family just
because they have not learned all that you know. So quit trying
to act like the parent and straighten out your siblings. God
will do that.

What we must agree on is that anyone who acknowledges Jesus
Christ as their Lord is our brother or sister in Christ. No
matter how goofy they may act, or how ignorant they may seem,
they belong in our family and we have a responsibility to
protect them and help them. Our Father God did not give us the
responsibility of correcting them or judging them -- He can
handle that task very well by Himself.

A good older brother who has a younger sibling who is mentally
or physically challenged will not join in with hecklers to
torment, but protects his sibling from such attacks. Surely,
when we realize that all who acknowledge Jesus are children of
God, we can do the same for them.

We must quit criticizing and condemning others who belong to
the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not matter what they believe or
don't believe on any other doctrine. If they acknowledge Jesus
Christ is Lord, they are in our family -- we are on the same
team. We should fight the devil and not our own family.

I am not advocating compromise -- but maturity. We should not
act like spoiled two-year-old brats. We are children of the
King!

REVELATION 12:10 NLT
10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It
has come at last -- salvation and power and the Kingdom of our
God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our
brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth -- the one
who accuses them before our God day and night.

Sadly, many Christians have helped the devil accuse our
brothers and sisters in Christ. But we must not do the devil's
dirty work!

It is to be expected that other Christians will fail and do
wrong -- not one of us is fully mature and perfect in Christ
yet. When one of our family falls down, we should help pick
them up instead of kicking them while they are down.

SAY THIS: I will love my brothers and sisters and let my Father
correct them if they need it.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Love Means Giving

John 3:16 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave . . .

You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.

When you love you will give of your time, you will give of
yourself, and you will give of your resources. Those who truly
love, hold nothing back.

The measure of your giving reveals the measure of your love.

Love is something we can't see, but we can see the evidence of
love in the action it produces, which is giving.

If you love someone you will also give them forgiveness. Love
causes you to be merciful, understanding, and forgiving.

Where you give your time and resources also reveals what you
love. If we think we love someone, yet never give to them of
our time or resources, then we are just deceiving ourselves.

There are many people in each of our lives who need and deserve
our love. Jesus Christ is the most deserving of all!

SAY THIS: My giving reveals my love.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Throw Your Cares On The Lord

1 PETER 5:6-7 NET
6 And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves
under his mighty hand
7 by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.

Worry is associated with pride, as these verses reveal, for
being humble is the opposite of pride. And pride will, sooner
or later, cause you to fail, instead of lifting you up.

A person who worries is proud because their action shows they
think they are better and more compassionate than God. When you
analyze it, the thinking behind worry is really "God is not
doing a good enough job taking care of me, so I better take
over and figure something out on my own."

Pride makes us think we can handle things on our own -- apart
from God. Jesus said that without Him we can do nothing -- at
least nothing that amounts to anything. (We certainly can mess
up all by ourselves.)

One way to humble ourselves is to just put our lives in God's
hands and trust Him. It's like getting in a car someone else is
driving. You don't want to get in the car of a stranger who may
be untrustworthy. But God loves you more than you love yourself
and desires the best for you, so you can trust Him.

God knows how to drive and what is needed to get you where you
need to go. Since He loves you enough to die for you, surely
you can trust Him with smaller issues.

The word "casting" in 1 Peter 5:7 means "to throw."

Whatever is a burden to you, is troubling you, weighing you
down, causing you concern, or tempting you to worry is included
in what you are to throw over on the Lord. God wants us to
throw all those things over on Him, trusting Him to work it all
out for the best.

Then once you really throw them over to Him, you'll have peace
in your heart even though the problems still exist, because you
know the Lord is working.

Throwing something is not the same as pushing it aside a little
bit. Throwing something pictures getting rid of it completely.
When you throw something you don't have it anymore.

Instead of throwing the concern of the things they face over to
God, many just try to push them away a little at a time. They
ask God to help them, but they keep trying to solve things on
their own.

Yes, we have a part to play, and we can't just lock ourselves
in a room and expect God to go out and live our lives for us.
But the part we have to play is obedience. When God directs us
to do something we are to do it. But worrying ahead of time
about what will happen does no good.

You may find it helpful to perform a symbolic physical act like
writing all your "cares" on a paper that you then throw into
the trash. Symbolizing your faith by an act like this may make
it more real to you.

Read the following translations to help you meditate on this
verse and let the meaning deeply affect your thinking.

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

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.

1 PETER 5:7 NJB
7 unload all your burden on to him, since he is concerned about
you.

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

1 PETER 5:7 GNB
7 Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.

Although things may not be clear to you now, and things may not
seem to be working out, God is trustworthy. So don't depend on
your own understanding, but trust in God. He knows what He is
doing, and He loves you. You will understand better later on.

Worrying will never help. Instead of worrying and being
anxious, throw all your cares on the Lord.

SAY THIS: I need God's help, so I throw all my concerns over on
Him, trusting Him to work it all out for the best.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Keep The Faith!

HEBREWS 4:14 NLT
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered
heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we
believe.

Here on Earth, it is considered wise to save up for the future,
to have a plan for how you will be supported in your old age.
But how much more important should it be considered, to prepare
for eternity.

Some day, you will be living in Heaven. Then you will be glad
you trusted Jesus and honored Him here on Earth.

1 PETER 1:6-7 NLT
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though
you have to endure many trials for a little while.
7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is
being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- though your
faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith
remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much
praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is
revealed to the whole world.

Jesus never promised that following Him would exempt us from
facing problems in this life. But He did promise to always be
with us, and to help us overcome whatever we face.

The devil's whole strategy is to steal your faith in God.
Whenever we receive revelation of God's Word, it is to be
expected that the devil will try to steal that word from our
heart.

MATTHEW 13:19 NKJ
19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not
understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what
was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the
wayside.

MARK 4:15 NKJ
15 "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is
sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away
the word that was sown in their hearts.

How could satan take the Word away from someone? Only by
getting them to doubt it. By trying to arrange circumstances
and feelings to make it seem like God's Word is not true. Why
else would anyone turn loose of God's Word unless the Word does
not seem to be working in their life?

God requires you to trust Him -- and He deserves your trust.

HEBREWS 11:6 NLT
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who
wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he
rewards those who sincerely seek him.

So hang on tight to your faith in God and His Word!

If things don't seem to be working, ask God to teach you and
give you understanding of how to act on His Word accurately.
But never doubt God's faithfulness to keep His Word. Not only
will this benefit you in this life, but through all eternity.

SAY THIS: I will keep my faith in God because He is worthy of
my trust.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Fear Not!

LUKE 8:50 KJV
50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not:
believe only, and she shall be made whole.

The KJV Bible tells us 63 times to "fear not," and 31 times to
"be not afraid" or "not be afraid." Obviously, God is trying to
tell us something very important!

Fear is the opposite of Bible hope. Bible hope is a positive
expectation based on and supported by a belief in God's Word.
Fear is a negative expectation based on and supported by a
belief in something bad. Both involve the imagination, the
seeing part of our thinking, the ability to visualize something
before it happens.

Fear results from the absence of faith in God. Fear is fed by
faith in the devil. Fear is the opposite of trusting in God.

Faith in God produces Bible hope -- expecting good to happen.
Faith in bad things produces fear -- expecting bad to happen.
Faith is the support, the foundation, the underlying thing
under both hope and fear. You cannot have hope (which is a
positive vision) without faith (which is a choice to believe)
in something. You cannot have fear (which is a negative vision)
without faith (which is a choice to believe) in something bad.

It is your belief that supports, undergirds, and provides the
basis for your hope or fear. The belief was a choice you made.
Then it became part of your belief system. That provides the
basis for your hopes or your fears.

Fear is the cause of all worry, for worry is meditation on
fear.

Some may think some fear is healthy, but no true fear is good.
We don't have to fear something to have a healthy respect for
it, and thus to act wisely. Fear makes people do irrational
things. Reverence for God, sometimes called the "fear of God"
is healthy, but has nothing to do with actually being afraid of
God.

2 KINGS 6:15-17 NKJ
15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went
out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and
chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What
shall we do?"
16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are
more than those who are with them."
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes
that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young
man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses
and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

When we look at the world situation, it is easy to cry out like
the servant of Elisha. But when we are tempted to be afraid, it
is only because we are not seeing the reality of the whole
picture. God is for us, so no matter what comes against us, it
can never prevail over us.

We should ask God to open our eyes to the truth. Then keep our
focus on God's Word, not on the temptations, lies, and roars of
the devil.

Fear is fed by what we look at and listen to. We can resist
fear by choosing to always focus on God and His promises.

DEUTERONOMY 31:6 NKJ
6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of
them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.
He will not leave you nor forsake you."

When you remember that the Almighty God is ALWAYS with you (and
in you!) why should you be afraid?

LUKE 12:7 NKJ
7 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not
fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

One way to understand how valuable you are to God is to
consider the great price He paid to set you free -- the life of
Jesus Christ Himself!

Not even a good earthly parent would allow his child who
trusted in him to be harmed. God loves you more than any
earthly parent ever loved their child -- and God has the power
to fully protect you. So you can trust in Him.

But when we act in fear, we run from the protection of our
wonderful Father God and open the door to our enemy.

We should be free from fear because God is for us and watches
out for us. The worst that can happen to us (from a worldly
perspective) is to die, but even then we will go to be with
Jesus. With God on your side, there is really nothing to fear.
Knowing God loves you should drive out all fear!

1 JOHN 4:18 NET
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears
punishment has not been perfected in love.

Yes, there will be struggles. There will be trials. But these
are just opportunities to overcome and gain eternal rewards. In
all we face in life, God has promised to be with us, and to
help us. So what is there to fear?

JOSHUA 1:9 NET
9 I repeat, be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't
panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do."

SAY THIS: I will not fear! Jesus is Lord!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Ask!

MATTHEW 7:7-8 NIV
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to
him who knocks, the door will be opened.

In Matthew 15:22-28 a woman came to Jesus making a request of
Him. Jesus' answer was basically that she was asking for
something that did not belong to her, because she did not have
a covenant with God.

Yet she asked -- and received! She didn't just beg. She
worshiped Jesus and appealed for mercy. She didn't claim she
deserved the answer -- but she did ask.

This is one of the secrets of life. Ask! It works with God and
it works in our relationships with people, too.

Ask questions. And ask for help.

Pride can prevent us from asking. Pride tells. Humility asks.

In marriage many people are unhappy. Yet they don't clearly
communicate to their spouse what it is they would like. Don't
nag! But respectfully and lovingly ask for what you desire.

Make your requests known. People can't read your mind. (God
knows our thoughts, but still tells us to ask Him for what we
need or desire.)

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 NKJ
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God;

Many people stumble through life disappointed that God has not
given them more. One reason may be because God is waiting for
them to have enough faith to ask Him for His help.

I don't mean we should act like a beggar. But be bold in asking
for what you need or desire.

We may hold back from asking because we think we don't deserve
good things. Probably true! But Jesus deserves good and He died
so we could receive what He deserves. Jesus took what we
deserved so we could have better.

MATTHEW 21:22 NIV
22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in
prayer."

JOHN 16:24 NIV
24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask
and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

JAMES 4:2 NLT
2 You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get
it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it,
so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you
don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.

Jesus said to ask. Actually, it is a command. Ask!

SAY THIS: I will obey God's Word and ask.

Friday, December 13, 2013

God Is A Genius

ROMANS 11:33 KJV
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge
of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past
finding out!

ROMANS 11:33 NLT
33 Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his riches
and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to
understand his decisions and his methods!

AMOS 4:13 LB
13 For you are dealing with the One who formed the mountains,
made the winds, and knows your every thought; he turns the
morning to darkness and crushes down the mountains underneath
his feet: Jehovah, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, is his name."

JEREMIAH 10:12 LB
12 But our God formed the earth by his power and wisdom, and by
his intelligence he hung the stars in space and stretched out
the heavens.

ISAIAH 28:29 NIV
29 All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, wonderful in
counsel and magnificent in wisdom.

PSALM 147:5 NIV
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has
no limit.

PSALM 104:24 LB
24 O Lord, what a variety you have made! And in wisdom you have
made them all! The earth is full of your riches.

Just because you can't figure out any way out of a situation,
does not mean God cannot.

God has all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.

He has the ability to create everything you see, and everything
you can't even see, just by speaking a word.

If we were able to measure God's intelligence, we would find
that it is perfect and complete. There is nothing God does not
know.

SAY THIS: God is smarter than anyone knows. God is a genius.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Abraham's Blessings Are Yours

GALATIANS 3:13-14 KJV
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one
that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles
through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the
Spirit through faith.

Galatians tells us Christ redeemed us, so that the blessing of
Abraham might come upon us.

What were the blessings Abraham enjoyed?

GENESIS 24:1 NIV
1 Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD
had blessed him in every way.

GENESIS 13:2 KJV
2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Abraham's blessing also extended to his descendants as they
walked with God.

GENESIS 25:11 KJV
11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God
blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

GENESIS 26:12-13 NIV
12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a
hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.
13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until
he became very wealthy.

According to Romans, Abraham was promised the world for his
descendants, and we who have faith in Christ Jesus are those
descendants.

ROMANS 4:13 KJV
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world,
was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but
through the righteousness of faith.

It should not be hard to believe that Jesus Christ is heir of
this entire world. And remember that Romans 8:17 says we are
joint heirs with Christ.

GALATIANS 3:9 KJV
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful
Abraham.

Abraham's blessings do not come on everyone -- only people of
faith. Abraham was blessed because of his faith in God's Word.
We must receive these blessings by faith, also. So, if we
refuse to believe they are for us, we will not have them.

SAY THIS: In Christ Jesus, all the blessings Abraham enjoyed
are mine.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Focus On God

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

Many people are convinced they are too bad for God to help, or
they have problems that are too big for God to handle. They
seem to have more faith in their inability than they do in
God's ability. They seem to have more faith in the problem than
they do in God. This happens when we focus on the problem,
instead of looking to God who is the solution. As long as we
focus on the problem and let it consume our attention, we will
have faith in it to defeat us.

1 JOHN 4:4 NIV
4 . . . the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in
the world.

We have a choice in what we focus our attention on.

The Old Testament contains an account illustrating how we must
look to Jesus and His finished work on the cross, instead of
looking at our problems.

NUMBERS 21:4-9 NLT
4 Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the
road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the
people grew impatient with the long journey,
5 and they began to speak against God and Moses. "Why have you
brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?" they
complained. "There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink.
And we hate this horrible manna!"
6 So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many
were bitten and died.
7 Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned
by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the
LORD will take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the
people.
8 Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake
and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they
simply look at it!"
9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a
pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the
bronze snake and be healed!

When deadly snakes are everywhere, biting people on every side,
it would be extremely difficult to look up and focus your
attention on a pole instead of looking down at the ground where
the snakes were. But that is exactly what God instructed the
people of Israel to do, and all who did were healed and lived.

Some might wonder why a snake was put on the pole, which was a
type of Jesus being hung on the cross. It was because Jesus
took our sins on Himself when He hung on the cross. The Bible
says that He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us. And on
the cross, that old serpent the devil, was defeated and
de-fanged!

So, no matter how urgent the problem biting at your heels may
seem, God's answer for you is to look up and focus on God's
provision. Have faith in God!

God is bigger than any problem you face and can deliver you
from any situation, no matter how bad it is.

JOHN 10:29 NIV
29 My Father . . . is greater than all . . .

Instead of thinking of how bad you are, focus on how good God
is. His goodness is more than enough to overcome your badness.
Instead of looking at what you lack, look at all God has. And
remember He is your Father and loves you.

The devil tries to get us to focus on ourselves and our
shortcomings, instead of focusing on Jesus and His ability to
carry us through to victory.

Whenever the focus is pointing to us, instead of to God, you
can be assured the devil has some involvement in those
thoughts.

As long as you are focusing on yourself, you are not focusing
on God. You have to make the choice.

SAY THIS: I will focus my attention on God instead of on myself
and my problems.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Forgive!

MARK 11:25-26 NKJ
25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything
against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may
also forgive you your trespasses.
26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in
heaven forgive your trespasses."

You must forgive others. No matter what they have done. It is
the command of God. But it was given for our benefit.

To not forgive hurts you. Refusing to forgive is like
swallowing poison daily. It will destroy you.

Jesus said we should forgive when we stand praying. So we don't
have to wait until people apologize. Nor does forgiveness
require a long time.

Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a decision to quit holding
something against someone. When we forgive people we must
release them and forget it.

You may think it is impossible to forgive someone who has
deeply wronged you. With God it is possible. He never asks us
to do something we cannot do.

LUKE 6:35-38 NKJ
35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for
nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will
be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and
evil.
36 "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is
merciful.
37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and
you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
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."

Whatever we measure out is what will be measured back to us. If
we want others -- including God -- to show mercy to us and
forgive us -- we must forgive and be merciful to others.

It is not enough to forgive only those people who have wronged
us a little. We must forgive everyone!

MATTHEW 18:21-22 NKJ
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times,
but up to seventy times seven.

Surely Jesus was not setting a maximum limit on the number of
times we should forgive. He gave an absurdly high number so we
would realize He meant for us to forgive without limit -- just
as He forgives us.

LUKE 23:33-34 NKJ
33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there
they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand
and the other on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Jesus set a perfect example of forgiveness for us when He
forgave those who mocked Him and crucified Him. But this kind
of forgiveness is certainly beyond normal human ability or
experience. It takes the power of God to do it. When we are
born again we have access to that power through the love of God
inside us.

EPHESIANS 4:32 NKJ
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

We are commanded to forgive others in the same way God has
forgiven us! Having God's help is necessary to do that.

COLOSSIANS 3:13 NKJ
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if
anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave
you, so you also must do.

It is not optional. If we desire God's blessing and fellowship
-- we must forgive others as He forgave us.

SAY THIS: With God's help, I will forgive.

Monday, December 09, 2013

A Faith Fight

1 TIMOTHY 6:12 NRS
12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal
life, to which you were called and for which you made the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Too many people have the idea that if something is God's will
for them to have that it will just automatically happen without
any effort or involvement on their part.

Not so!

We have to cooperate with God. We must believe what He says. We
must resist doubt and fear. To walk in the fullness of blessing
God desires for us, we must fight the good fight of faith.

Israel was our example.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:11 NRS
11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and
they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the
ages have come.

They had to fight the giants in the land to possess what God
said was already theirs. The promised land belonged to them
already because God had given it to them. But it was still
inhabited by others (including giants), who had to be driven
out before they could enjoy what was theirs.

Since the Bible talks about the "good fight of faith," you know
that standing in faith may often involve a struggle.

There is a reason the Bible tells us to hold fast our
confession of faith (Hebrews 4:14, 10:23). God knew we would be
tempted to doubt because of the circumstances we would see in
our lives.

God knew that faith would be a struggle.

So we should not be surprised at the fiery trials that happen
to us. The devil is trying to steal our faith by trying to get
us to doubt God's faithfulness to His Word.

1 PETER 4:12 NRS
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is
taking place among you to test you, as though something strange
were happening to you.

We may have to fight with our own logic. It may tell us it is
impossible for things to work out, that God's Word will not
work for us, that we should not expect good things to happen to
us.

But victory in and through Jesus is the plan of God. It is
possible. We must continue in faith. That is the fight we must
engage in.

SAY THIS: I will maintain my faith in God's Word no matter what
life throws at me. I will do whatever it takes to maintain my
faith in God.

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Esteem Others Better

PHILIPPIANS 2:3 NKJ
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but
in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself.

When you start thinking you are better than other people, you
are on dangerous ground. It leads to actions opposite to divine
love.

Be on guard! The Bible warns us, and we should take heed.

Of course it's not just what we think of others that's
important, but how we treat others. However, thoughts always
precede and determine actions. So, we must guard our thoughts.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3 NET
3 . . . treat one another as more important than yourself.

Yes, every one of us is better in some way(s) than some other
person or persons. But not one of us is superior in every way
to everyone else.

Of even more importance is that we should not value a human
being by their looks, abilities or accomplishments, but by
their value to God. God is the true judge of human worth and He
thinks that person you are tempted to look down upon is
valuable enough to die for.

When you judge someone as not valuable, or judge yourself as
more valuable than they are, you are setting yourself up as a
judge with higher authority than God.

JAMES 4:6 NLT
6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil
desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but
favors the humble."

God resists the proud!

Only a fool would want God to oppose them or resist them.
Therefore, only a fool, or an ignorant person, would want to be
proud -- which is thinking you are better than others.

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

What do you have that was not given to you? Did you create
yourself? So, what do you really have to boast about?

1 CORINTHIANS 4:7 NKJ
7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have
that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why
do you boast as if you had not received it?

Instead of being proud, be grateful for all God has blessed you
with. And realize God has blessed you so you can also be a
blessing to others -- for they are important to God, too.

1 PETER 2:17 NLT
17 Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and
sisters.

SAY THIS: I will not fall into the trap of thinking I am better
than others.

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Glorify God In Death

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-2 KJV
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose
under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a
time to pluck up that which is planted;

Death is a part of life we cannot escape.

The Bible does not say a certain time has been determined for
you to die. It says it has been appointed for us to die once.
After death there will be judgment (not reincarnation.)

HEBREWS 9:27 KJV
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this
the judgment:

There is a time to die. When you have lived a full life, then
it is time to face death.

It is also a good time to die when you can glorify God by your
death. Too many people think life is to be grasped at any cost.
Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's, and we
should seek to glorify Him and please Him.

JOHN 21:19 KJV
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify
God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

ROMANS 14:7-8 NLT
7 For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves.
8 If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to
honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the
Lord.

I am planning ahead to glorify God in my death. Some people are
only concerned with their comfort. But I desire to leave a good
testimony pointing to the reality of my faith in Jesus Christ.

When I have lived a full life and am satisfied I have finished
my course, my plan is to make sure all my affairs are in order,
then tell the Lord I am ready to come home. I don't plan to
stay around doing nothing but causing trouble for my relatives
just to be able to stay here on earth a few more days.

Too many so-called "believers" don't really seem to believe in
God and Heaven. They act like life on earth is all there is and
every effort and expense should be exerted to stay here every
second possible.

PHILIPPIANS 1:21,23 NLT
21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even
better.
23 I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with
Christ, which would be far better for me.

Should believers have to be dragged out of this life in a
drugged stupor kicking and screaming to stay here in this sin-
infested planet one more day, instead of joyfully giving up the
ghost and eagerly going to meet our wonderful Lord Jesus?

While none of us can claim to be experts on dying, Scripture
seems to indicate that an individual has a part to play --
either in hanging on for dear life, or in giving up the ghost
(spirit).

LUKE 23:46 KJV
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father,
into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he
gave up the ghost.

GENESIS 25:8 KJV
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age,
an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

What kind of testimony will you leave behind? Will your friends
and relatives see your life and death, and be inspired to
follow you -- and the One you claim to be following, Jesus
Christ?

If you don't think it matters to God how you die, consider the
hall of fame of faith in Hebrews 11. Three of those mentioned
tell how they left this earth.

The world needs to see that faith in Jesus Christ gives us a
triumphant passage through death.

So, let us die in faith, just as we have lived in faith.

SAY THIS: When I am ready, I will die by faith and leave a good
testimony.

Friday, December 06, 2013

We Know In Part

1 CORINTHIANS 13:9 NKJ
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

The apostle Paul, who was caught up into Heaven, given divine
revelation, and wrote down most of the New Testament, said he
only knew in part.

If he only knew in part -- how much more it must be true for
us.

One problem we have is too many people thinking they know more
than they really do. Just because you have read the Bible does
not make you a Bible expert. Just because you have a degree
from a Bible school does not mean you have all the answers.

Even if you know Hebrew and Greek, so you can read the Bible in
the original languages, it does not mean you understand the
Bible. It can help, but it does not guarantee understanding.
The apostle Paul certainly knew those languages, yet he only
knew in part.

Understanding the Bible does not come through study alone, but
also by divine illumination. Understanding comes from God.

We need to be smart enough to admit, along with the apostle
Paul, that we don't know it all.

It's not a sin to not know everything. We should not feel like
we must have an answer for every question.

God even said there are some things that are secret.

DEUTERONOMY 29:29 NKJ
29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those
things which are revealed belong to us and to our children
forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

God also indicates there are things in His Word we will only
see if we search diligently and work at it, like we were
digging for silver (Proverbs 2:1-7).

So, we all need to remain humble. Humility always accompanies
wisdom. There is much in the Bible that none of us yet knows
completely.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:12 NKJ
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am
known.

Only when we are face to face with God will we see the whole
picture. Until then we will only know in part. Certainly we can
learn more now, and we should. But we must always remember
that, in this life, none of us will ever know it all.

This is not written to make you doubt the Word of God, but
simply to remind you that we are ALL still learning. We don't
know everything. So we should never forget that our faith
should not rest in ourselves, but in the Living God and His
Word.

Jesus promised He would never leave us, so although we don't
know everything -- He does -- and we can trust Him to help us.
In that way we can overcome whatever we face and walk in
victory.

SAY THIS: I don't know everything yet.

Thursday, December 05, 2013

The Original Temptation

GENESIS 3:1 NKJ
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field
which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God
indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"

The original temptation, still being used by the devil to keep
people away from the blessings of God today, is to doubt that
God's Word is truth and that God desires the best for us.

The devil's false idea is that God is holding out on us,
keeping back something good that would make our life better and
more enjoyable.

But God is not withholding anything good from us. When He gave
us Jesus He gave us everything. Now it is our responsibility to
learn how to receive what He has given us and use it for the
glory of God and the good of mankind.

God's way is actually the very best for us. God's will for you
is actually what you would also choose for yourself if you had
all the information God has.

Just like a good parent, God does try to protect us from bad
things -- which can sometimes seem good. But just because
things look good and we think they will make us happy is no
guarantee they will. God knows more than we do about what will
make us safe, happy, and fulfilled.

We should trust God. At Calvary God proved He is not selfish.
Jesus suffering and dying in our place should convince us that
there is nothing God will not do so we can be blessed.

The devil is a liar and a deceiver (John 8:44). Don't fall for
his strategies to separate you from God and His blessings.

God cannot lie! He is dependable. God gave His Word to you so
you could know the truth and be set free.

Believe that God desires the best for you, and is providing the
best for you.

Don't be tempted to think you can be happier, richer, or more
blessed by going your own way. You may need to learn to follow
God's instructions more accurately, so you can walk in the
fullness God desires for you, but there is no way to be blessed
more than by following God's Word.

SAY THIS: I will not doubt God's goodness or His love.

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Prosperity Pleases God

PSALM 35:27 NKJ
27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous
cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be
magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."

Do you enjoy seeing your children -- or anyone you love --
suffer lack?

Jesus taught us that God our Heavenly Father's love for us is
much better than any earthly parent's love (Matthew 7:11).

What kind of perverted being would God be if He delighted in
seeing His people suffer? (The only kind of suffering that
pleases God is when we are willing to be inconvenienced so that
others will be helped.)

Ultimately, poverty is the result of an operation by the devil
attempting to dis-please God. But it will not continue to
succeed.

To achieve his plan, the devil has tried to confuse Christians
into thinking that being poor pleased God, and that being poor
was a sign of spirituality. This is a lie! (But being rich is
not a dependable sign of spirituality, either!)

The Bible does warn against trusting in money, serving money,
and covetousness, which is not just wanting more. It is really
wanting to take what belongs to someone else.

But the Bible does not teach that we should be poor, or that
poverty pleases God.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-18 NET
17 Command those who are rich in this world's goods not to be
haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain,
but on God who richly provides us with all things for our
enjoyment.
18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be
generous givers, sharing with others.

God has richly provided (through His creation, and through His
redemption) all things for our enjoyment.

It is a lie that God wants us to be poor. This scripture tells
the rich people in the church to be generous, but it does not
say they should give everything away and become poor.

God enjoys our enjoyment of what He provides for us. God wants
us to be happy about what He has given us.

God created things for us to enjoy. When we enjoy what God made
and show our gratitude and appreciation to Him, God enjoys
that.

SAY THIS: God is pleased when His people are happy and doing
well.

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Take It!

MARK 11:24 NASB
24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and
ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be
granted you.

The Greek word translated "received" is lambano, which means to
actively receive. In English we use the word "take" to describe
actively receiving.

For example, the following scriptures contain the Greek word,
"lambano." This may help you get a better understanding of what
receive means when it translates this word, lambano.

MARK 12:8 NKJ
8 "And they TOOK him and killed him and cast him out of the
vineyard.

JOHN 19:6 NKJ
6 ...Pilate said to them, "You TAKE Him and crucify Him, for I
find no fault in Him."

As the above passages show, sometimes lambano is translated as
take or took -- and is not at all passive, but very active.

MARK 11:24 SWANN
24 Therefore, I exhort you, All things whatever you pray for
and ask, have faith that you have taken hold, and it shall be
for you.

So, this verse is saying to us that when we pray, we are to
believe we take what we are asking for, and then we will have
those things.

How can we do that?

We must take them by faith. How do we "take them by faith?" We
release words of faith based on what God has said in His Word,
the Bible.

We are not talking about forcing God to do something, but to
receive (or take) what is already offered.

How can you "believe you have received" something before you
see it? Easy! You just need credible evidence.

If someone you trusted told you they had deposited money in
your bank account, you would not need to physically go to the
bank and see the cash before rejoicing.

Well, God -- who cannot lie -- has told us many things in His
Word. When we pray in line with what God's Word already says is
ours, that is our evidence on which we can base our belief.

When God says it -- we can believe it. So that is our evidence
by which we can "believe we receive" something when we pray.
So, by our faith, we "take it."

(We are not taking it from God. He has already given it to us.)

SAY THIS: When I pray I am supposed to "take" the answer by
faith.

Monday, December 02, 2013

People Are Precious

JOHN 3:16 BBE
16 For God had such love for the world that he gave his only
Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to
destruction but have eternal life.

We may be too familiar with John 3:16 for its message to impact
us as it should. When it says that God loves the world, it
means the people of the world.

God loves people -- even the sinners. ALL the people of the
world are loved by God. (That does not mean He approves of
their behavior. But God loves them.)

People are created in the image of God. We are like God, His
children. (You must receive Jesus to be a true child of God,
but originally mankind was created in God's image, as His
children.)

Children are precious to their parents. No matter how many
children a parent has, every child is precious to them. They
are all loved.

So it is with God, who obviously has a huge capacity for love.

A parent may have a child who is a criminal, but that parent,
if they are a good parent, will still care for their son or
daughter and desire good for them. God is no less loving and
caring. He desires good for us -- every one.

When we deal with people who are acting terrible, it can be
difficult to remember they are precious to God.

LUKE 6:35-36 NLT
35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without
expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be
very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the
Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and
wicked.
36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is
compassionate.

People will last for eternity. People will live with God and
give Him pleasure in the ages to come.

Let's stay focused on what is really precious and worthwhile.
Material possessions are nice and have their place, but are
nothing compared to the worth of a human being -- even if that
human being is not perfected yet.

Even with rough edges, people are valuable. You are precious to
God! So is everyone else.

SAY THIS: Every person is precious to God.

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Laugh!

PSALM 2:4 KJV
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall
have them in derision.

PSALM 37:13 KJV
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is
coming.

PSALM 59:8 KJV
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all
the heathen in derision.

ECCLESIASTES 3:4 KJV
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a
time to dance;

LUKE 6:21 KJV
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.
Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

PROVERBS 17:22 KJV
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken
spirit drieth the bones.

God laughs. So should you!

SAY THIS: I will laugh with God today.