The Door is Open

 

"Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own, through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault - we who stand before him covered with his love." Ephesians 1:4

Think about that for a moment. Before God even made the world, he chose to make us his own. His children. His family.

Who did he call? Everyone. He wants everyone in his family. But even before he created mankind, he knew we would blow it. He knew Adam and Eve would introduce sin into the human race, but that did not dampen his desire to have us for his own. Knowing that we would have a bent toward sin, he decided to cover our sins and make us holy in his eyes through Christ's sacrifice.

Does he really want us all? Is anyone denied the opportunity to be a part of God's family? To be forgiven, and considered pure in God's eyes?

No. There is not one person who is beyond God's desire to make them his own.

Remember, John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Our bodies will perish, but for the one who choses Jesus, the one who believes in him and gives themselves to him, they will have eternal life. Our bodies die, but our spirit lives on forever in the place God has promised - Heaven. Free from trouble and pain. Free to live a peaceful, joyful existence forever.

No one is beyond forgiveness, no one will be rejected by God if they come with sincerity, asking for forgiveness, believing that Jesus is Lord and surrendering ourselves to him. Salvation is but a prayer away.

Do you feel you are too far gone to be accepted by God? You're not. He still wants you as part of His family. His forgiveness is free for the asking. Don't worry about cleaning yourself up first, God will do that once you become a part of His family. He will begin to transform you, transform your life and transform your eternal future.

The door is open, will you step through?

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10 Spiritual Gifts a Mom Can Give Her Children on Mother's Day

While our kids are wracking their brains about what to give us or do for us on Mother's Day, it would be great to give them something of lasting value in return.  

Here are 10 suggestions for gifts we can give our kids for Mother's Day that will bless them for a lifetime.

1. Prayer: Encourage your children to cultivate a strong prayer life. Give them a handwritten prayer journal or a personalized prayer card with verses to guide them.

2. Faith: Nurture their faith by sharing stories of God's faithfulness and provision in your life. Give them a symbolic item like a cross necklace or a keychain with a Bible verse engraved on it.

3. Love: Show them unconditional love, reflecting God's love for them. Write them a heartfelt letter expressing your love and support, highlighting how God's love is ever-present.

4. Bible Knowledge: Teach them the importance of knowing and understanding the Bible. Gift them a children's Bible or a devotional book tailored to their age group.

5. Wisdom: Impart biblical wisdom by sharing lessons from your own experiences and from Scripture. Give them a book of proverbs or wise sayings with explanations for daily reflection.

6. Service: Teach them the value of serving others by volunteering together as a family or engaging in acts of kindness. Give them a "service jar" filled with ideas for serving others, along with a commitment to do them together.

7. Hope: Instill hope in them by sharing stories of God's promises and how He brings hope in every situation. Gift them a piece of artwork or a bookmark with an encouraging Bible verse.

8. Forgiveness: Teach them the importance of forgiveness, both receiving and extending it. Write a forgiveness letter together, and then burn it as a symbolic act of letting go of past hurts.

9. Gratitude: Cultivate a spirit of gratitude by counting blessings and acknowledging God's goodness. Create a gratitude jar where they can write down things they're thankful for each day.

10. Identity in Christ: Help them understand their identity in Christ, that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. Give them a framed Scripture verse highlighting their identity, such as Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Happy Mother's Day!

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Want to Stand Strong in the Storm? Beware of these 4 Red Flags that Might Pull You Under

We all face storms in life. The loss of a job, loss of a loved one, serious medical issues...no one is exempt. 

If we're not prepared, we can be beaten down and battered around by the force of the problems coming at us, but it doesn't have to be that way. We can stand strong in the face of adversity. In fact, we can more than endure it, we can grow and thrive in times of trouble.

There are things we can do to prepare for hardships and things we can do during the storm if we know the red flags to watch out for.

Pre-storm Preparations

1. Spend time with God daily. Read the Word, pray and trust Him to walk you through each day.
2. Understand that hard times hit us all and be resolved to go through them in a way that honors God.
3. Speak words of life to yourself. Remind yourself about how God has brought you through storms in the past. Reassure yourself every day of God's great love for you and His faithfulness to provide all that you need in every circumstance.
4. Surround yourself with strong Believers who will encourage you and pray for you through the storm.

Red Flags in the Middle of the Storm

1. Lack of desire to read your Bible, pray and seek the Lord. 

• Go back to step 1 in Pre-storm Preparations. Be more determined than ever to stick close to God. Spend extra time in the scriptures and in prayer.

2. Finding yourself having negative thoughts about God's love for you, doubting His goodness and blaming Him for your trouble.

• Go back to step 2 in Pre-storm Preparations. Remember that Jesus said, "In this life you will have trouble, but be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world." (John 16:33) and "Remember that I am always with you until the end of time" (Matthew 28:20)

3. Increased grumbling, complaining and snapping at others.

• Go back to step 3 in Pre-storm Preparations. Recall God's past provisions and blessings. Write them down and give him thanks. Practice Gratitude. Remember Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

4. The desire to isolate yourself. Satan would like nothing better than for you to try to stand alone.

• This is where step 4 comes into play. Isolated, we are vulnerable. Together we are stronger. "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10, 12)

Yes, life will throw some pretty hard things at us. But if we know that we can prepare ourselves in advance. If we know the red flags to watch for and the way to counteract those flags, we will walk through the storm with courage and boldness, coming out on the other side with a faith that withstands the storm.

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Shackles or Wings?

Shackles or Wings:
Discerning between Conviction and Condemnation

How can we tell the difference between holy conviction and unholy condemnation?

Sometimes it difficult to tell whether the guilt or shame we're feeling is conviction or condemnation. That's because they often feel the same to us. It's a feeling that we've done something wrong or that we are not doing something we should be doing. It's not a fleeting feeling, but one that sticks with you until it's addressed. To understand the difference, let's first define the two according to the Bible.

Holy conviction is from God and is specific. It's meant to make you aware of sin in your life and push you toward repentance. God doesn't want anything to come between you and Him. He wants openness and intimacy in your relationship. His desire is to deepen your spiritual faith and transform your character into the character of Jesus Christ. He brings conviction to help and not harm you.

Unholy condemnation, on the other hand, comes from Satan and is vague, bring a sense of guilt, shame and doubt without a sense of why you're feeling that way. Satan wants to drive a wedge between you and God. He wants to heap guilt and sorrow on you and steal your joy. His aim is to make you doubt God and His love for you. Condemnation is meant to tear you down and ultimately destroy you.

"As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting.  For you felt a godly grief...For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (ESV)

So, when that feeling of unease about ourselves, our attitudes, our actions or our worthiness hit, how do we know whether it's conviction from God or condemnation from Satan?

First we ask the Holy Spirit to give us discernment in the matter. We remember that holy conviction is specific. We ask ourselves, "Does this uneasiness I'm feeling point me to a certain thing in my life that I know is not pleasing to God? Does it lead me to repentance and make me aware of a change I need to make? If this is what you're experiencing, then you know what you need to do - repent. Then thank God for loving you enough to correct you and keep you close to Him.

If, on the other hand, what you are experiencing is more accusatory and heaped with self-loathing, but you can't pinpoint why,  you are most likely experiencing unholy condemnation. You may feel like that condemnation is coming from within your own mind, like there's something terribly wrong with you and that there is probably no hope for you. This kind of thinking is a result of Satan's attempt to control you and bring you down.  The solution is to turn to God. Ask Him to help you stand strong in the face of the enemy. Dig into God's word and agree with who He says you are in Christ. Ask Him to help you recognize the lies you have been believing and to replace them with His truth.

What does the Bible say about condemnation?

Romans 8:1 tells us that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

1 John 3:20 lets us know that "If our own hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything."

John 3:17 says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

And Psalm 34:22 promises that "The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned."

I hope this post has been helpful in helping you discern the difference between conviction and condemnation; One gives you shackles and the other gives you wings.

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Gritty Faith

What is gritty faith? Gritty faith stands strong in the face of trouble, resolves to trust God, come what may and is willing to do whatever it takes to follow God's leading, no matter what. It's about determination, resolve and persistence. Gritty faith doesn't run in the face of risk or danger because we know that God fills us with strength to overcome every circumstance. Gritty faith advances. Grit don't quit! 

Have you ever felt like just giving up? I have. As a whole, my life has been and is pretty good, but since late 2019, I have been hit with one physical ailment after another. Several of these ailments are caused by an incurable disease that has very few treatment options. I have to admit that sometimes I get so worn out and stressed from dealing with it all that I want to give up. 

But I don't - I won't - I refuse! 

Why? Because I know who I am and I know whose I am. Jesus gave His all for me and I will give my all for Him until the day he transfers me from this planet to my home in Heaven. That's GRIT! 

Grit can be described as courageous, bold, tough, determined, resolute, purposeful, unfaltering, unswerving, unwavering and persevering. 

Life can be hard, even for those who follow Jesus. In fact, Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble." (John 16:33) He ought to know. He walked this earth and from the time He stepped into ministry, he was plagued with trouble and ultimately, hatred, betrayal and crucifixion. Yet he did not back down or back away from His purpose, which was to take away the sins of those who will come to Him. If the Son of God was not exempt from hardship, neither are we. 

What does the Bible have to say about Grit? 

Although the Bible does not appear in the Bible, the following verses clearly indicate that we should develop grit in our faith walk.

• Perseverance: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV) 
  
  
• Steadfastness: "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)
  
  
• Faithfulness: "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10 (NASB) 

So, let's begin to develop gritty faith. This blog will be dedicated to building up our grit to stand strong in the face of adversity and to fuel our faith to more trust in God 

If you're going through a rough time, I would love to pray for you. Please feel free to leave a comment below this post.

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What are you wearing today?

How many times have we stood in front of a closet full of clothes trying to decide what to wear? 

Did you know that God wants us to have a new wardrobe?

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father."

Colossians 3:12‭-‬17 NLT

 

What are you wearing today?

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But I Can't Forgive!

One of the hardest things to do is forgive someone who hurt you deeply...especially if it seems they will never have to pay for what they did.

Somewhere in the back of our mind, we think that holding on to unforgivness will hurt them. It won't. Unforgivness hurts only us.

Forgiving doesn't mean what they did was okay. It means you want to be obedient to God and forgive. According to the verses below, God places a might high value on forgiveness. 

I'm not saying forgiveness is easy, but it's necessary as a child of God. Praying for the willingness and ability to forgive will open the door for you to step into obedience in this area.

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Contentment

Why is it that we are seldom satisfied with what we have? Perhaps it's our propensity to compare ourselves to others. Or maybe it's a knee-jerk reaction to all the advertising we see everywhere we look.

No matter the reason, the results are the same; a dissatisfaction with what we have or where we currently are in life. Usually resulting in a frantic attempt to get "that thing" that we think will make us happy.

Here's what God says about that...

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5 NIV

He has promised never to leave us, never to turn his back to our needs, but to be with us always - every minute of every day. As a good Father he understands what we need and will give it to us. Not what we WANT, but what we NEED. In his wisdom, he knows what affect granting all our whims might do to us. Knowing what is best and most beneficial to us, he gives us everything we need for a good life, beginning with a relationship with him through Jesus Christ, who came and died to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind, opening the door for the greatest adventure of our lives; walking in step with God and enjoying the love, freedom, peace, healing, acceptance and the contentment he brings.

Things will never satisfy our longing hearts, but God will. Have you reached out to him? Do you want to experience this way of life? Just invite him into your life, understanding that he is ready and waiting to accept you as his child and begin that step-by-step walk with you.

Let today be the first day of a remarkable new you and an awesome adventure. You will be enriched in every way and find true contentment.

Just ask.

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How Quickly We Turn

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Luke 19:38

These were the words of a patriotic crowd in Jerusalem just a week before Jesus was crucified. Unfortunately, they were sadly mistaken about Jesus' mission here. They thought he came to free the Israelites from the rule of the oppressive Roman empire. But, his mission was far greater than that. He came to free mankind from the tyranny of sin. He came to restore us to right standing with God. Jesus' willing sacrifice on the cross to die for our sins opened the door for anyone who believes in him and receives him as their Lord and Savior to enjoy a blessed life and eternity in Heaven after we leave this planet.

The amped-up crowd in Jerusalem that day were sorely disappointed that Jesus was not who they thought he was and did not do what they thought he would. For in just a few days, they were shouting, "Crucify him. Crucify him!"

We might shake our heads at the way they so quickly went from worshiping Jesus to condemning him, but let's stop and think for a moment.

Have you ever assumed that Jesus (God) would do something in your life, only to be disappointed that he didn't act the way you thought he would or should? How did that affect your attitude toward Him?

Here's the truth - God has a wonderful plan for our lives. He is not at our beck and call like some genie that is required to do our bidding. The issue is not his failure, but our unrealistic or misinformed understanding of who he is and what he wants to do in our lives, which is to make us one of his family and to transform our sinful nature until it matches the sinless nature of Jesus Christ.

This happens naturally as we lean into his word, into prayer and into obedience to his directions. These daily practices will  allow that transformation to take place. It's an ongoing process, which will only be fully achieved when we finally go to be with him. In the meantime, we live under the blessings of our relationship with God - never alone, because he has promised never to leave us or forsake us.

So, the next time God doesn't act the way we think he should, let's recall that he is God and will do what's best for us. 

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Are You Following at a Distance?

Does it sometimes feel like God is keeping His distance from you? Do you feel as if the close relationship you had with Him is waning? Ever wonder why? 

Let's take a lesson from Peter, the disciple upon whom Jesus said He would build His church.

Jesus had just spent 3 years teaching his followers. They had walked with him along the dusty roads of Israel, Slept in the desert and eaten in towns with Him. Sat with Him in the temples as He taught about God and His plan to bring salvation to mankind. Finally the time came when He needed to let them know that His death was drawing near.

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”  Matthew 26:1 (NLT)

As they traveled to Bethany, Jesus said... “Tonight all of you will desert me.  Matthew 26:31 (NLT)

Peter, was adamant! He declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you,"  Matthew 26:33 (NLT) 

But then, Jesus was betrayed and led away by a mob of men with clubs and swords. All the disciples scattered, perhaps fearing that they, too, would be hauled off to prison. All except Peter, that is. What did Peter do?

"Meanwhile, Peter followed him (Jesus) at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end." Matthew 26:58 (NLT)

Peter followed Jesus at a distance. This was the beginning of Peter's fall, which led him to deny that he had any relationship with Jesus at all.

We can pick up here with the truth that any time we begin to distance ourselves from God, He begins to seem further and further away. 

We might begin by neglecting to read the Bible, getting too busy to pray, or allowing things to slip into our lives that we know aren't right.

We might be still going to church (at least most of the time) and acknowledging that we are believers, Christ followers, but we've begun following at a distance and that can only lead to drifting away from our relationship with God. Suddenly we hit a crisis and need God's help. We pray and search the Word, but God seems so far away. The truth is that He is always as close as our next breath, but it doesn't seem so.

How do we fix that? How do we return to the close relationship we had before?

"This is what the Lord says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old godly way, and walk in it." (Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)

Prayer:

Father, I recognize that I've been drifting, that I've allow distance between us. Please forgive me. I truly want a close relationship with you. I'm turning back to what I used to do when we were close. Lord, strengthen my faith and give me a sharp awareness of your constant presence. Amen

Return to the things you once knew and God promise is this;

"Come close to God, and God will come close to you..." James 4:8 (NLT)

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10 Ways to Delight Yourself in the Lord

  

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

For the past few days, God has been bringing this scripture to mind.

I've been a Christian for over 40 years. I love the Lord, I read his word, I pray daily, I attend church and love my church family, but delight in the Lord? I'm not sure.

I had to look up the definition of the word delight, both in the dictionary and the bible concordance for the Greek and Hebrew meaning. (Yes, I am a word geek.)

delight (verb) - to take great pleasure in - 
rejoice in - enjoy immensely -
to be tender and pliable toward

Wow, there's a lot more to delight than I thought. 

So, how can we delight ourselves in the Lord? Here are some thoughts...

1. Seek His presence
2. Read, study and enjoy His word
3. Pray - talk to Him throughout the day and listen for His voice (He does talk back)
4. Notice and be amazed at His creations
5. Watch Him work in the lives of those around me
6. Marvel at His greatness
7. Drench myself in his love and give that love out to others
8. Recall His many blessings in my life and give Him thanks for each one
9. Awaken every day with the joy and anticipation of knowing him better by bedtime
10. Fall asleep with His praises on my lips each night

I now have a new focus for 2023 - to delight myself in the Lord daily. I can only imagine the blessings this year holds.

Prayer:

Lord, I will delight myself in you. I will take great pleasure in getting to know you better. I will enjoy your presence, the works of your hands, and be thankful for every blessing. I will be tender and pliable before you, allowing you to reshape and transform me - not so I can have the present longings of my heart, but so that the desires of my heart will align with your will and purposes. Amen

Deeper:

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." James 4:8

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:13

"I love those who love me and those who seek me find me." Proverbs 8:17

"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," 1 Peter 1:8

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How Can I Be Saved?

God is calling us to Himself. He wants to cleanse us of our sin and restore us to a right relationship with Him, that He might bless our lives and rescue us from destruction.

Many are hearing His call, but are not sure how to enter into the salvation that Jesus came to give us. Here is a simple explanation from the scriptures that shows us how to be saved.

THE WAY TO SALVATION

• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ROMANS 3:23

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

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

• Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ROMANS 10:13

• If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ROMANS 10:9

• Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ROMANS 8:1

 

PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Father,today I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for me on the cross of Calvary. By faith I ask You to forgive my sins and to come into my life. Because of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection all of my sins are forgiven and I am starting a brand-new life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My friend, if you have sincerely prayed this prayer, you are saved. Your sins have been forgiven and you have entered into a new relationship with God. From this point forward, He is with you. He will never leave you. He will direct your footsteps and help you to grow spiritually. You will experience His love, forgiveness and guidance as you lean into your new life with Jesus at the helm.

If you have prayed and given your life to God today, please drop a comment below and let me know so that I can be praying for you.

And welcome to the family of God!

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Between the Prayer and the Answer

"Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name." Psalm 33:20-21 (ESV)

Who enjoys waiting? Not me.

We live in an impatient society. We want the immediate.

Even when it comes to prayer, we want immediate results, immediate guidance from God, immediate fulfillment of His promises. We don't want to wait! 

But what if that waiting process is our greatest opportunity for spiritual growth? What if waiting is God's plan for deepening our relationship with Him? What if it's in the waiting that we become more like Jesus?

I call the time between our prayers and the answer, the In-Between.

How long? Have you ever asked God that question? Maybe you didn't verbalize it, but you've wondered it. Maybe even agonized over it.

What if we approach the In-Between differently?

What if we...

• Keep seeking a closer relationship with God?
• Keep praying in faith, believing for the answer?
• Keep serving God and others?
• Keep trusting God to be faithful?

Psalm 62:5 (NLT) says:

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him."

Quietly...not anxiously, not grumbling and complaining, not doubting and discouraged, but quietly, with calm assurance that the answer will come. Knowing that God's timing is perfect and His will is what's best for us.

Let's flip the script and use waiting as an extended Quiet Time with God.

Deeper:

Isaiah 40:31        Lamentations 3:25        Psalm 27:14        Romans 12:12

Questions:
How do you usually handle times of waiting?

How do you think you will handle waiting differently in the future?

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Answered Prayers Every Time

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15

What an awesome promise - pray and we have what we asked for.  No, wait - there's more to it than that. Read our verses for today again. 

The key to answered prayers every time is asking according to God's will. So, how do we know God's will in any given circumstance? First, we get to know him from his word. There we will see what he's done in the past, what he's promised to do, what he said he will never do. That helps us to pray according to his will. Next, we can discern his will by staying sensitive to his Spirit which lives inside us. Some call it intuition, but so often that little niggling in you heart, that cautionary red flag or that nudge to proceed is coming from the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised would lead and guide us through life.

And finally, we can come to him with a concern and end out prayers with "Lord, let it be done according to your will." And we can trust him to do what is best for us, even if it's not exactly what we would like to see or as fast as we would like to see the answer. 

Even Jesus prayed this way - “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

Deeper:

Hebrews 4:16        Philippians 4:6-7        Psalm 17:6        Romans 12:2

Questions:

Are you sometimes frustrated with your prayer life?

What can you do to change that?

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How to Fight Depression

"Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:5

Have you ever experienced the heaviness of melancholy and depression? I think we all have at some point. Perhaps you've suffered a great loss, or things didn't turn out the way you'd hoped they would. Maybe someone hurt you deeply or maybe you feel you've even disappointed yourself. 

So, what do we do when we feel that heaviness start to settle in?

In today's verse, the Psalmist recognized his downcast soul (depression, melancholy, disappointment). He asked himself why he was feeling that way and then did the wisest thing he could do - he encouraged himself to look to God. To put his hope in the One who leads our lives through every circumstance. He decided that no matter how he was feeling, he would praise God, whom he recognized as his Savior.

Depression doesn't stand much of a chance when we put our hope in God and whole-heartedly praise Him, especially in the middle of our heartache. Praise him wildly, out loud, sing praises, read scripture out loud. When I've done that, I feel the heaviness lift. oppression leaves as the enemy of my soul flees in the midst of my praises because when we praise, God shows up.

Later in the Psalms, we see this same person encouraging himself again by reminding himself of all the blessings that come from the Lord.

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-6

The next time you find yourself feeling down, throw yourself into praise and see what happens. Praise is the obliterating weapon to use against depression!

Deeper:

Psalm 150:1-6    Acts 16:25-26    Hebrews 13:15    Psalm 3:3    Psalm 19:14

Questions:

What do you do when you feel depression setting in?

Are you willing to stand up and give the Lord the sacrifice of praise in the middle of your struggle?

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No Matter What!

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

It's easy to let fear slip in with the state of things in our world today. Prices are up, wages are down, people are stressed and we don't know what the future holds. We're living in troubled times, but that's not really anything new. Consider what Habakkuk was going through in his day...

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."  Habakkuk 3:17-18

We all face troubles of various kinds, but if we will keep God's promise in Isaiah 41:10 in mind, rather than become afraid and discouraged, we will kick fear aside and encourage ourselves in what God has promised. 

Deeper:

2 Corinthians 9:8    Philippians 4:6    Philippians 4:19    Romans 12:12

Questions:

What struggles are you facing today?

Are you fearful about your situation?

What has God promised in Isaiah 41:10?

Let's be determined to follow Habakkuk's lead and rejoice in the Lord no matter what comes.

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How to Prove Your Faith

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead...As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:14-17, 26

Faith is both a noun and a verb. It's by faith that we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death which restored us to right relationship with God, the Father. (noun) It's also that same faith that should lead to action. Faith does. (verb)

When we come to Jesus and accept him a our Lord and Savior, things change. We change because his Spirit now lives in us. We begin to think and act like Jesus. He had compassion on the needy and hurting and he reached out to help them. We should be doing the same. We should show the love of God by the way we touch others, the way we make a difference in our community. Our behavior should reflect our faith.

Good works will not save us, but good works will be a proof that Jesus is working in us and that he loves those around.

Deeper:

Ephesians 2:8-10    Matthew 5:14-16    Matthew 25:44-45    1 John 3:17

Questions:

In what ways do you put your faith into action?

How do you reflect the character of Jesus?

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