.....daily

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Many times, when we face trials, we often turn to prayer only as a last resort. For example, there was the man who was fighting a valiant battle with cancer. As people observed the gradual effect on his body and lifestyle, one person said, "Well, they've tried everything else. I guess it's time to begin praying." Another man was going through an extremely difficult time at work, and he just couldn't resolve his overwhelming problems. Finally, he said, "I've tried everything I know to get through this situation, and nothing has worked. It's time to start praying."

In both of these instances, prayer was seen as a last-ditch effort to resolve the problem. Only after all other options were eliminated did the person decide to pray. Instead of prayer being a last resort, it should be one of the first things we do.

George Mueller learned firsthand to depend on God for even the smallest of his needs. And so, he did in every area of his life and ministry after surrendering his life to the Lord. In the late 1800's he had dedicated a large part of his ministry to orphaned children. One morning, George was informed that the pantry was empty and there would be no meal that day. 

However, he called all the children and staff together and prayed thanking God for the provision of food as they always did, even though this day, there was no food on the table. A few moments later a baker knocked on the door and told Mr. Mueller that God had led him to bake bread the night before and give it to the orphanage today. Before the bread was given to the children, a milkman knocked on the door announcing that his milk truck had broken down and the milk would spoil while he waited for the wheel to be fixed, so he wondered if the orphanage could use some free milk.

God is ready and willing to provide for our needs; all we have to do is ask. The Lord answers prayer, and He wants us to come to Him continually with all of our needs. The Bible tells us to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer … let your requests be made known to God". Rather than praying when you're worried about a specific situation, make sure to pray constantly so that you'll be blessed every day.

- veronica 

.....dresser

A woman was dying of AIDS and a minister was summoned. He attempted to share God's love with her, but to no avail.  "I am lost," she said. "I have ruined my life and the life of every one around me. Now I'm going painfully to hell. There is no hope for me."   

The minister saw a framed picture of a pretty girl on the dresser. "Who is this?" he asked. 

The woman brightened. "She is my daughter, the one beautiful thing in my life." 

"And would you help her if she was in trouble, or made a mistake? Would you forgive her? Would you still love her?""Of course I would!" cried the woman, "I would do anything for her! Why do you ask such a question?" 

"Because I want you to know," said the minister, "that God has a picture of you on His dresser."

- dave langerfeld

....sacrifice

I heard a story once about two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, who traveled with a group that was going around the world. As they were visiting in South Korea, they saw a field by the side of the road, in which a boy was pulling a crude plow and an old man held the plow handles and guided it. The lawyer was amused and took a snapshot of the scene.

He turned to the missionary, who served as their interpreter and guide, and he said, "That's a curious picture. I suppose they are very poor."

The guide replied, "Yes, that is the family of Chi Noue. When the place of worship was being built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money, so they sold their only ox and gave the money to the church. This spring, they are pulling the plow themselves."

The men were silent for several moments. Then the businessman replied, "That must have been a real sacrifice." The guide said, "They do not call it that. They thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell."

I am reminded of a parable Jesus told: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Matt. 13:44.

Notice carefully the words "for joy." This man doesn't just sell everything he has; he does so with joy. He doesn't regret it. He doesn't complain about the sacrifice he has to make. In fact, he probably doesn't even consider it to be a sacrifice. He gives a lot for the field, but he gets so much more in return.

When I perform a wedding ceremony, I often include these words: "Whatever sacrifice you will be required to make to preserve this common life, always make it generously. Sacrifice is usually difficult. Only love can make it easy; and perfect love can make it a joy."

The same thing holds true in our walk with Christ. Sacrifices will be necessary, and only a deep love for Christ will make them a joy. The real test of our commitment is not so much whether we are willing to make sacrifices for our Lord, but whether we are able to make those sacrifices with joy.

.....move

 "....Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on."  Exodus 14:15

Moses had brought the whole nation of Israel, approximately 600,000, to a dead end in the desert. The only thing between Israel and Pharaoh's pursuing army was the Red Sea. This was after ten plagues God had inflicted on Pharaoh to motivate him to free the Israelites. Finally, Pharaoh had freed Moses and the people, and they left Egypt. 

They thought they were home free. "Freedom at last," they said. But God did a strange thing. He directed Moses to take a route that led to the Red Sea, instead of the northern route around the Red Sea. God explained that He didn't want them fighting the enemies they would have encountered on this route. But still, there was the issue of the Red Sea.

They finally arrived at the Red Sea, and the people were wondering where they would go from there. News hit the camp: Pharaoh had changed his mind. He was coming after them with his army. Panic set in. The defenseless Israelites cried out, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?...It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Ex. 14:11-12

God sometimes brings each of us to a "Red Sea" in our life. It may be a work problem that can't be solved. It may be a marriage that seems to be failing. It may be a debilitating disease. Whatever your Red Sea, God tells us one thing: "Keep moving." The Red Sea was before them, yet God was angered at Moses and told him to "Keep moving."

"But Lord, the Red Sea is before me." "Keep moving." When we live by sight, we act on what we see. God sets this stage in dramatic fashion. God is into the dramatic. There is no way out without God here. That is just the way He wants it. No one will get glory except God.

A friend once admonished me when I was in the midst of an extremely difficult time in my life, "You must not withdraw from being proactive in your faith just because of this trial that you are in. God's hand is on your life. There are too many who are depending on you to fulfill the purposes God has in your life. Keep moving! Keep investing yourself in others." I didn't feel like it. I was in too much pain. But I did it anyway. God met me at the point of my greatest need once I decided simply to be obedient. 

Getting past myself by investing myself in others helped heal the pain. There is great healing when we look past our own problems and seek to invest ourselves in others for the sake of Christ. This is when our own Red Seas become parted. We begin to walk to freedom. But we will never experience the miracle of the Red Sea in our lives if we don't first "Keep moving."

- os hillman

.....time

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"Esther 4:14

God allowed Esther to become Queen, not as a reward for being good, but "for such a time as this." God could have used other methods to save the Jews, but He chose to invite a beautiful young woman to play a part. Esther put her personal plans on hold, put her life at risk, persuaded the King, and saved her people from certain destruction.

The wisdom and truth of Mordecai's words resound through the ages: God's work WILL be accomplished; His plan WILL unfold; deliverance WILL arise! It's humbling, and often very freeing, to know that God really doesn't need us. He is perfectly capable without our help! But it's also very comforting to know that God is inviting us to join Him in His work and walk by His side to certain victory.

We may never be invited to a role as dramatic as Esther's, but we can join our Heavenly Father from right where we are today! We have come to our position - no matter how elevated, no matter how low - for the purpose of bringing Him glory and honor. 

Let's listen carefully for what He's asking us to do, and understand we are right where we need to be and right where He wants us! He has created us for a purpose. He has brought us to our present situation for such a time as this. 

.....lifetime

Daniel was one of the first captives taken by the Babylonians in 605 BC. Upon his arrival in Babylon, Daniel was selected to receive three years of specialized training, as well as special food and drink, to prepare him for service in the palace. This special treatment would have caused Daniel to violate the laws of God, so he "resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine" Daniel 1:8.

His convictions had a profound impact on those around him - especially his three closest friends who were soon thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow to a golden image; "We want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" Daniel 3:18.

Daniel served seventy years under the kings of Babylon, and his convictions earned him a place as the most trusted advisor in all the land. When the Persians defeated the Babylonians, the new king even "planned to set Daniel over the whole kingdom" Daniel 6:3. But when the other officials became jealous, they convinced the king to pass a law forbidding prayer to anyone except the king.

Though he knew he would be severely punished, Daniel held to his convictions and prayed to God three times a day. For this violation of the law, Daniel was thrown into a den of lions; but "God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions" Daniel 6:22. When the king saw how God miraculously protected Daniel, he issued the following decree:

"I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever."Daniel 6:26

There were many opportunities for Daniel to question his circumstances. He was taken into captivity at a young age, tempted with special treatment, despised by his peers, thrown to the lions, and served an entire lifetime under foreign rulers. But, without a single complaint, Daniel continued to trust God and serve Him without compromise. In the end, Daniel was used to encourage the Jews while in captivity and to draw an entire nation to a greater reverence of God. Shortly after the decree was issued, 50,000 Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

Stories like this are scattered all through God's Word! Though we may not understand our circumstances or be able to clearly see God's specific plan, we KNOW the way He is calling us to walk. Let's continue to serve and trust with all our heart. Let's walk down His path without turning to the right or to the left. Regardless of our present circumstances, let's determine once and for all to give Him a lifetime of conviction.

- steve troxel

....wants

Joseph was the second youngest son of Jacob and was greatly loved by his father. In fact, his brothers developed a jealous hatred for him because their father "loved Joseph more than any of his other sons" Genesis 37:3. Their hatred for Joseph continued to grow until they "sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt" Genesis 37:28. Joseph was then sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard for Pharaoh, and was soon falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and thrown in jail.

At this point, Joseph could really have felt sorry for himself - things were definitely not going well! Only a short time before, Joseph's path seemed well established; his father loved him, he knew where he was going, and his life was filled with joy. Now, locked up and in a foreign land, Joseph's life seemed to have taken a drastic turn for the worse.

"But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there." Genesis 39:20-22

It's safe to say that all of us, at different times during our walk with the Lord, feel like we have been sent far away and locked up. We feel distanced from God and unable to change our circumstances. Others seem to be controlling our every move and we sink into a deep despair.

But is it possible God is much closer than we think? "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5. Is it possible He is working (even now!) this terrible situation toward the good? "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28. And is it possible that in the middle of our "prison" God has much work for us to do?

While in jail, Joseph interpreted dreams for Pharaoh's officials Genesis 40 and was then called to interpret a dream for Pharaoh; "I've heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it" Genesis 41:15. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream and was placed in a position of great responsibility; "You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders" Genesis 41:40. It was God's plan to place Joseph in control of the distribution of food, and therefore, to save many lives...including the lives of his father and brothers Genesis 42-48.

No matter what this day brings - no matter how trapped we feel - we must keep looking for God's good and trusting that His plan is unfolding. He is using our circumstances to mold us and draw us close to His side, and He is using our testimony of faith to encourage others to love Him more. 

We must believe that, even in the middle of our prison, God is in control and we are right where He wants us!

- steve troxel

....come

Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

What is the invitation to the laboring and heavy laden? Jesus says, "Come unto me."  I love that word "Come."  To me it seems full of grace, mercy and encouragement. "Come now," says the Lord in Isaiah, "and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow."

Come is the last word in the Bible to sinners. "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come."  Revelation 22:17 

Jesus does not say, "Go and get ready."  - This is the word of the Pharisee and self-righteous.

Jesus does not say "Go and work out a righteousness. Do this and that, and you will be saved."

Jesus says, "Come".

Come is a word of merciful invitation. 

It seems to say, "I want you to escape the wrath to come. I am not willing that any should perish. I have no pleasure in death. I would gladly have all men saved, and I offer all the water of life freely. So come to Me."

Come is a word of gracious expectation. 

It seems to say, "I am here waiting for you. I sit on my mercy-seat expecting you to come. I wait to be gracious. I wait for more sinners to come in before I close the door. I want more names written down in the book of life before it is closed forever. So come to Me."

Come is a word of kind encouragement. 

It seems to say, I have treasures to give to you if you will only receive them. I have that to give which makes it worth while to come: a free pardon, a robe of righteousness, a new heart.  So come to Me.

Come and be reconciled to God

Come with all your sins, however many they may be. If you come to Him they will be taken away. 

Come just as you are. You feel unfit; you say you are not good enough. The worse you think of yourself, the better prepared you are. 

Christ is not a Savior of those who think they are righteous - but of sinners. I ask you to come now. No other time is your own. 

Come now to Christ.

 

.....time

“Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Luke 9:59 

If you didn’t understand the culture of the day, it would seem rather heartless of the Lord to say what He said: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God” Luke 9:60.  Jesus had just called someone to follow Him, but the man replied, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father” verse 59. It would seem to us that this man’s father just died, and he was getting ready to bury him.

But that wasn’t the case. This was a Near Eastern figure of speech referring to a son’s responsibility to help his father in the family business until the father died and the inheritance was distributed. So, when Jesus said, “Follow Me,” it appears the man already was a believer, and this was a call to service. It seems as though the Lord was calling him to a deeper level of commitment.

But this person was making excuses. He was saying, “I have to wait until Dad is gone and the inheritance is divided. I can’t make a commitment like that right now.” He was playing for time, believing that when his father eventually did grow old and die, Jesus would be long gone and he wouldn’t have to worry about it.

Has God called you to serve Him in some capacity? Maybe He has spoken to your heart and said, “I want you to serve Me with the gifts that I have given you.” But you’re saying, “I would love to, but I am so busy here. I have this business. I have this passion. I’m a little too busy to serve You right now. I have bills to pay, fun to experience, and family to be involved with. I just don’t have time.”

Don’t be like this person and make up excuses. 

Respond to His call.

- greg laurie

 

......defeated

As we study God's Word, we should be reminded of how fortunate we are to have so many stories and testimonies upon which to build our faith. This is particularly true of the multitude of Old Testament stories; "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" Romans 15:4. 

One of the great encouragements is shared through a prostitute named Rahab.

As Joshua led the Israelites out of the desert and into the promised land of Canaan, the first enemy they faced lived in the mighty walled city of Jericho. When spies were sent to Jericho to determine the enemy's strength, Rahab told the spies, "all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you" Joshua 2:9. Rahab said the people of Jericho had heard how God parted the Red Sea and how He had been with the Israelites in previous battles.

"When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."Joshua 2:11 God caused the walls of Jericho to collapse and allowed the Israelites to take the city, but the first enemy in the promised land was conquered long before the Israelite army even arrived. The people of Jericho knew of God's miraculous power and were already defeated. 

The only thing necessary for victory was for the Israelites to show they were willing to walk in the strength God provided.

God does not desire for us to remain in the desert. But to enter the promised land, we must be prepared to face our enemies and trust in the strength of our Heavenly Father.

The enemy "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" 1 Peter 5:8. This enemy is very real and ready to attack our areas of weakness. But the enemy is also well aware of God's power and will turn away any time we make a stand; "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7. The enemy's fate has been sealed - his end has already been determined - but we must daily resist by getting dressed for battle and then trusting in the power of God for our strength.

Let's submit our lives into the loving hands of our Heavenly Father and boldly enter the peace-filled land He has promised. The lion will continue to roar and try to bite, but we must never forget that Jesus has already assured complete victory. When we trust Him with all our heart and daily walk in His strength, we truly face a defeated enemy. 

- steve troxel

.....questions

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. ”1 Corinthians 10:23

There’s a common question Christians ask that may indicate a spiritual problem in their lives: “Can you be a Christian and still . . . ?” In other words, “Can I get away with this and still technically be a christian?”

Instead, what we ought to ask is, “Because I am a Christian, how can I best serve the Lord? What can I do to grow spiritually?” If you’ve ever wondered about what’s okay for a Christian to do, consider these questions.

Does it build me up spiritually? Does this thing that I want to do promote growth in my Christian character? Some things in life can tear you down because they tear you away from the people of God or dull your hunger for the Word of God.

Does it bring me under its power? Some Christians say they have the freedom to do a certain thing because they can handle it. They can control it. But does it bring them under its power? Can they go through a day without it? If not, then it isn’t freedom.

Do I have an uneasy conscience about it? There might be something that you feel uneasy about doing. It just doesn’t feel right. Romans 14:23 says, “For whatever is not from faith is sin”. We’re all different. One believer may do a certain thing, but that very thing could harm you spiritually.

Could it cause someone to stumble? You may have the liberty to do something, such as go to this movie or watch that TV show. But if it bothers another believer, be sensitive to that. As Christians, we don’t live unto ourselves. We have an effect on others.

All too often people who are interested in following Jesus don’t want to let go of things that will slow them down. 

We need to count the cost.

- greg laurie 

......muscular

“But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.’” Acts 17:6

Some Christians have been raised in Christian homes, while others of us have lived on both sides of the fence. We know what it’s like to live without Christ and how empty and pointless it is.

Then we made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, and incredible changes took place in our lives. We discovered there is a God who loves us and has a unique, custom-made plan for our lives.

We also discovered that becoming a Christian is more than just saying a prayer and having the assurance of Heaven. We realized that being a Christian means following Jesus not just as our Savior but also as our Lord.

The problem is there are people in the church today who name the name of Christ but haven’t discovered what it means to follow Him. They haven’t discovered that being a Christian is more than just saying a prayer and then going on their merry way.

And sadly, many are settling for a brand of Christianity that isn’t biblical, one that embraces Jesus as Savior but neglects Him as Lord. It is big on self-esteem, but it is small on self-denial. It celebrates success but repudiates suffering. This brand of Christianity is not changing our world.

The church of the first century, the church we read about in the book of Acts, transformed their culture. People described Christians as “these who have turned the world upside down”. If our faith is not turning us upside down, then it certainly isn’t going to turn our world upside down.

We need to get back to the Christian life as it’s presented in the New Testament, which was a muscular Christianity and not a watered-down, anemic version of it. We need a first-century belief system, the kind the apostles lived and that Jesus taught, the kind that can turn our world around.

....bravely

During the time of King David, a battle was about to occur between Israel and two neighboring kingdoms: "The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city gate, while the Arameans were by themselves in the open country" 2 Samuel 10:8. Joab, the commander of David's military, saw enemy troops in front and behind him so he divided his army - one group remained with him, and the other group went with his brother.

"Joab said, 'If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in His sight.'"2 Samuel 10:11-12

Joab knew God was in complete control, but he never allowed his faith to be a reason for becoming complacent in preparation or passive in battle. Joab used all his intellect and past experience - all the tools God provided - to devise a plan. He then encouraged those with him to fight bravely with all their ability. Joab knew he was accountable to use everything God had given, but he also knew the real battle belonged to God.

Notice Joab never said God would guarantee a victory in this battle. Trusting God with all our heart means knowing with certainty the final result will be good in the eyes of God - regardless of whether the immediate battle is won or lost.

Many times, our Christian walk turns into a battle zone. We may face spiritual battles of doubt, fear, and anxiety. We may also face painful physical and emotional battles. And yet, God remains in control. He has gifted us all in many ways; and as He leads, we must not hesitate to use those gifts bravely and fully. We must "fight" with all the perseverance we can manage, but we must also completely surrender the outcome to God.

True victory comes as we look past the success or failure as seen with our own eyes and trust God for the working of the good in all our battles. Let's stand against the enemy and trust God will do "what is good in His sight." As we enter the battle today, let's fight bravely and trust God.

- steve troxel

....find

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

What does it mean to take up the cross? Sometimes people think it means that whatever is bothering them or plaguing them is their cross to bear. But that isn’t what Jesus meant when He said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” Luke 9:23.

The cross symbolizes the same thing to every person. It speaks of dying to ourselves and putting God’s will before our own. Taking up the cross is exchanging our plans for His plans. It’s when we stop trying to seek life and instead seek God.

So many people today are trying to find purpose in life. What is life about? What is the meaning of it?

The meaning of life, the purpose of life, is to know God. And the best life to live is the Christian life. To live it the most effectively, we must take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ.

The Scottish theologian Samuel Rutherford said of the cross, “Christ’s cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bore; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbor.”

It’s through death to ourselves that we find life. It’s through exchanging our plans for God’s that we find the best. We find life as it was meant to be lived.

When we lay aside our personal desires and ambitions, God will reveal the desires and plans that He has for us.

- greg laurie

.....good

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  James 1:17

There was an old man at our church who had loved God all of his life. The man, John, walked around saying "God is Good". He said it all the time, whenever and wherever he was. When John got married he said, "God is Good". When John lost his job he said, "God is Good". When John's father died he said, "God is Good". When John's wallet got stolen he said, "God is Good". Well, you get the idea, no matter what John did, or what happened to him, we would always hear him say, "God is Good". 

A few months ago, John was diagnosed with cancer. The disease had spread rapidly and he was told by his doctor he'd have only a few weeks to live. Still, even on his death bed, John could be heard by everyone in the hospital repeating his famous line, "God is Good". Our pastor Charles was John's best friend. Charles went everyday to visit John in the hospital. And every night before Charles left John would tell him, "God is Good". 

Finally after weeks of watching his best friend get worse and worse from his terminal disease, Charles just could not stand it any longer and asked John, " John you are my best friend and I love you. I love the Lord as much as you do too. I have listened to you say that God is Good your whole life. Through the good times, maybe I can understand you saying how good God is. Maybe even through the hard times, to help yourself cope. But now, laying here on your death bed, how can you be so optimistic? How can you say God is good every day when you know he is letting you die?" John just looked at Charles and smiled. 

"Dear friend, don't you see all of those times I was saying God was Good, it was my way of praising him in the little way I could. And look what my reward is for remaining faithful, I am dying. You say God is letting me die as if that is a bad thing. Charles, have you forgotten that is our goal. To live our life for Him, and join him one day in heaven. See, GOD IS GOOD!" 

John died that night in his sleep. Charles stood up and said only two things at John's funeral: "I will miss my friend but I know I will see him again one day soon. And GOD IS GOOD."  

- dave langerfeld 

....dressed

The life of a soldier at war is difficult. They live under the constant threat of attack and each day they must prepare for battle. Each day they must make sure they are properly dressed to face the enemy.

In a very real sense, we are ALL at war! Every child of God faces an enemy who is determined to engage us in battle each and every day. These battles will not look the same as those we see reported in the news; "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Ephesians 6:12. But the enemy we face is just as real and the attacks are just as damaging. Many of us feel defenseless against such attacks - we feel defeated with no hope of victory - but Paul tells us how to get properly dressed and stand through the battles.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."Ephesians 6:14-17

Yes, the attacks are going to come. But we cannot wait for the battle to begin before getting dressed and putting on our equipment. Each day (without fail!) - before the enemy has an opportunity to attack - we must "put on the full armor of God"

The belt of truth protects us from the enemy's deceptive lies which pull us down the path of worldly priorities and temptation. The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart from feeling unworthy; we are made completely worthy through faith in Jesus Romans 3:22. The gospel of peace on our feet prepares us to share the good news of Jesus and "go and make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19. This is our mission as we go into the world.

We hold up the shield of faith, which is "of greater worth than gold" 1 Peter 1:7, to remind us of God's faithfulness in previous battles and protect us from the constant arrows of fear. The helmet of Salvation protects our mind from debilitating doubts, "so that we may know we have eternal life" 1 John 5:13. Finally, we pick up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and directly engage the enemy when necessary.

The enemy is determined to steal our joy and cause us to be ineffective soldiers for God. Let's ruin his plan! Let's defeat the enemy before the attacks even begin by starting each and every day with getting fully dressed for battle.

- steve troxel

....word

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ” Philippians 3:7 

C. S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity, “The real test of being in the presence of God is that you either forget about yourself altogether or see yourself as a small, dirty object.” Then he concluded, “It is better to forget about yourself altogether.”

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” Luke 9:23. The word “deny” in the original language means to “repudiate,” “disdain,” “disown,” “forfeit,” and “totally disregard.”

So, if we are going to follow Jesus, then we need to deny ourselves. This simply means that we want His will more than our own. What it doesn’t mean is that we must give up everything that we find enjoyable or pleasurable. It also doesn’t mean that we aren’t allowed to have fun anymore or that we must walk around wearing a somber expression all the time.

Jesus said: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” Matthew 10:39. If you deny yourself, then you will find life. It doesn’t mean that you will live a miserable existence.

Rather, you will live the most joyful, effective, powerful life possible, because essentially you exchange your life for God’s. You exchange your plans for His. And you say, “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”

That will bring you to the level of life as it was meant to be lived.

Will you have to give up anything? Yes, you will. You may have to give up a lot, in fact. But God’s Word assures us that whatever we give up for Him, He will give us something better in its place. That is because God’s plans for us are good. 

We have His word on it. 

- greg laurie

.....assurance

 “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”— Ephesians 2:9

Nineteenth-century British preacher Charles Spurgeon said, “The righteous carves his name upon the rock, but the wicked writes his remembrance in the sand. The righteous man plows the furrows of earth, and sows a harvest here, which shall never be fully reaped until he enters the enjoyments of eternity.”

Only believers have a reward waiting for them in eternity. Nonbelievers, on the other hand, ultimately leave a legacy of nothingness. They may do some good works or have some fame, but in the end, it all will be gone.

The British missionary C. T. Studd said, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

What kind of legacy are you leaving? 

Do you have the assurance that when you die, you will go to Heaven?

You might say, “Well, I’m not good enough.” We don’t go to Heaven because of good works that we do. While good works have value, we won’t go to Heaven because of them. The Bible teaches this.

“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 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”.Titus 3:4–5 

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

The best and worst of us go to Heaven the same way, which is by admitting we are sinners, turning from our sin, and putting our faith in Jesus Christ alone to save us. So, make sure your life is right with God. It’s a decision that you’ll never regret. Settle it daily

- greg laurie

.....barrier

 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24

What does it mean to be a disciple? 

Are the qualifications of discipleship different from those of simply coming to faith? 

I think the answer to that question is yes.

In Matthew 16:24 Jesus gave the unique call of discipleship: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me”. First, Jesus tells us that if we want to be His disciples, we must deny ourselves. This is a foundational issue.

We hear a lot about the need for a positive self-image, self-worth, self-love, and self-esteem, even within the church. But does God want us to feel good about ourselves when we are living in sin? Should we have a positive self-image if we are disobeying Him?

James 4:8–9 says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy”.

This obsession with self is not something unique to our generation. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden, where Satan appealed to Eve’s selfish nature Genesis 3:1–6.

Everyone has a choice in life. We can either live for ourselves or deny ourselves, ignore the cross or take it up, lose our souls or keep them. We can share His reward and glory or lose them. Or we can invest in our lives and ultimately find them.

The great barrier to being a disciple of Jesus Christ is summed up in one word: self. If you want to be His disciple, you must deny yourself.

- greg laurie

.....best

Missionaries to China in the last part of the Nineteenth century began to push into the unexplored interior of that great land. They found a community where the main crop was potatoes. They had a good climate and good soil, but their harvest was always little tiny potatoes. About the size of marbles. The natives said that big potatoes just did not grow there.

The newcomers said that surely some big potatoes grew there. "Oh yes, we do get a few now and then," they admitted.

"What do you do with them?"

"Well," the local farmers answered, "We eat them, of course. The big ones are the best."  They were planting the runts. They were planting the potatoes that had the genes that produced ever smaller crops.

They were systematically reducing their crop as they took the biggest and best for themselves. The missionaries showed them that only when you plant the big ones - plant the best you have - will you get bigger ones in return.

We smile at the ignorance of people who do not understand this most basic of principles. Yet, we often do the very same thing. We say, "I want to keep the best for myself.   Whatever is left - the little potatoes - I will give to God. If I have any left - the ones I do not want - I will let God have them."

What will you give God today - your best - or the leftovers?  

Today, make sure you give God your absolute best - your best worship, your best time, your best work.

Today, give God the best of everything you say, everything you do, everything you own and most importantly, give your very life as the best sacrifice you can offer to your savior.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a 'living sacrifice', holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  Romans 12:1

- dave langerfeld

.....humility

God doesn't want us to remain as 'a child'. Doesn't He want us to grow? Absolutely! Paul addressed the Corinthian church as worldly rather than spiritual because they were "mere infants in Christ" 1 Corinthians 3:1. The church was experiencing many trials because they had failed to grow: "I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready" 1 Corinthians 3:2.

God's Word never calls us to maintain the faith or spiritual understanding of a child. These simple qualities are important, but we must continually grow and send down deep roots which will weather the storm. What we are called to maintain is the simple humility of a child. We must learn to be secure in our Father's hand and to "approach the throne of grace with confidence" Hebrews 4:16, but we must never let our confidence and security lead to an ungrateful assumption of His grace. We initially came to God weak and helpless, and no matter how much we grow - no matter how deep our roots - we remain weak and unable to add a single grain to the grace which He has poured over us.

But our weakness is good! In fact, an understanding of our weakness apart from Christ and our continued walk of weakness is one of the few offerings we can give to our Lord.

"'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' ...That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."2 Corinthians 12:9,10

God has chosen to unfold His plan through the lives of His children. We are to reflect the light of Christ into a dark and lifeless world; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20. And the world will best see Christ as we remove our own perceived strength and allow the power of God to freely work through us. His power is made perfect as I get my "self" out of the way and walk with a humble weakness.

It's interesting that one of the greatest things we can give to God is an understanding of what we do not have. Let's strip away our pride and once again approach Him with empty hands. Let's offer our lives as a living sacrifice, as a humble sacrifice of weakness.

- steve troxel

....children

When the disciples asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Matthew 18:1, He responded with a harsh rebuke; "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" Matthew 18:3. 

The disciples were arguing about their eternal "greatness" and Jesus said unless they changed they would not even enter Heaven! Obviously, following Jesus, listening to His teachings, and having a general belief is not enough.

Salvation, or as Jesus said, entering "the Kingdom of Heaven," involves a submission which understands our inability to save ourselves. We can do nothing but present the "filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6 of our life and receive the mercy and forgiveness of a loving Father. Salvation is not something we rise up and achieve, rather it's a gift for which we must submit and receive. When we understand this gift, we will be filled with such thankfulness that our only desire will be to love Him and do ALL to bring Him glory and honor.

"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."Matthew 18:4  Becoming like a little child, humbly dependent on Christ, is necessary for entering the Kingdom, but walking in humility as we grow is God's desire for our entire life. 

We are to be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. But it was His Son "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing...He humbled Himself and became obedient to death" Philippians 2:6-8. We are being conformed to His humility.

The great temptation of spiritual "growth" is in thinking we have all the answers and thus desiring to establish our own path with its own set of rules - we become like the know-it-all teenager. When this occurs, we must immediately, and with great determination, humble ourselves and put to death the rebellious pride which leads us astray. We must "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. We must daily remember the children we really are...and the children we need to continually become.

We certainly must continue to grow and mature. We must learn more of our Heavenly Father and His desire for our life as we walk in faith, and strive toward obedience in all He has commanded. But we must also remember that as we grow, we are to walk in humility and always remain like a child.

- steve troxel 

....? failure

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.... 1 Samuel 22:2

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, "Why am I living a life as a fugitive? I am the next king of Israel." Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him.

Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army - and what an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" 1 Chron. 11:10.

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer.

The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom -- if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

- os hillman

....fleas

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Corrie Ten Boom, in The Hiding Place, relates an incident that taught her an important principle. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck.

Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded, and flea infested. Their Scripture reading that morning in 1 Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted. She finally succumbed.

During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference. It was several months later when they learned that the guards would not enter the barracks because of the fleas!!!

There are times in our lives when we refuse to be thankful, especially when something is uncomfortable or causing us pain. We rarely feel inclined to thank God for the traffic on the freeway, the unhappy clients at work, the tantrums our toddlers have, or the unexpected illnesses that keep us from doing all the things we need to do. However, I have learned to sit and listen in the discomfort, because even there, God is present. Just like the fleas allowed Corrie and Betsy to freely share the Gospel and worship with others, our uncomfortable circumstances could also lead to something greater.

The tantrums my two-year-old throws is developing patience and love in me, and also teaching me how to discipline effectively. Common illnesses have forced me to slow down and spend time with God. The difficult client at work has led me to prayer. Listening to worship songs in the traffic has allowed me to have the most meaningful times with my Heavenly Father.

The next time you find yourself in unpleasant circumstances, thank God for that and ask Him to draw near and show you His will. Everything in the life of a Christian has a purpose. Let's take a moment to thank God for the "fleas" today.

- crystal

....past

Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27

"In 1642 England was caught up in the Civil War with Cromwell and the roundheads. Five years later King Charles the First was captured, tried and sentenced to death. He was executed on January 30, 1649. Fifty-nine men put their signatures to the death warrant.

When Charles II was restored to the throne some eleven years later, he wanted to avenge his father's death. However, by that time, some had died and others were living abroad. They were arrested, taken back to England, and ordered to stand trial.

As for those who had died, the bodies of fifteen signatories, many of whom had been dead for years, were exhumed and then hung on the gallows."

That's exactly what resentment does. It digs up the past. It is caused by nursing grudges and failing to forgive - a practice that God's Words warns us not to do. This is because buried and/or unresolved anger, hurt, grief, bitterness, etc., work like emotional cancer that "rots the bones," destroys relationships, and keeps one bound by the past.

"Failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die." No wonder that God's Word also says, "So get rid of your feelings of hatred [unresolved anger and resentment].  Don't just pretend to be good." 1 Peter 2:1

- richard innes

....serving

 “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

— Acts 20:35

When you were a kid and your birthday or Christmas was approaching, you mostly thought about the gifts you would get. But as you got older, you started thinking less about what you would get and more about what you would give.Your outlook changes because you mature. And you discover there is joy in giving.

In the same way, when we first become Christians, we want all that God had for us, and so we should. We go to church to learn, to take in, and that is great.

But as the years pass, we realize that God wants to work through us as well. As a result, we want to give more than receive. Of course, we must always take in before we can give out. But at the same time, we discover the joy of giving, the joy of serving.

The beautiful fringe benefit is that when we give, the Lord gives back to us. Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” Luke 6:38.

Why not commit yourself afresh to this blessed responsibility and privilege?

Have you lived your life well so far? Or are you squandering it in an elusive search for happiness and forgetting God in the process? Instead of finding happiness, maybe you’re finding misery. That’s because we find true happiness in knowing God through Jesus Christ. We don’t find it in anything on this earth.

We will find the true happiness that we seek in a relationship with God. The happy life is the life with God. So don’t settle for some cheap imitation this world offers. Pursue the real thing.

- greg laurie

....new

 So, did you make at least one New Year’s resolution? 

 

There are many who value making New Year’s resolutions.  Each January seems like a fresh start as if the troubles of the present year end every December 31.

 

Recently, I *learned of an annual event known as Takanakuy in Peru. Recognising that each year brings its own problems, people use the event to close off the previous year’s conflicts and disputes by fighting so they can start the new one harmoniously. Each December at Chumbivilcas province, in Cusco, crowds gather to watch the protagonists battle to settle their differences before the New Year begins. When they finish, grievances are set aside and the day ends with a fiesta. They are free to begin a new year afresh.

 

Yes, there are far better ways of settling accounts but the Peruvians cannot be faulted for wanting to set aside the differences before the year ends. To close off a year without resolving conflicts, forgiving or seeking forgiveness, and making reconciliation, will definitely guarantee a more difficult new year.

 

While we happily greeted 2023 with hope, in the back of our minds we knew that it won’t be so for many.  Yes, some will experience joy and great pleasure as they graduate, marry, give birth, etc. but others will be faced with news of terminal illness or other personal tragedies.  Moments of joy can quickly be tempered by the reality of living in a sinful world. So, we remain hopeful and often resolve to play our part in making the year more purposeful.

 

So, did you make a resolution?  Given that we have no power over natural occurrences in 2023, what goals have you set that will help you have a more purposeful life, regardless of your situation?  Although we don’t know what 2023 will bring, how about wanting to be closely connected to the One who holds our future in His hands [Psalm 16:5]?

 

Here are three resolutions to consider:

If not already doing so, begin having daily personal relationship-building time with God.  Using only the Bible, take time to read from it and contemplate God, His worth, glory, love, and how He acts. Daily pray for the Holy Spirit to govern your life.

 

Physically participating in public worship in the church building. As disciples, we are part of the body of Christ.  Let’s not deny ourselves fellowship with the rest of the body. We need each other for growth.

 

Regularly engage in acts of service in your neighbourhood and live as a disciple to others.

If you take time to think about these resolutions, you may also see them as the most important ones you can make for 2023. If you do, let these be among your resolutions.  

It’s not too late to make them today.

- halsey peat