.....secure

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws." Ezekiel 36:26-27

When we truly believe in Jesus, we enter into a covenant and God transforms our heart by His Spirit; "a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance" Ephesians 1:14. At that moment we are "sealed for the day of redemption" Ephesians 4:30. And when we enter into His saving covenant, we are purchased with the blood of Jesus: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

We are still called to continue in the faith, but God has promised we WILL continue; "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 1:8. He is the giver and sustainer of eternal life; "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" John 10:28.

We are called to love God and continue to love Him with all our heart. This calling is clear! Let's remain within His arms of love, and trust that as we do, we are eternally secure.

.....crucified

Our new life begins with faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin. When we are "born again," we cross from an eternal death to an eternal life; "whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" John 5:24. 

Sin caused our condemnation and required our death, but Jesus took our sin and received sin's punishment. When we identify ourselves with Christ, we also identify with His death; "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Romans 6:3.

True salvation requires that we are "baptized into Christ," which means we completely identify with His life and sacrifice on the cross. He was put to death for our sins and has crucified the old sinful nature of all who believe; "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" Galatians 2:20.

The old nature has been crucified - it is dead! Granted, we often attempt to bring that comfortable old nature back to life and allow it to war with the things of the Spirit, but the old nature can no longer take control - it can no longer win!

This understanding will bring a glorious victory and freedom. The life we live in this body is not our own, we have died with Christ; "The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" Galatians 6:14. And if we have died to the world, the world cannot harm us and should not cause us to fear. But our new life is much more than the identification with His death. The purpose of being crucified with Christ is so we can also be resurrected with Him and live a resurrected life.

"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection."Romans 6:4-5

We have not been crucified so we can simply wait to be taken out of the world. The new life we have received ought to set us free - free from the pulls of this world, free from the world's definition of success and failure, free from the concern of how others evaluate our life, and free to live each day for the glory of God.

Our lives should be a witness to the power of the gospel. If the gospel message resides in our heart, then we have been empowered to change the way we live today! We have died to the power of sin and been made alive to the contented joy of Christ. Let's demonstrate the power of the gospel by living a life which is both crucified and resurrected.

- steve troxel

.....laboring

As we are "crucified with Christ" Galatians 2:20 and live "united with Him in His resurrection" Romans 6:5, we begin to view more and more of our life through the eyes of God. What we once saw as critically important begins to fade; and what we once neglected, we now begin to see as beloved by our Heavenly Father.

We can no longer build according to our old set of priorities. In fact, when we truly come in full submission to the cross of Jesus, we find we can no longer build anything according to our own design or in our own strength. We discover we must make God the Master Builder of every area of our life or we are wasting precious time, energy, and resources.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." Psalm 127:1

Our life goes by so fast, and our eternal vision is so very limited. Many of us are frantically building our castle and have failed to see we are building with sand which will crumble with the swell of the next tide. We may be struggling to build in our marriage, children, parents, job, school, friends, or even our ministry. But if we are expending great effort without results which are pleasing to God, we must honestly ask the question: "Who is doing the building?"

Even if our effort meets with apparent success, we must ask the same question and relinquish controls to God. Our greatest projects, if built in our own strength, will one day pass through the fire and be consumed; "the fire will test the quality of each man's work" 1 Corinthians 3:13. The standard of quality is determined by God, not man! It will be a sad day if we find we have spent a lifetime building that which is consumed by fire; "he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" 1 Corinthians 3:15.

In order for God to properly build, we must first submit to the refining He desires to accomplish. He will mold us into the likeness of His Son as we are fully devoted to loving Him, learning His Word, and applying His Truth as the absolute foundation of our life: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" James 1:22-24.

God is not just the best solution, He is the ONLY solution worth pursuing. Heavenly Father, help us to not waste another moment of this precious life you have given. Help us see where we have taken too much control and give us the strength and courage to turn over ALL to You. 

Dear Lord, work through us to build what will last for eternity, help us to stop laboring in vain! 

- steve troxel

.....compassion

As we open our hearts to minister to those around us, we soon discover we live in an imperfect world full of sickness, heartache, and frustrations. Many of us (many more than we realize) are facing trials which are sometimes quite severe. When we are finally invited into someone's private world and allowed to hear of their pain, it can be difficult to know what to do or say.

As we grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus, we learn of His truths: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. We understand and usually have some actual experience with God's loving plan and purpose. But there are times when this type of advice - even this type of truth - can be a little cold and fail to comfort or draw someone closer to God.

While it's absolutely true that God will use our pain and suffering for His glory and for our ultimate good, it may not be the first response someone needs to hear when they enter a difficult trial. We must learn to be sensitive to the more immediate need.

When Lazarus became very sick, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus but He did not come until after Lazarus died. Mary fell at Jesus' feet and cried: "Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died" John 11:32. At that moment, Jesus did NOT begin preaching "Rejoice in the Lord always!" Philippians 4:4. There would be other opportunities for sermons, other opportunities to speak about faith and trust, but in this moment the need simply required compassion.

"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled...Jesus wept."John 11:33,35

The Creator of the Universe wept! From the beginning of time, Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead; He knew many lives would soon be changed through this miracle. Though good would ultimately come from this pain and sorrow, these were real people who were grieving: "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus" John 11:5. 

In this time of greatest need, Jesus took time to show He truly cared and understood their pain.

The world is in great need of the healing power of Jesus Christ. Sin has caused separation from God and left many lives in a mess. As we minister through encouragement and the truth of God's Word, we are called to do so while "speaking the truth in love" Ephesians 4:15. But love does not exist outside of a relationship. And in a loving relationship we will often best demonstrate God's truth by listening and providing comfort with a Godly compassion.

- steve troxel

.....healing

"Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?'" John 11:40

God had prepared a miracle which would cause many others to believe and bring glory and honor to His name: "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me...I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me" John 11:41,42. 

Jesus then proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead! "Lazarus, come out!" John 11:43.

We've all been in bad situations which have caused us to cry out and wonder why God didn't just make things "right." Why didn't He remove the enemy, restore our finances, or take away the hurt? And how many times have we become burdened by the apparent injustice in the world; "I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked...surely in vain have I kept my heart pure" Psalm 73:3,13.

God has the ability to "fix" every situation, but His plan is so much more - though I confess I do not always understand the process. His plan is for us to know Him and His glory; to trust Him and grow while being strengthened through every trial; to continue to be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. His plan is to prepare us for an eternity in His presence.

We must trust God to refine and strengthen our faith, even if by fires which He did not cause! No matter what trials we face, we must trust that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28.

- steve troxel

....consistent

"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32

God loves us so much that He gave us His absolute best; "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. This love assures us He will give exactly what we require to become sons and daughters who glorify His name. God will not give up on a project which cost Him the life of His Son; "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" Philippians 1:6.

When we give God our life through faith in Jesus, we must also trust He will not allow the fire to get hotter than we can stand or the load heavier than we can bear - He will never leave us nor forsake us Hebrews 13:5. 

Let's trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and then focus on what is eternal as we give Him a lifetime of consistent trust.

.....warmed

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

2 Peter 1:4 

In 1703, John Wesley was born into the “family business.” Rev. Samuel Wesley was the rector (administrator) of the Anglican church in Epworth, England. John and his younger brother Charles were raised to go into the ministry just as their father had. 

For John, that career path almost didn’t happen. In 1709, when John was still five years old, the rectory where his family lived caught fire and the lad was trapped in an upper bedroom. A parishioner, standing on another man’s shoulders, rescued John from the fire. Later, Wesley would refer to himself as “a brand plucked out of the fire,” quoting Zechariah 3:2. 

In 1720, Wesley became a student at Christ Church college in Oxford, graduating in 1724. He was ordained the following year and eventually served as a parish priest in London. He went to America in 1735, along with Charles, to serve the new settlement in what is today’s state of Georgia, returning two years later. Throughout this period, Wesley often just went through the motions of his religion. 

He saw the Moravians, German pietists, during his voyage to America and marveled at their faith and dedication. He could preach and see people come to faith in Christ, but he lacked assurance of his own salvation.

 

On the evening of May 24, 1738, John Wesley’s life was to change forever. That morning, he’d read the words in 2 Peter 1:4 and noticed similar phrases elsewhere in Scripture. That evening, Wesley attended a meeting in the Aldersgate. At about 8:45 p.m., as the speaker read from Luther’s treatise on the book of Romans, God’s love broke through: “While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” 

Wesley’s pastoral career took a different direction after Aldersgate. He preached personal holiness, brought forward the Arminian teaching that a saved person could be lost, and attracted followers who in turn preached the Wesleyan message throughout England and beyond. The lad literally “plucked out of the fire” lived a life that God used to change the world. 

Reflect: 

How has the desire for holiness affected your life and approach to faith? Find a “great and precious promise” from the Bible and memorize it today.

- doug batchelor  

.....rock

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:24-27

In this wonderful mountainside message, Jesus taught about Salvation; "enter through the narrow gate" Matthew 7:13, but He also taught extensively about basic Christian living - what Paul referred to as being "in step with the Spirit" Galatians 5:25. Jesus said that both the foolish and the wise man heard His words and set out to build a house, but only one man followed God's design, and only one house remained standing after the storm.

Salvation is never earned by "doing," but true believers will strive to be obedient to what Jesus taught; "If you hold to My teachings, you are really My disciples" John 8:31. We are obedient because our heart has been transformed and His Spirit now compels us to follow; "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands" 1 John 2:3. We may stumble and sometimes fall, we may even become frustrated at the frequency of our falls, but if we are a child of God we will continue to get back up and move toward obedience because of who we are in Christ!

Each of us have been given a choice on how to build our life: our way or God's way. We must allow our Heavenly Father to become our Master Builder, and, as His plan unfolds, we must learn to trust Him with ALL our heart. He promises to work through us to build something eternally beautiful that will weather all storms. 

But His promise is only applied as we faithfully allow Him to build our life upon the rock of obedience.

- steve troxel

......vessel

"Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."James 3:11-12

Are we trying to walk on both sides of the fence? Do we maintain our "Godly" activities alongside our "ungodly" activities? Do we praise God and discuss Biblical issues during certain portions of the week and then lust after the world during the other? If so, beware! The ungodly will soon overtake and totally consume the Godly...and we won't even be aware it's happening. If we're not careful, we will one day look at what consumes our attention and say, "How did I come to this place in my life? When did I leave God's path?"

The good news is we have been given the Holy Spirit as the Great Purifier. If we make the time to carefully listen, He will "guide us into all truth" John 16:13. If we submit to His leading, He will strain, sift, distill, and refine until all that remains is the fresh and the pure.

Purity does not come by separation from the world, it comes as our heart is wholly separated unto God. We have been planted amongst the weeds of the world and there we will remain until the day of the great harvest Matthew 13:24-30. 

But while we must live and minister among the things of this world, and while we can certainly be thankful for some of God's worldly blessings and provisions, we must never give our worship to the things of this world: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" 1 John 2:15.

Jesus has made us into a new vessel and asked that we be filled with what is pure and holy. Let's stop mixing fresh and salty water, Godly and ungodly devotion. Let's commit every area of our life (without compromise!) to our Heavenly Father and glorify Him in all we do by becoming a vessel of purity.

- steve troxel

......beginning

“Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. ”

Revelation 3:3

Was there a time in your life when you were stronger spiritually than you are now? If there was, then you can return to that place again.

Think for a moment about what you did when you were a younger Christian. You probably read your Bible every day and had a prayer life. It’s likely that you were a regular at church and that you shared your faith. Do you still do those things?

Sometimes we have a breakdown in the basics of the Christian life, and we wonder what’s going wrong. It isn’t a mystery. We need to get back to doing those things again.

Jesus’ words to the church in Sardis: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again” Revelation 3:1–3.

This is a picture of a church that needed to come back to life—to awaken and get back to its roots. And this is what we all want to do. But it starts individually.

If you want to see a revival, then you need to do revival-like things. It doesn’t matter whether you feel it; just do it. Emotions will catch up. Don’t wait for a big encounter with God or some emotional experience. That may happen, or it may not. To have a personal revival, you need to go back to the basics in your walk with Christ.

We can talk all day long about a spiritual awakening in the world. 

We can talk all day long about revival. 

But it starts with each one of us.

......found

"'I will come to you and fulfill My gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.'"Jeremiah 29:10-13

God's plan has always been to give us hope and a future, to prosper us and keep us from harm, but His plan can never be separated from a life devoted to Him. There is no hope - no future or security - apart from resting in His arms. And the only lasting prosperity and peace comes as we walk in step with His Spirit. 

Why do we not trust Him to fully guide our path? 

And why do we seek His plan for our life without bothering to first seek Him?!

God's plan is for us to be restored to Him and glorify His name as we love Him with all our heart. All other plans regarding the specific circumstances of our existence flow out of His plan for a loving relationship filled with worship; "seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:33. Seek Him first!

Yes, He has promised a glorious future - not necessarily a future free of trouble, but a future filled with "the peace of God which transcends all understanding" Philippians 4:7, a future where we can learn real prosperity by "being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12. But this future can only be had by those who seek Him with all their heart.

Let's allow God to be the all-consuming top priority of our life. Let's diligently seek Him in times of quiet as well as in the midst of the endless multitude of daily activities. And let's be filled with hope and encouraged by His promise that as we faithfully seek Him with all our heart, He will be found! 

- steve troxel

.....witness

"Jesus said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.'" Mark 16:15

Many of you have read the story about a Sunday School teacher named Edward Kimball.  Mr. Kimball was a timid shoe salesman who gathered the nerve to share the gospel with a co-worker named Dwight Moody.  D.L. Moody made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and later went on to become one of the greatest evangelists in history.

 

Do you know the rest of the story?  D.L. Moody went to England and worked a profound change in the ministry of F.B. Meyer.  F.B. Meyer, with his new evangelistic fervor, influenced a college student named J. Wilbur Chapman. Chapman accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and employed a converted baseball player in his ministry named Billy Sunday.  Billy Sunday became the greatest evangelist of his generation.  

Billy Sunday preached the gospel in Charlotte, North Caroline and had such a tremendous impact that he was invited back.  However, when he was unable to return, he recommended a preacher named Mordecai Ham. Ham went to Charlotte and preached his heart out, but there was only a limited response to his preaching.  

On the last night of Mordecai Ham's revival, a tall, lanky boy who worked on a dairy farm walked forward and asked Jesus to come into his heart.  The local folks knew him as Billy Frank, but we all know him as Billy Graham.   

When we reflect on the tremendous life and ministry of Billy Graham, it is also a wonderful time to reflect on the fact that it all started with a laymen named Edward Kimball, who took seriously Christ's commission to be a witness in his world.

It is highly unlikely that you and I will ever become a Billy Sunday or a Billy Graham, but every single one of us can be an "Edward Kimball".  Every one of us can share the gospel with those we see every day of our lives.   

....ites

When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations - the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you - and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Deuteronomy 7:1-2

These enemies posed a serious physical threat, but the longer term danger was to their spiritual survival. God wanted these "Ites" completely destroyed because their worldly gods would continually pull at the heart of His chosen people; "Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods" Deuteronomy 11:16.

This can be a difficult message with today's soft view of sin. But there is an important lesson for each of us who long for a close relationship with God. Today, Jesus has provided the path to righteousness; "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" Romans 3:22. 

But God still desires the entirety of our heart and expects us to turn from anything which pulls us away from an unhindered and unrestrained devotion.

As he leads us into His promised land of rest and peace, there will always be enemies which entice us to turn from God, many temptations which compete for our time and thoughts...and for our worship. These "Ites" will appear stronger than our ability to conquer. But as we follow hard after God, He will grant us victory; "the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you" Deuteronomy 7:22.

What enemies take us away from the worship of God? What addictions, activities, desires or fears are consuming our heart and keeping us from being focused on Jesus - keeping us from a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father? Let's be determined to possess the land and fully give our heart to God. 

Let's identify the enemies which hinder our walk and, without mercy, let's completely destroy the Ites.

- steve troxel

.....defined

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be My disciple  Luke 14:26

These may be the most difficult words Jesus ever spoke. Clearly, Jesus is not calling us to a life of hate. That would be completely inconsistent with the rest of God's Word; "A new command I give you: Love one another" John 13:34, and "Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31. The problem is not with Jesus' use of the word hate but with our understanding of the word love. With the same word we say we love our food, our pet, our spouse, our home and...our Jesus? Oh Lord, forgive us!

Jesus is not saying we should love our life or family any less, rather that we should love our Heavenly Father more - much more! He is saying that unless our love for God is so great that our love for the things of this world appears as hatred by comparison, then we do not yet understand the love He desires and deserves.

We are called to love God with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But this love cannot be properly defined with our limited vocabulary. As we live a life of love, NOTHING must ever come close to competing with His rightful place on the Throne. He alone is worthy of our worship and praise - He alone is worthy of our true love.

There are certainly some addictive behaviors and time consuming bad habits which greatly hinder our relationship with God. These must be removed and destroyed without mercy or compromise. But most areas of our life can be placed in proper order by elevating our love and passion for God. 

Let's allow our attachment and feelings toward the blessings of this world to become as dust when compared with the mountain of hunger and passion for our Heavenly Father. We may forever be stuck with the same inadequate word, but let's live with a heart dedicated to loving God with a newly defined love.

- steve troxel

....gratitude

 1. Gratitude glorifies God. 

This alone would be reason to give thanks to God. Our gratitude glorifies God as we exalt not the gifts, but the Giver. Gratitude helps us realize all we have comes not because of us, but from God.   "And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory." (2 Corinthians 4:15)

2. Gratitude helps us see God. 

Gratitude opens our spiritual eyes. There’s a beautiful cycle in giving God thanks: the more we thank Him, the more we see Him working in us and around us. Gratitude helps us sense God’s presence, His personal care and His perfect timing.  "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." (James 1:16-17)

 

3. Gratitude puts us squarely in God’s will. 

We often make God’s will out to be some big, mystical plan when sometimes, it’s simply obedience. And part of His will for us is to be thankful, not just on the sunny days but on the hard ones as well.  "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

4. Gratitude brings peace. 

Count your blessings, not sheep! We’re told to get rid of the worry that's keeping us up at night. Gratitude helps us see that God’s hand is all over our circumstances. And God tells us when that when we give him our thanks, He gives us supernatural peace.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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." (Philippians 4:6-7)

5. Gratitude draws us to God. 

Gratitude for the magnitude of God’s undeserved kindness draws us to Him. We see that when Jesus healed 10 lepers. As Jesus walked by, all 10 cried out for healing. “Go, show yourselves to the priests,” Jesus commanded, and as they went, they were healed! Fingers were restored and ulcers disappeared as full sensation returned to their faces and limbs. Certainly they were all happy, but only one was thankful. Only one came back to Jesus, fell as his feet and thanked him.  "Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?' Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'” (Luke 17:17-19)

 

6. Gratitude brings contentment. 

It’s said that gratitude makes what we have enough. If we aren’t grateful for what God has given us, getting more won’t satisfy us either. Being thankful is the key to contentment.  "... Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these." (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

 

7. Gratitude deepens faith. 

Keeping a record of God’s past faithfulness is a faith boost when we face new difficulty. My gratitude journals are testimonies that on my hardest days and in the worst circumstances, God’s record of faithfulness is 100%. That’s why God commanded Israel to remember His great deeds.  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1)

 

8. Gratitude leads to joy. 

The overflow of gratitude is joy. Realizing God’s abundant goodness, even in the hard times, is a gateway for joy. Psalms 126 shows this so clearly as the Hebrew exiles sang their thanks to God for bringing them back to Israel. It’s a psalm I prayed in advance for years.  "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126:1-3)

9. Gratitude defies Satan’s lies. 

Satan is so wily! He whispers that God isn’t good; that He’s withholding good from us. But his scheme is as old as the Garden of Eden, where he questioned Eve: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” When Eve responded only the tree of good and evil was off-limits, Satan suggested God was keeping good from them. “You will not certainly die... For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”   In a garden that was perfect, that produced abundantly without work or weeding, where every single plant but ONE had been given to Adam and Eve, Satan focused on the lack. True gratitude for God and the abundance He gives protects us from caving to the enemy’s lies.  "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11)

 

10. Gratitude guards against envy. 

Envy makes us want what someone else has. "Hey, we deserve it!" Gratitude makes us realize God has given us far more than we deserve. Because there’s enough for everyone, we can cheer rather than compare. A heart wholly grateful has no room left for envy. "I will give You thanks with all my heart." (Psalm 138:1)

11. Gratitude helps us live in the present. 

“Wherever you are, be all there!” Jim Elliot famously said. But that’s difficult to do in the worry and rush of life. Gratitude helps. Gratitude opens our eyes to the simple beauty of ordinary days. It lets us see this day and this moment as gifts and to take in the abundance right now. "Say not, 'Why were the former days better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask this." (Ecclesiastes 7:10)

 

12. Gratitude is a testimony. 

When we thank God openly and acknowledge what He’s done for us, we proclaim a personal, caring God to the world around us. We show that contentment and peace come not from what we have, but from Who we know.  "Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done." (Psalm 105:1)

- with thanks from Dave Langerfeld

....go

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem[Local], and in all Judea and Samaria [Regional], and to the ends of the earth [International] Acts 1:8

Jesus' death initiated the new covenant agreement between God and man; "this cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20). And on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given to all who believed and had entered into this new covenant. Jesus' final instruction to the apostles was for them to be witnesses of this message of hope - to take this message of the new covenant in Christ and the power of His Spirit into the mission field.

Jesus defined the mission field as "to the ends of the earth," meaning the extent of the known world (as far as anyone could possibly travel), but He also said to witness "in all Judea and Samaria" (the surrounding area or countries), and "in Jerusalem" (the city where they currently lived). Jesus was saying: Wherever you go - whether near or far - be My witness and boldly proclaim the good news; "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant" 2 Corinthians 3:6.

All who truly profess Jesus as Lord and Savior have been sealed and empowered by His Spirit and are now to be witnesses of the Gospel; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20. 

Our mission field will not necessarily be in a foreign land, or with a different language, but it WILL be filled with those who need to hear, see, taste, and feel the message of Jesus. And our life ought to be a clear demonstration of that message!

....obedience

We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. We were not looking for praises from men, not from you or anyone else. 1 Thessalonians 2:4,6

God has entrusted us with His gospel message, and we must minister out of an obedience to this trust and a desire to glorify Him in all we do. We are setting ourselves up for failure anytime we become motivated by results or praise. God will often bless us and confirm His leading with fruit in our ministry, but our focus and motivation must always remain on loving Him through our simple obedience. He has called and we must follow for a lifetime, regardless of the result of each individual step.

We must serve and trust that God will bring the harvest in His perfect timing; "for the battle is not yours, but God's" 2 Chronicles 20:15. These are God's battles and ultimately His harvest. Our job is to simply enter the field, plow, and continue to scatter seed. The praises of men will come and go, but the joy of knowing that God is glorified by our obedience is steady and unshakable.

Our efforts may sometimes seem futile, and we may feel completely unqualified, but we must continue - we have been "approved by God!" Our love and encouragement toward others may appear to have minimal effect, but a small nudge today can cause a lifetime of change. An offer of prayer can give renewed hope, and a simple testimony of God's faithfulness in times of trial can soften a heart to the saving gospel of Jesus.

As each of us enter the mission field, God will use us to change the lives of those He places in our path. One day, when we stand in His presence, we may be allowed to see the true impact of our service. But until that time, we must simply continue to serve and be motivated by obedience.

- steve troxel

.....trust

The Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?' 'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.' Judges 6:14-15

Gideon was scared and saw himself as one with little worth, "the least in my family," but God saw the next brave leader of a nation. Gideon saw weakness, but God saw strength. Gideon saw his past failures, but God saw the future victories of a mighty warrior. Gideon's vision required him to fearfully work for his next loaf, but God's vision was calling Gideon to boldly lead many others closer to His side.

God sees each of us much differently than we see ourselves; "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7. Not only does God see deeper, He sees with an expanded spiritual spectrum which we can scarcely imagine. Our Father is intimately aware of all our failings...and He loves us anyway! He not only sees who we are, but also who we will become as our heart is fully devoted to Him and we learn to walk in step with His Spirit. He sees every opportunity we will ever have to glorify His name.

Let's put aside the baggage of our past which clouds and distorts our view. Let's refuse to look through the filter of our present understanding and perceived limitations; "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" 2 Corinthians 4:18. 

God has called us into His Glorious Kingdom, uniquely equipped us for His service, and given us an assignment to share His love and truth. Our Heavenly Father sees our full potential as we walk in His strength. 

Let's answer the call and move forward with confidence as we trust His vision.

- steve troxel

.....cry

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God  Psalm 84:1-2

This passage was written by one who knew God and the joy of His presence. But the author also knew of man's inability to be satisfied with anything less.

Before we know God, we attempt to stop the cry with all sorts of pacifiers, but nothing satisfies. We pursue pleasures of the flesh, challenges of the mind, and advancement in status, but the cry remains. Sooner or later we realize that Solomon was correct when he said; "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind" Ecclesiastes 1:14.

Many things of this world are worthwhile as they are done for the glory of God; but in the sense that they attempt to satisfy, they are all meaningless. The ONLY answer to the unsettled and restless longing deep within our soul is to return to a restored relationship with God. 

When we place our life in the Father's Hands through faith in Jesus, He gives us His Spirit and says, Welcome Home! "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" Romans 8:16. And as we learn to walk in this restored relationship, we will finally be at peace.

There are so many things of this world which can occupy our time and consume our thoughts, but none that will truly satisfy. Our search can continue until our time on earth is gone, but the emptiness will remain. Let's return to the Father today and live the rest of our days fully devoted to loving Him. 

Let's put an end to the chasing and wandering, and finally allow God to satisfy the cry of our heart.

- steve troxel 

....concerns

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers Isaiah 65:24

Literally, I had no agenda. Many things had been on my mind, though.  Several situations I’d been mulling over. A few people that had been especially on my heart. Some unresolved issues stewing in the back corners of my brain.

So, I had no agenda when we went to church for an evening service of refreshing and renewing. I just knew that there would be a time to be quiet and be still before the Lord.

With beautiful music in the background, I began to zone out, let my mind wander. As I was still, sitting there, I felt so thankful to be in the presence of the Lord.  God began to whisper softly to me, not in an audible voice, but ever so gently. He began addressing one by one the concerns of my heart. Gradually I began to be aware that He was sharing with me direction and answers to these unspoken concerns.

Later, I thought about how amazing God is.  Amazing God! Amazing grace! How good to remember that God knows our deepest needs and desires before they are even fully formed in our minds, or on our lips. And, that in His time, the perfect time, He will answer the concerns of our hearts. Even if we have ‘no agenda’.

- sally kennedy

....forever

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him James 1:12

A sort of "mini-crash" is what I termed it.  After an unknown computer error, the address book contacts, names and email addresses, were no longer there.  I thought of just scrapping the whole project looming in front of me.  But then, it seemed the right thing to begin the arduous task of re-entering data.

It was painstakingly slow. I seemed to be getting nowhere fast. It wasn't the computer's fault, and not really mine either. It was something that just happened.

In life, things happen. The computer scenario seemed to take forever; in actuality it did not. It made me think of the real desert times, experiences of the 'dark night of the soul'.  Those times in our lives when we are waiting, hoping, praying.... and things seems to be taking forever.

If by any chance, you are in one of those places, you can know that it will not last forever.  We have to hang in there and hold onto the promises that God has given us in the Bible.  We have to do our part and stay faithful and allow God to work on His timetable.  He is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24  

.....reaction

Look at how Mary and Zechariah reacted to God's work in their lives, they immediately praised God. You may think that was the natural thing to do, but take a closer look.

Mary knew she would be ridiculed for being pregnant and unmarried. . . 

she faced the reality that her fiance, Joseph, could break their engagement. . . 

she understood that the penalty if she was found guilty of adultery was death. And yet in the midst of that, out of her heart came praises to her Lord Luke 1:46!

Zechariah had just regained his ability to speak after being mute for over 9 months. He didn't express bitterness against God. . . nor did he question God's methods. . . he immediately began praising His Lord, the God of Israel Luke 1:68.

What is your reaction to difficult situations? 

   Do you complain? 

   Question God? 

   Become bitter? 

   Withdraw from people?

   Try to escape from your problems? 

The next time you're in a predicament, try following Mary and Zechariah's example. . . turn your eyes toward God and praise Him for who He is! 

 

......bible

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer — Acts 2:42 

Luke, the author of Acts, could have brought a lot of things to our attention about the early church. After all, first-century believers were vibrant and joyful, and the church was rapidly expanding. But he made a point of reminding us that they studied God’s Word together.

In chapter 2 he wrote, “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer”. It could have been a temptation for the first-century believers to look back with great fondness on Pentecost and say, “Why can’t every service be like Pentecost? Remember the Spirit coming upon us and the divided flames of fire? Remember all the languages we spoke in?”

Though Pentecost was the explosion that started the engine, it was time to drive the car. And the early church reveled in the Word of God.

What is true of the church should be true of us as individuals. If you have no interest in the Bible, if you find it boring, then maybe you should ask yourself whether you know God as you really ought to.   The Bible is alive and powerful. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires”.

Martin Luther said, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold on me.”

A trend in the church today is to disregard or marginalize the study of Scripture. The first-century church, however, studied doctrine. And if we’re not careful with our doctrine, we might end up loving the wrong Jesus or believing the wrong things.

The early church loved the Word of God, and so should we.

- greg laurie

.....need

Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them Matt 21:2-3. 

In Bible times, donkeys were a primary means for distributing goods and services. They represented commerce in the scriptures. Jesus told the disciples He had need of someone's donkey to ride into Jerusalem, the religious and spiritual center of their society. It would become known as Jesus' triumphal entry. 

A friend and I were attending a Christian business conference in Singapore. It was the night before I was to speak a second time when I was prompted to add a teaching segment on the above passage of scripture.

 

I am sure the disciples must have been uneasy with their master's request to untie a perfect stranger's donkey and take it. After all, He was asking them to take what was the equivalent to a man's "truck." And men love their trucks! Jesus was illustrating that He wanted to use that man's donkey, or that which represented their work, to bring glory to the Father. 

The next morning my friend and I went to breakfast. While we were eating, a lady named Maggie joined us. Maggie was from Malaysia and was an intercessor for the conference. She fasted 40 days in preparation for the event. "So, Maggie, has the Lord spoken to you about this conference?" I said. "Oh yes," she said, very excitedly. On September 17 the Lord said that the Singapore business people needed to give their donkeys to the Lord." My friend and I looked at one another in amazement. God was confirming His Word to me from the night before. 

That day the focus of our conference became the need for the Singapore business people to "give their donkeys" to the Lord. Friend, have you ever dedicated your work life to the Lord? Today, why not commit your donkey to the Lord. He will use it to bring glory to Himself and fulfill your life more than you could ever imagine.

- os hillman

....plan

On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed! Jonah 3:4

It was a stunning spiritual awakening. An entire city of about one million people turned to God. They even turned from their sin of violence, which they were known for. God spared Nineveh and sent a nation wide revival.

Amazingly, they turned to God after they heard this simple message from Jonah: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” Jonah 3:4 The very fact that Jonah gave them a warning was somewhat hopeful. For instance, when God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, He didn’t send a warning. There was no prophet walking through their streets. Judgment came suddenly.

But in Nineveh’s case, Jonah warned them. And the Bible tells us that “the people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow” verse 5.

This reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God. These people were exceptionally wicked, yet God saved them. Do you know someone who is a sinner with a capital S? You can’t imagine, in your wildest dreams, that they ever would come to faith in Christ.

God can save that person. Remember, Saul of Tarsus was converted. He hunted down, tortured, and killed Christians. Yet God took hold of him. So, start praying for that unbeliever by name. I think sometimes we prepare for failure, not success. A young preacher once complained to Charles Spurgeon that whenever he preached, no one came to Christ.

“Do you expect people to come to Christ every time you preach?” Spurgeon asked.

“Well, of course not.”

“That is your problem,” Spurgeon told him.

Missionary William Carey said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” 

- greg laurie

....invasion

Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name — Psalm 80:18 

We can’t create a revival. 

We can’t organize a revival. 

But we can agonize in prayer for a revival. 

A revival is a supernatural invasion of God. 

It is something that God does for us and not something we do for Him.

One person defined revival as a community saturated with God. Richard Owen Roberts, who wrote a great book called Revival, described it as “an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.”

A. W. Tozer defined revival as that which changes the moral climate of the community.

Revival is nothing more or less than a new beginning of obedience to God. And really, nonbelievers don’t need revival; they need salvation. The church needs revival. Revival is for believers only, but evangelism is for nonbelievers.

Charles Spurgeon said, “To be revived is a blessing which can only be enjoyed by those who have some degree of life. Those who have no spiritual life are not, and cannot be, in the strictest sense of the term, subjects of a revival. A true revival is to be looked for in the Church of God.”

I don’t think most Americans have heard an authentic, biblical gospel presentation. In fact, I think we have a lot of “almost Christians” in our nation today. They know a little about the gospel, but they don’t understand it fully. They haven’t responded to it or embraced it.

When the apostle Paul presented the gospel to Herod Agrippa, the ruler said, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” Acts 26:28. One of the greatest revivals in human history started with one man, Jonah. Initially he ran from God, but ultimately he came to his senses. 

God has called us, like Jonah, to go and preach the gospel. The question is, are we doing it?

- greg laurie

.....disturbing

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil — Ephesians 5:15–16

There never was a dull day for the first-century followers of Jesus. In fact, it seems that wherever Paul went, there was either a conversion or a riot.  The early church didn’t have modern technology at their disposal. Yet in a relatively short time, these believers changed their world. They permeated their culture. Tertullian, a Christian leader and a contemporary of these early followers of Christ, said of the church, “We are but of yesterday, and we have filled every place among you—cities, islands, fortresses, towns, marketplaces, the very camp, tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum—we have left nothing to you but the temples of your gods.”

He was pointing to the fact that the church had infiltrated everything. There were even Christians in the palace of Caesar. This is what we need today. We need Christians to go out and make a difference. We need Christians involved in the arts, making great films and creating graphic design. We need Christians in places of authority, because the Bible says that when the righteous rule, the people rejoice Proverbs 29:2

We need Christian doctors, lawyers, and businesspeople. We need believers to let their light shine in this culture today. Religious leaders in Thessalonica had this to say about Paul and Silas: “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” Acts 17:6 

G. Campbell Morgan said, “Organized Christianity which fails to make a disturbance is dead.”

Believers in the first century made a disturbance because they understood that God had called them to do their part. They took risks. They left their comfort zones. In the Book of Acts, we see their fearless preaching, their expectant prayer, and their willingness to obey God.

Twenty-first-century believers should be living like these first-century believers, impacting our culture. We should be making a difference. We should be turning our world upside down

- greg laurie