....know

When a child is born into a family, there is almost an instant bond of love. The parent and child spend LOTS of time together and truly begin to know each other. The parent knows the needs of the child, and the child knows the parent as the provider of comfort and security.

But as the child grows, other activities and friends can begin to limit time together. In the search for independence, there can often be rebellion toward parental instruction and counsel. In many families all around the world, the parent and child drift apart and no longer communicate as they once had - they sadly cease to know one another.

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better Ephesians 1:16-17

Notice this is Paul's continuous prayer, that we be given revelation and wisdom. Revelation is the unveiling of God's truth, and wisdom is the application of His truth in our lives. Both of these are necessary and serve the single purpose of knowing Him better.

As we continue in our relationship with Jesus Christ, there is a tendency to hit those spiritual teenage years where we have things pretty well figured out - or so we think. We begin to gain "self" confidence and trust in our own ability. We get more involved in activities and with friends, but one day we wake and find we have drifted. We did not intentionally walk away, but there is a definite loss of passion; the relationship is strained and we no longer really know God.

As a loving father longs to hold his children, our Heavenly Father longs for us to draw near and know Him; "Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me" Jeremiah 9:24. The Bible always speaks about knowing someone as a very personal and loving relationship; "Adam knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain" Genesis 4:1. Jesus even defined eternal life as a state of knowing; "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" John 17:3. Knowing God certainly means more than knowing things about God; knowing involves a passionate identification with Jesus as the one who was sent. Through Christ we are allowed to truly know God!

The road back to a restored relationship begins with spending time together. No matter how busy we get we must continue to humbly come into the presence of God, confess the sin which causes separation, fellowship with Him in prayer and the quiet study of His Word, and listen intently for His direction. Let's commit to loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let's be determined to take the necessary steps to draw near to God and know Him better.

- steve troxel

.....23

My Shepherd will supply my need—Jehovah is His name;

In pastures fresh He makes me feed, beside the living stream.

He brings my wand’ring spirit back when I forsake His name;

He leads me, for His mercy’s sake, in paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death, Thy presence is my stay;

One word of Thy supporting breath drives all my fears away.

Thy hand, in sight of all my foes, doth still my table spread;

My cup with blessing overflows, Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God attend me all my days;

O may Thy house be my abode and all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest while others go and come;

No more a stranger or a guest, but like a child at home.

— isaac watts (1674-1748)

.....all

In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.  Psalm 34:6 

A fisherman who was a backslidden Christian went out in a boat with some of his buddies. Suddenly a storm came, and it was getting worse and worse. It was so bad, in fact, they thought they were going to drown.So, the men turned to their Christian friend and said, “You’ve got to talk to God right now! Pray and get us out of this mess!”

He said, “Guys, I haven’t prayed in years. I haven’t been to church in a long time. I don’t want to pray.”They kept pressing him, and eventually he agreed to do it. Reluctantly he prayed, “Oh Lord, I haven’t asked anything of You for fifteen years. But if You will help us now and bring us safely to land, I promise that I won’t bother You for another fifteen.”

At least he was honest. 

We should never be hesitant to pray. We should see it for the privilege that it really is.

The apostle Paul said, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” Ephesians 6:18.

Notice Paul’s use of the words “all,” “every,” and “everywhere.” He told us important things about prayer, but he didn’t address the things people tend to focus on, like the best posture for prayer or whether to pray with our eyes open or closed.

We should pray when we are young, when we are old, when we are in trouble, and when things are going well. We should pray in any posture, in any place, at any time, and under all circumstances. Someone has described prayer as the breath of the soul. 

Prayer is good and needed in the life of a Christian.

- greg laurie

......examined

One of the benefits of our trials is that they allow us the opportunity to examine our life, and as it is said: the unexamined life is not worth living. If we flow through life without evaluating who we are and what we believe, we have not really lived; we have certainly not lived according to a consistent set of beliefs. This evaluation requires a boldness to explore beneath the surface of our beliefs, into our very soul! Without this boldness we may give the appearance of living, and may even fool ourselves for a number of years, but there will always be an emptiness until we look deep within and deal with what we find.

God knows every detail of our heart; "Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" Hebrews 4:13. But our Heavenly Father desires for us to know our own heart as we are being transformed; "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves" 2 Corinthians 13:5.

As we seek to understand who we are - with all our hidden motives, pride, and selfishness - we find we are somewhat difficult to understand. Without the spiritual help which God freely gives, there will be parts of our life which remain covered and dark. There may also be portions of our heart we would rather not face.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."Psalm 139:23-24

It is foolish to think we can hide anything from God! It is equally foolish to intentionally close areas of our heart from examination when we know those areas are keeping us separated from God. What do we really believe? And are we living consistent with that belief?

We have been given God's Word as a guide, "a lamp to my feet" Psalm 119:105. And as we dig deeper into His Word, we find the same lamp which guides our steps also reveals our heart: "The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being" Proverbs 20:27. Using God's Word to truly examine our heart can be painful. It seems we strip back one layer only to expose additional layers of sin we didn't even know we had, but this process must continue without fear!

If we desire to live in His presence and bring Him glory and honor in all we do, we must determine today to know ourselves. We must know what we believe, with all our strengths and weaknesses, and know our level of resolve to follow where He leads. Let's open our heart and allow His Spirit to search and wash us with His Word. 

Let's follow according to a consistent belief and commit to living the examined life.

- steve troxel

.....stop

 Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 

One of the most important practices of the Christian life is prayer. It’s as essential to knowing God and growing spiritually as breathing is to living.

Prayer isn’t something that we offer to some force out there. Nor is it some type of energy that can heal us in and of itself. Rather, prayer is the means of communication whereby we hear from and speak to God Almighty.

That’s why it’s important to understand what prayer is and what it is not.

Some would assert, even within the church, that we can speak things into existence through prayer. For instance, teachers of the Faith Movement advocate that you can pray and speak things into existence because they claim you are a little god. They say you can speak and it will happen, but you must speak by faith. And if you don’t, it won’t happen.

It is wrong to believe that we can order God around as though He were a celestial butler. It is also wrong to think that we cannot bring a specific request before God because He is merely a force.

Prayer is communicating with and hearing from God. True prayer is aligning our wills with the will of God and praying accordingly. We want to keep the lines open to Heaven to both speak to God and hear from Him.

Yet many of us are reluctant to pray. 

We don’t really know how to pray, and we’re embarrassed about praying.

However, prayer is something that we all need to be doing. In fact, it’s something the Bible commands us to do. First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us, “Never stop praying”.

Prayer is not an option in the Christian’s life. It’s both a privilege and an adventure. And it’s something that we need to keep learning about for the rest of our lives.

- greg laurie

....way

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him - 2 Samuel 22:31

There seems to be special rewards for those who can say, "I did it my way!" But the truth is, my way will always fall short of God's desire. Our biggest struggle is often finding the balance which keeps us on His path and traveling at His pace. Lack of faith causes us to lag behind, and our pride and desire to control cause us to try and push ahead. Whether we lag behind or push ahead, the result of either is a drift from God's path.

Several times in his life David ventured out to do things his own way. Yet time after time he found that walking down God's path was not only the best way, it was the perfect way. We must learn this same lesson. We are given many options - many roads to travel as we seek a better way - but His narrow road is the only way to true life...the only road to peace and true contentment.

Living by God's way requires constant renewal of faith and trust. It first requires faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, and then complete trust as we continue down His path. While God's way is definitely perfect, it's not always easy to understand. His way will often conflict with what we just "know" is best. "The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know" 1 Corinthians 8:2. 

These times of apparent conflict are times to humbly increase our faith and better learn how to trust.

The world's way will continually do battle against this trust. Jesus said, "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear" Matthew 6:25. The world's way says we will soon be hungry and naked, but God's way says that as we trust Him with all our heart, we will soon find rest and peace; "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:33. God's way is to follow Him, walking side by side, no matter how great the burden.

God has given each of us unique and wonderful gifts. But our gifts must be used along His path, and for His glory, or they become nothing but "filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6. Let's stop seeking our way, with our goals and our desires. Instead, let's daily release to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and boldly follow where He leads. Let's trust and walk each and every step according to His perfect way.

- steve troxel

.....tongue

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit Proverbs 18:21

None of us could go back and count the number of words we have said to people throughout our lives. That would be impossible to remember. We have all said words that are very encouraging to others, but we have also said words that have been callous, discouraging, unkind, or hurtful. I don't know about you, but I know that I've said some things to people in my lifetime that I would go back in a minute to take back or rephrase. 

We are human beings. Many times, we don't realize what we're saying to people or how our tone is coming across. It's not always "what" we say, sometimes it's more of "how" we say it. I had to learn this growing up and will probably be learning it for the rest of my life! This is a topic that each of us can relate to.  The Bible says no one is exempt.

Communication is such an important part of life. Certainly in marriage, but not just in marriage.  We all use communication in our various relationships with others. Sometimes, we end up verbally hurting the ones we love the most. I might be in a cranky mood and I get snappy. Or there are just times when the enemy uses a situation to bring hurtful words to my mouth and they don't need to be uttered at all, but I fail to keep them back. Once they're out, that's it! No getting them back!

The power of our tongues can either build others up or tear them apart and create permanent damage. By God's grace, we all need to work harder at controlling what we say and knowing how to say things - and when not to say things. We will be learning this lesson throughout our lives, but we can become better as we come to love Christ more and carefully use uplifting words toward each other. Especially during the times of frustration and discouragement.

- adapted from zach wood's

....help

There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. Acts 9:36

Dorcas, or Tabitha, was a woman who showed her love for God by serving others. She made her community a better place by doing kind things for others and making clothing for those in need. We are told in James 1:27 that the religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is to look after the orphans and widows in their distress, and this was exactly the religion that Dorcas practiced. She was deeply loved by those around her. 

In the midst of this great ministry Dorcas had of serving those in need, she became ill and died. However, the believers had heard that Peter was in a nearby city, so they sent messengers to beg him to come as soon as possible! Perhaps they were hopeful for a miracle or simply longed to receive words of comfort.

When Peter arrived at Dorcas' house, he was taken to the upstairs room where they had laid her in preparation to be buried. The room was filled with widows mourning the loss of this amazing woman, and they showed Peter the coats and other clothing items that Dorcas had made for them. Her impact on the life of those around her was evident, which is perhaps why Peter prayed and raised her from the dead! People had already been greatly touched by her love and generosity, but even more came to know Christ through her being resurrected from the dead. 

As Christian's, we are all called to serve others. This shouldn't be an occasional event, but rather something that is displayed in everything we do. Whether it be helping a work colleague complete a task, making dinner for our families, helping a neighbor with school pickups, or serving as a volunteer at church, we have countless opportunities to show God's love through service. May we, like Dorcas, love others so evidently that everything we do will bring them closer to God. 

....times

 "Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

It makes me anxious to read this passage. It makes me even more anxious to think of how many times I have written about and talked about this passage. It makes me even more nervous than that to think about how many times I have reminded someone that the Apostle Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, said, “Do not be anxious about anything.” And yet, here I am writing about not being anxious again.

Why? Because we live in anxious times.

Relationships create anxiety. If you have children, you will have times of intense stress about their welfare. If your parents are aging, there are times when you are anxious. You have anxiety if you are married, planning to get married, or once married. Finally, you will have tense times if you date or commit to a single life.

Engaging in the world creates anxiety. You stand a good chance of getting anxious by watching the news (local, national, international). You’ll have some stress if you watch sports. If you drive an automobile, there is a real possibility of a few anxious moments in your week.

Anxiety is real. The examples I’ve shared above are the natural consequences of living in an anxiety-filled world. But there are others: sick children, family problems, addiction, accidents, poor decisions, chronic pain, church dysfunction, loneliness, and financial difficulties.

I believe the Holy Spirit guided Paul to write those words because He knew we would live in a world as we do and wants us to know that when anxiety hits, we have a healthy and effective way to deal with it. We have the response. “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.”

The promise is not that anxious times will disappear, but that God’s peace will protect you as you go through them. Go in peace.

....sanctuary

Our Heavenly Father desires our life to be FILLED with praise and worship. When we gather together with other believers for church services, we generally begin with songs of praise. We praise God for His love and faithfulness, and for the gift of His Son. We worship Him for His awesome majesty as we prepare our hearts to receive His Word. These are wonderful times, but they are only a small part of God's true desire for our life.

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."Ephesians 5:19-20 As Paul wrote these instructions to the Ephesians he never said, "give thanks only during your worship service," or, "make music in your heart only when you gather together with other believers." He clearly instructed "always" and "for everything." The "music" of praise and worship to God should always reside in our heart.

This can be a real challenge without a shift in the way we view our life - a shift from the way we have been "trained" by the world. We absolutely must learn to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. Though the world teaches us to "take charge of your own destiny," we are called to release control to our Lord and patiently trust. For it is only through faith and trust that we can praise in ALL situations, even through our confusion and pain.

There can be no greater ambition for the Child of God. With a proper understanding of eternity and the saving grace of Jesus, our life only has real purpose as we live each day to bring Him glory and honor - as we live each moment in praise and worship, no matter what circumstances our day may bring. The way we walk through our trials, as well as how we accomplish our daily tasks, ministry activities, or times of prayer and study, should all be done through a heart devoted to worship.

Let's allow the music of our heart to sing out with praise and worship, not just for a few set hours each week, but every day with every word, thought, and deed. Let's patiently trust in all areas of our life and ask our Father to teach us to live as a living sanctuary. 

- steve troxel

.....thanksgiving

Silas had joined Paul on his second missionary journey. Early in the journey, the two men were seized and brought before the authorities; "These men are Jews and are throwing our city into an uproar" Acts 16:20. For this act they were stripped, beaten, and thrown in prison with chains around their feet. However, their hearts continued to praise God and give Him thanks in spite of their conditions.

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."Acts 16:25

Giving thanks in the form of prayer, praise, song, celebration, or simply as an attitude of thankfulness is mentioned well over one thousand times in the Bible. It's no surprise that having a heart filled with thanksgiving should be an integral part of the Christian walk. We need to see this world, and the entirety of our life, with new eyes - eyes that see God's hand at work in every moment of every day.

If we believe in the One True God as the Creator of the Universe and accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, we should be compelled to give thanks...regardless of our circumstances. We should begin to see the evidence of God all around and praise Him even for the air we breathe.

A heart without praise and thanksgiving is empty and does not yet understand a sovereign God or His plan. If our surroundings are continually dictating the thankfulness of our heart, perhaps we ought to ask God to reveal His loving plan in even greater clarity. Yes, God wants to see us live a life of true peace and contentment; but first and foremost, He desires for us to surrender our life to Him and bring Him glory and honor in ALL we do. Only then, and only with the power of His Spirit, will we be able to "give thanks in all circumstances" 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Thankfulness does NOT depend on our particular situation!

We cannot produce thanksgiving by simply trying to be more thankful. We only become thankful by taking our heart back to the very origin of our new nature - back to the saving grace of Jesus. Let's return to the point where our life was made new and once again learn to rejoice; once again learn to absolutely trust; once again learn to live with a true heart of thanksgiving.

- steve troxel

.....line

Communication is a key part of any relationship. Without proper communication, a relationship will slowly drift apart and feel isolated. This is true of friends and married couples, and certainly true in our relationship with God.

Without communication, we begin to drift and will soon be unable to even recognize His voice. When faced with sudden burdens, we will feel alone. We may awkwardly call out to God but find our communication line has become noisy, filled with distractions. It's difficult to receive direction or comfort when we can't even hear or understand what God is saying.

To keep the communication lines clear, we must develop the habit of continually talking with God; "Pray continually" 1 Thessalonians 5:17. We cannot limit prayer to those times of great need. David was in the habit of morning prayer; "In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before You and wait in expectation" Psalm 5:3. But we must also learn to talk with God throughout our day so we are prepared for those times of extra need.

Jesus never suffered from a breakdown in communication with His Father; "I and the Father are one" John 10:30. And yet, when faced with major decisions or burdens, Jesus still set aside special time to talk with God.

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles Luke 6:12-13

There are always going to be times in our Christian walk when we urgently need dedicated time with God - times which involve "critical" or "crisis" situations. These times are greatly enhanced if we have already been walking in daily communion with the Father. Our "crisis" prayers will need to be more intense and require us to intimately know the One to whom we pray, require us to know His voice and understand His ultimate plan for our life, require a relationship!

Our Heavenly Father desires to light our path by giving daily guidance. 

Let's develop the habit of continual prayer so we will follow His leading and walk each step in praise. Let's KNOW Him during the trivial and mundane portion of our day so we will be prepared to know Him during the urgent. 

Let's prioritize our life to ensure we have a free and clear line of communication.

- steve troxel

....foundation

Six hundred years ago, there were groups of people who believed the earth was flat. In fact they didn't just believe the earth was flat, they "knew" the earth was flat. Because of this belief, they also believed it was impossible to sail around the world. Of course, their view was warped and limited since it was built upon knowledge which was not based in truth.

What knowledge and "facts" form our view of the world today? We probably have a better understanding of the physical workings of our world, but what knowledge determines how we view our life? Do we begin with the unlimited power and sovereignty of God, an understanding of eternity, the consequences of sin, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ?

If we allow our beliefs to be formed by the world system, our view of life will always remain limited. Rather than seeing God's loving hand at work in our life, continually drawing us near, and clearly recognizing His tools of transformation, we will see only a confused loneliness and the apparent absence of God; "The fear {or holy reverence} of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" Proverbs 1:7.

Clearly, God is calling us to a closer and more meaningful relationship: calling us to love Him and trust Him more. But we will never truly grow closer until we examine the foundation of our beliefs; "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" Genesis 1:1. The entire Universe, and certainly our own life, was formed by God and continues to exist because of His grace. To believe anything less is to fail to understand God and fail to believe His Word.

Spiritual understanding is gained through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit as we diligently pray and study God's Word. Initially, our prayers may seem empty and His Word full of disjoint stories which don't seem to apply; but if we continue to seek with all our heart, He will reveal His truth and we will soon begin to understand.

If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Proverbs 2:3-5

God has gifted us with the ability to learn, the power to seek, and the freedom to choose how we use our time. 

Let's use His gift to find the knowledge of God based on the reverence of His name. 

Let's build a world view which is consistent with God's Word and will stand the test of eternity. 

Let's refuse to limit God, and forevermore base our lives on the foundation of truth. 

- steve troxel

....facts

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Around the world, people have tried many beauty treatments to enhance the glow on their faces. In Thailand, therapists slap their clients’ faces to increase blood circulation to the skin. Some Hollywood stars have their faces covered with caviar—fish eggs—known to be rich in vitamins A, B, and D. 

In Bible times, the primary cosmetic was olive oil.

But do you know there are some scriptural beauty treatments? Peter said that true beauty comes from “the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” 1 Peter 3:4. Solomon said, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful” Proverbs 15:13. Ecclesiastes 8:1 says, “A man’s wisdom makes his face shine.”

As we absorb God’s light, we’ll reflect Jesus to the world around us. We must constantly behold the glory of the Lord and be transformed into His image by the Holy Spirit. People will notice how different we are. Take a look in the mirror. Is your face reflecting Christ?

- david jeremiah 

....family

Have you heard about the dad who wanted to take his family on a summer road trip? It was lengthy—from their home in Alabama to California.He got them all excited! Meticulously, they planned every detail: the roads they would take, what they would see, and where they would camp . . . the trip was arranged nearly to the hour.

But . . . just before the trip, the dad informed them that the press of business would keep him tied to his office; they would have to go on without him! Reluctantly, they drove away, disappointed.

However, the father had already arranged to be off work in order to surprise his wife and kids. He had planned a flight and car ride so he could be at the exact spot where he knew they would pass by on that day heading west. As he saw their station wagon approaching . . . he stood on the shoulder of the road and stuck out his thumb.

“Hey! That guy looks just like . . . DAD!” Thankfully, mom didn’t drive into a ditch when she realized the man standing on the roadside really was her husband. After picking him up, can you imagine how much fun they had the rest of their trip? Talk about a lifetime memory!

I just love that story. Here was a dad who wanted to be remembered for more than just the basics. He cultivated fun! Fun is one of the pillars the Bible instructs all of us to pursue while building a strong family foundation. In fact, I urge you to build that foundation on these three pillars:

FUN

FAITH

FORGIVENESS

Sadly, the family has gone “out of fashion” these days. Families are often considered boring, not worth the time, toil, stress, and tears. Some would even say, “Happiness lies elsewhere.” Wrong! The family is THE God-ordained institution of any society. The family is His gift to us for our delight and wellness. But a family’s health and happiness do not happen automatically. Each member must cultivate it using God’s wisdom and drawing on His strength.

I stand on God’s Word, commending to all who will listen that your family is valuable. Fun, faith, and forgiveness are worth all your efforts! Jesus is with you to help you build or, when necessary, to restore your family’s foundation.

adapted from crswindol's 

.....ready

But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7 

It is possible to read the Bible out of pure duty—and not remember anything? We may read three chapters, but if the words don’t affect our lives, and if we don’t understand what we’ve read, then we would be better off reading three verses instead.

In Psalm 1 we find a description of those who walk with God: “They delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” verses 2–3.

When it comes to God’s Word, how do you listen? Whether you are distracted or paying attention will make all the difference in your life. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” John 15:7. The New King James version of this verse begins, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you . . .”

Think of a deeply rooted tree that is soaking up the nutrients from the soil and growing every day. In the same way, to “remain” or “abide” refers to staying in a given place. It’s staying in fellowship with Jesus, as we start sinking our roots deeply into Christ, we will start praying for what God wants us to pray for. That is the objective of prayer. It isn’t getting God to do what we want Him to do. Rather, it’s doing what God wants us to do.

When Jesus’ words remain in us, ultimately, they affect our thinking, our living, and everything that we do. 

- greg laurie

....praise

I don't recall ever being asked to explain the importance of breathing. It's pretty well accepted that breathing is a good idea and that we should do it many times every day; a lack of breathing is definitely bad for our physical health! And it's not an exaggeration to say that praise is just as important; it should become as natural and occur as often as our breathing. For if we choose to live a life without praise, we will just as surely suffocate and spiritually die.

The life of praise requires only a little instruction and a great deal of application. To begin with, we must learn to ALWAYS praise!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Rejoicing is so important that Paul decided to repeat himself. If we are living to love and glorify God, then He has promised to work ALL things together for the good (Romans 8:28). So why do we wait for what appear to be the proper conditions for praise? If we really understood and believed that God is with us and working all things together for good, wouldn't we praise Him regardless of our particular situation? "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. There is never a wrong time to praise God and there are never circumstances which should lessen our thankfulness.

Job lost absolutely everything he had except his wife. He then developed sores over every part of his body and was so miserable that his wife encouraged him to "Curse God and die!" Job 2:10. Job was in great pain and heavy sorrow, but he knew God was in the midst of all things and had a purpose; "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10. God is in the good as well as the trouble; we must learn to praise Him in ALL situations! Though God does not necessarily bring the trouble, He is there! No matter the trial, He can be found and praised.

Our life can often become difficult and painful; we may feel bored and unfulfilled, cheated and abused. But if we look at the reasons which keep us from praising, we will find "self" expectations and pride - we will find a life lived according to the desires of the flesh and not according to the fruit of the Spirit. Every portion of our life is to be offered "as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" Romans 12:1. As we fix our eyes on the eternal glory we have through Jesus we will find more and more reasons to praise.

Let's never allow our earthly circumstances to direct our praise: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" Psalm 150:6. If we are still breathing, we should still be praising! He has given us eternal life, an eternity of worship in His presence...and that is a GREAT gift! Let's look for the hand of God working around us each and every day. Let's praise Him with all our heart, and then let's praise Him even more!

- steve troxel

....risk

At the beginning of Elijah's ministry, God sent him to stay with a widow and her son. When he first arrived, Elijah asked the widow for some bread. The woman sadly said she only had enough for one final meal: "I don't have any bread - only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it - and die" 1 Kings 17:12.

The widow had completely given up on life. She believed she was preparing her last meal, but Elijah told her to trust God and make him something to eat out of the remaining flour. Elijah said it was God's plan to provide for all her needs...but she must believe.

"For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.'"1 Kings 17:14

The widow could have used the remaining food to feed herself and her son, but she risked all she had and did as Elijah requested. Even though she could not see the extra food or understand how it would arrive, she had faith in God's Word and took action based on her faith. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1.

The risk was great, but God's promise and provision were even greater: "So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the Word of the Lord spoken by Elijah" 1 Kings 17:15-16.

Taking a step of faith ALWAYS requires risk - always requires stepping into the unknown. If we could see every detail about where God was leading and how He would provide, we wouldn't need faith. But if there is any "success" to be had in the Christian walk, it will only come as we daily live by faith; as we live each and every moment by listening intently for the call of God and then trusting Him, even through our fear, as we step into what we cannot see. This is where the true blessings of God reside.

When God calls us to a place where we must be "certain of what we do not see," we must boldly step. We must overcome our fears with a faith grounded in the promises of His Word and trust Him with all our heart to never leave our side.

There are so many who live their life without hope. Their circumstances seem to indicate that all is lost and they have been abandoned. And yet, God continues to call and promises hope through faith and trust. But we must take the step! Let's compassionately share this message of hope all around the world. If we are careful to listen, we most certainly will hear His call. He is faithful and will never lead us astray. So when we hear His call, let's be prepared to step and take the risk of faith.

- steve troxel

....success

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 

I’ve never met a Christian who was failing spiritually and was also studying the Bible diligently. That is because success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible we get into our hearts and minds on a daily basis and how obedient we are to it.

Billy Sunday became one of the great evangelists of his generation. When he was a new believer, an older Christian gave him this advice: Take fifteen minutes each day to let God talk to you, allow fifteen minutes to talk to Him, and then spend fifteen minutes telling others about the Savior. He told Sunday that if he did these three things, no one would ever write the word backslider after his name.

Not only does the Bible contain truth, but the Bible is truth. It is the standard by which we measure all other so-called truth. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect”.

If you’re a hungry person spiritually, then you’re a healthy person spiritually. Healthy people are hungry people, so it’s a good sign if you hunger for more of God’s Word.

I’ve spoken at various churches over the years, and I’ve discovered that I can take the spiritual temperature of a congregation in less than five minutes. I’m able to get a very real sense of where they are spiritually by how many of them bring their Bibles to church.

It’s great to have the Bible on a phone or tablet. But having said that, I think it’s really great to carry an actual Bible and mark it up as well. There is power in the Word of God, and we should want to fill our lives with it.

- greg laurie

....inescapable

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things 1 Corinthians 13:11

Because of grace we have been freed from sin, from its slavery, its bondage in our attitude, in our urges, and in our actions. But having been freed and now living by grace, we can actually go too far, set aside all self-control, and take our liberty to such an extreme that we again serve sin. But that isn't liberty at all, that's license. And knowing of that possibility, many opt for legalism lest they be tempted to live irresponsibly. Bad choice. How much better to have such an awesome respect for the Lord we voluntarily hold back as we apply self-control.

I remember when I first earned my license to drive. I was about sixteen, as I recall. I'd been driving off and on for three years (scary thought, isn't it?). My father had been with me most of the time during my learning experiences, calmly sitting alongside me in the front seat, giving me tips, helping me know what to do. My mother usually wasn't in on those excursions because she spent more of her time biting her nails (and screaming) than she did advising. My father was a little more easygoing. Loud noises and screeching brakes didn't bother him nearly as much. 

My grandfather was the best of all. When I would drive his car, I would hit things . . . Boom! He'd say stuff like, "Just keep on going, Bud. I can buy more fenders, but I can't buy more grandsons. You're learning." What a great old gentleman. After three years, I finally earned my license.

I'll never forget the day I came in, flashed my newly acquired permit, and said, "Dad, look!" He goes, "Whoa! Look at this. You got your license. Good for you!" Holding the keys to his car, he tossed them in my direction and smiled, "Tell you what, son . . . you can have the car for two hours, all on your own." Only four words, but how wonderful: "All on your own."

I thanked him, danced out to the garage, opened the car door, and shoved the key into the ignition. My pulse rate must have shot up to 180 as I backed out of the driveway and roared off. While cruising along "all on my own," I began to think wild stuff—like, This car can probably do 100 miles an hour. I could go to Galveston and back twice in two hours if I averaged 100 miles an hour. I can fly down the Gulf Freeway and even run a few lights. After all, nobody's here to say, "Don't!" We're talking dangerous, crazy thoughts! 

But you know what? I didn't do any of them. I don't believe I drove above the speed limit. In fact, I distinctly remember turning into the driveway early . . . didn't even stay away the full two hours. Amazing, huh? I had my dad's car all to myself with a full gas tank in a context of total privacy and freedom, but I didn't go crazy. Why? My relationship with my dad and my granddad was so strong that I couldn't, even though I had a license and nobody was in the car to restrain me. Over a period of time there had developed a sense of trust, a deep love relationship that held me in restraint.

After tossing me the keys, my dad didn't rush out and tape a sign on the dashboard of the car, "Don't you dare drive beyond the speed limit" or "Cops are all around the city, and they'll catch you, boy, so don't even think about taking a risk." He simply smiled and said, "Here are the keys, son, enjoy it." What a demonstration of grace. And did I ever enjoy it! Looking back, now that I'm a father who has relived the same scene on four different occasions with my own children, I realize what a risk my father had taken.

- chuck r swindoll

...unconditional

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 1 Corinthians 15:10

Whatever he became, according to his own statement, Paul owed it all to "the grace of God." . We can reduce it to three single-syllable statements, the first consisting of only eight words; the second, ten words; and the third, twelve. Occasionally, it helps to take a profound, multifaceted theological truth and define it in simple, nontechnical terms.

First statement: God does what He does by His grace. Paul's first claim for being allowed to live, to say nothing of being used as a spokesman and leader, was "by the grace of God." Paul deserved the severest kind of judgment, but God gave the man His grace instead. Humanly speaking, Paul should have been made to endure incredible suffering for all the pain and heartache he had caused others. But he didn't, because God exhibited His grace.

The second statement: I am what I am by the grace of God. It is as if he were admitting, "If there is any goodness now found in me, I deserve none of the glory; grace gets the credit." In our day of high-powered self-achievement and an overemphasis on the importance of personal accomplishments and building one's own ego-centered kingdom, this idea of giving grace the credit is a much-needed message. How many people who reach the pinnacle of their career say to the Wall Street Journal reporter or in an interview in Business Week, "I am what I am by the grace of God"? How many athletes would say that kind of thing at a banquet in his or her honor? What a shocker it would be today if someone were to say, "Don't be impressed at all with me. My only claim to fame is the undeserved grace of God." Such candor is rare.

The third statement: I let you be what you are by the grace of God. Grace is not something simply to be claimed; it is meant to be demonstrated. It is to be shared, used as a basis for friendships, and drawn upon for sustained relationships.

Jesus spoke of an abundant life that we enter into when we claim the freedom He provides by His grace. Wouldn't it be wonderful if people cooperated with His game plan? There is nothing to be compared to grace when it comes to freeing others from bondage.

- chuck swindoll

....alternatives

I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. 

Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” Isaiah 44:22

If I choose not to risk, if I go the "safe" route and determine not to promote either salvation by grace or a lifestyle of grace, what are the alternatives? 

I can leave no room for any gray areas. Everything is either black or white, right or wrong. And as a result, the leader maintains strict control over the followers. Fellowship is based on whether there is full agreement. Herein lies the tragedy. This self-righteous, rigid standard becomes more important than relationships with individuals. 

We first check out where people stand on the issues, and then we determine whether we will spend much time with them. The bottom line is this: We want to be right (as we see it, of course) more than we want to love our neighbors as ourselves. At that point our personal preferences eclipse any evidence of love. I am of the firm conviction that where grace exists, so must various areas of gray.

I can cultivate a judgmental attitude toward those who may not agree or cooperate with my plan. Grace killers are notorious for a judgmental attitude. It is perhaps the single most un-Christlike characteristic in evangelical circles today.

A quick glance back through the time tunnel will prove beneficial. Jesus found Himself standing before the brain trust of legalism, the Pharisees. Listening to Him were also many who believed in Him. He had been presenting His message to the crowd; it was a message of hope, of forgiveness, of freedom.

"As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free' " John 8:30–32.

He spoke of the liberating power of the truth. Even though the official grace killers rejected His message, He assured them it could make them free. All who embrace grace become "free indeed."

Free from what? Free from oneself. Free from guilt and shame. Free from the damnable impulses I couldn't stop when I was in bondage to sin. Free from the tyranny of others' opinions, expectations, demands. 

And free to what? Free to obey. Free to love. Free to forgive others as well as myself. Free to allow others to be who they are—different from me! Free to live beyond the limitations of human effort. Free to serve and glorify Christ. In no uncertain terms, Jesus Christ assured His own that His truth was able to liberate them from every needless restriction: "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" John 8:36. I love that. The possibilities are unlimited.

- charles swindoll

....examples

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

 

In the Great Commission, Jesus gave the command to “go and make disciples of all the nations” Matthew 28:19. But we cannot take someone any further than we have come ourselves.

Sometimes people who have been Christians for ten or twenty years are still spiritual babies. They haven’t learned to feed themselves spiritually. They haven’t become as mature as they ought to be. Writing to believers in Colosse, the apostle Paul said, “So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ” Colossians 1:28.

Some of us are not as far down the road as we should be as followers of Jesus. Yet we ought to be living godly lives to the extent that we could say, as Paul did, “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” 1 Corinthians 11:1. In other words, “Follow my example.”

Like it or not, people are looking at us as visible representatives of Jesus Christ. They are making evaluations about God according to the way that we live. Yes, it’s a lot of pressure. But it’s also part of being a disciple.Being a disciple is walking with Jesus in such a way that you can say, “Follow my example.”

So, what if the church were filled with people just like you? Would it be a Bible-studying church? Would it be a worshipping church? And would it be an evangelistic church? What if everyone in the church walked and talked and dressed like you? What would the church be like?

Yes, we will mess up sometimes. But that doesn’t excuse us from being examples. 

- greg laurie

....gift

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16

The moment we truly believe, our heart is transformed and we are given the gift of eternal life; "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith" Ephesians 2:8. However, we need to consider what Jesus meant when He said, "whoever believes in Him." The prior verses help yield a better understanding; "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life" John 3:14-15.

When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, they soon began to complain: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" Numbers 21:5. God punished the people for this sin by sending poisonous snakes. Many began to die from snake bites, so they went to Moses and said: "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us" Numbers 21:7.

Moses prayed and God replied: "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live" Numbers 21:8. To be saved from the snakes, the people had to recognize their sin, repent of their sin, and understand death was certain without God's intervention. They then had to believe God's Word and act in faith; "Look at the snake and you will live."

Our Salvation "process" is the same today. We have all been snake-bit by sin! We must recognize our sin Romans 3:23, desire to turn away from our sin (repentance), and understand eternal death is certain without God's intervention Romans 6:23. We must then believe God's Word: "God presented Him {Jesus} as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood" Romans 3:25. 

His sacrifice paid the penalty for our sins! "Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins" Acts 10:43. We must believe the sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient for complete forgiveness and then act on that belief by submitting our life into His hands, trusting in Him and Him alone!

God gave us His Son, that whoever, by faith, enters through the gate of forgiveness - whoever "believes in Him" - will not perish but receive the gift of eternal life.

- steve troxel

 

....still

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to teachings"  John 8:31 

The word disciple comes from the root word discipline. However, we typically don’t like discipline because it’s hard. We want things fast, and we want things now. We don’t like to wait for anything anymore.

If we want something, we can order it online, and we might even get same-day delivery. If we want to watch a movie, we can download it or stream it. And if we want the latest news, we can get it on demand instead of waiting for the evening news or the morning newspaper.

So, when we read in the Bible about taking up our crosses daily and following Christ, and when we realize that we need to slow down and meditate on God’s Word, it seems almost alien to us. Yet God says, “Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10. If we want to be real disciples of Jesus, then we need to slow down and learn to listen.

A disciple will carefully read, study, and live according to God’s Word. Jesus said, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:31–32. The Bible says that He addressed these words to those who believed in Him.

Jesus wasn’t referring to just any truth. This is specific, absolute truth found exclusively in Scripture. The context is reading, studying, knowing, and living God’s Word. That truth will set us free.

Jesus prayed to the Father, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth” John 17:17. The truth we find in the Bible is the only absolute truth we can be certain of in life. And when we understand what God says about life, it sets us free.

- greg laurie

....bonus

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9

Most people I know look forward to payday.  For a day, or perhaps a four-week period, you give time and effort to your job. When payday arrives, you receive a hard-earned, well-deserved paycheck. I have never met anyone who bows and scrapes before his boss, saying, "Thank you. Oh, thank you for this wonderful, undeserved gift. How can I possibly thank you enough for my paycheck?" If we did, he would probably faint. Certainly, he would think, What is wrong with this guy? Why? Because your paycheck is not a gift. You've earned it. You deserve it. Cash it! Spend it! Save it! Invest it! Give it! 

After all, you had it coming. In the workplace, where wages are negotiated and agreed upon, there is no such thing as grace. We earn what we receive; we work for it. The wage "is not reckoned as a favor but as what is due."

But with God the economy is altogether different. There is no wage relationship with God. Spiritually speaking, you and I haven't earned anything but death. Like it or not, we are absolutely bankrupt, without eternal hope, without spiritual merit; we have nothing in ourselves that gives us favor in the eyes of our holy and righteous heavenly Father. 

So there's nothing we can earn that would cause Him to raise His eyebrows and say, "Now maybe you deserve eternal life with Me." No way. In fact, the individual whose track record is morally pure has no better chance at earning God's favor than the individual who has made a wreck and waste of his life and is currently living in unrestrained disobedience. 

Everyone who hopes to be eternally justified must come to God the same way: on the basis of grace; it is a gift. And that gift comes to us absolutely free. Any other view of salvation is heresy, plain and simple. 

- charles swindoll

.....will

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all you ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Dr. Baker James Cauthen resigned from the faculty of Southwestern Seminary and the pastorate of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Ft. Worth to take his family to China in 1939, in the midst of war.  His explanation was simple: the safest place in all the world to be is the center of the will of God.

Before he left for China, Dr. Cauthen said to his friend Bill Howse: "Bill, many people are making a lot out of what we are trying to do, but for us it's simply the will of God.  It's such a good feeling that I can say that if our ship is bombed in Hong Kong harbor and we never set foot on Chinese soil, I will have a sense of completeness because I will have been doing the will of God for me."

Remember. The Will of God will never take you... 

   Where the grace of God cannot keep you, 

   Where the arms of God cannot support you, 

   Where the hands of God cannot mold you. 

   Where the power of God cannot endow you. 

The Will of God will never take you... 

   Where the spirit of God cannot work through you, 

   Where the riches of God cannot supply you, 

   Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you, 

   Where the army of God cannot protect you, 

The Will of God will never take you... 

   Where the love of God cannot enfold you, 

   Where the mercy of God cannot sustain you, 

   Where the Word of God cannot feed you, 

   Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you. 

The Will of God will never take you... 

   Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears, 

   Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears, 

   Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you, 

   Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

- david langerfeld