Jm. 1:12 - If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life's difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God! - How do you and I remain strong in faith? How do we stand strong against the storms of life? Like Abraham, who considered not his body that was almost 100 years old, but kept his focus on the promise that he would be the father of many nations, we have to keep our focus on the promises found in God's Word. A constant diet of God's Word, the life-source of faith, will under-gird our faith with the strength we need to remain strong no matter what we face.
He's A Clever One
2 Cor. 2: 10,11 - "I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." - Satan sets himself to study our weaknesses, look for any access into our lives to destroy us. Here the Apostle Paul is telling us that forgiving others shuts the door to the enemy. Unforgiveness is deadly! Sometimes forgiving others can be the hardest thing to do but it is essential for us to have the inner healing we so desperately need. If we want to live a peaceful life, we must forgive others as Christ has forgiven us.
The Kingdom Within
Matt. 6:33 - So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God's kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. - Where is the kingdom of God? Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is within us. Getting to know the ONE Who dwells in us is of the utmost importance to every child of God. As we purpose to know Him, obey Him, follow His leading, step by step each day, He will reveal more and more of the kingdom to us. We will find every need met in abundance as we chase after Him.
Totally Immersed!
Rm 13:14 - Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed one and don't waste even a moment's thought on your former identity...The Amplified Bible says we are to "clothe ourselves with Jesus." You and I get up every morning and put on our clothes for the day. It would behoove us to put on Jesus and His righteousness before we ever step out the door. The world is growing darker and the temptations to sin are every increasing. You and I must become more aware of who we are and Who's we are. Being mindful of our being clothed "IN CHRIST" will help us to make no provision for our flesh and our past identity will have no power over us.
Of The Highest Quality
1 JN 3:1 See what an incredible quality of love the Father has given, shown, bestowed on us, that we should be permitted to be named and called and counted the children of God. And so we are!...You are not a mistake. You are not here just to exist and take up space. You are not junk. You are not beyond help and hope. You are valuable and precious to God. You were planned before the foundation of the earth. You have purpose and destiny. You are loved and highly favored of God. Nothing could come close to the high price that was paid for you. You are a child of God. He knew you in your mothers womb and He has lavished His great love upon you. It is the highest form of love and is the highest quality of love. YOU ARE LOVED!
Don't Like Your Life?
Then Change What You're Saying! - Anytime God wants to change someone's life, He always touches their mouth. Quote by Mark Hankins. - You and I need to keep our focus on getting God's Word in our mouth and in our heart. Every answer we have need of is found in God's Word. Our confession of it, in faith, will defeat the enemy every time. If you don't like where your life is at now, examine what you've been saying. You can turn things around by filling your mouth with the Word of God.
"In Him"
Col. 2:6,7 - "As you have therefore received Christ, even Jesus the Lord, so walk, regulate your lives and conduct yourselves in union with and conformity to HIM. Have the roots of your being firmly and deeply planted IN HIM, fixed and founded IN HIM, being continually built up IN HIM, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. - What blesses the heart of our Heavenly Father the most, is when we are so entwined with Jesus that He can't tell us apart. We are so in union with Him that we look, act, talk, and love just like our Elder Brother. It blesses His heart when we are so firmly established in our faith that we respond just like He would. The only way we can do this is when we find out who we are "IN HIM."
Are You Being Manipulated?
Eph. 4:26, 27 - But don't let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin! Don't let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not for even a day. Don't give the slanderous accuser, the Devil, an opportunity to manipulate you! - We all get angry from time to time. We say and do things, when angry, that we wish we wound not have said or done. It's when we allow anger to remain and we fuel it with negative, toxic thoughts that it opens the door to the enemy. He will continue to accuse and slander others to us, especially those that are closest to us. His goal is to plant seeds of bitterness in us until a root is formed in our soul. Once this occurs, he will taint your view of that individual and manipulate your emotions. You will find yourself being angry quicker and more often. It's time to chop that root out with the Word of God!
The Power Of His Name
Phil.2:10,11 The authority of the Name of Jesus causes every knee to bow in reverence! Everything and everyone will one day submit to this name - in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm, and in the demonic realm. And every tongue will proclaim in every language: "Jesus Christ is Lord Yahweh!"... Is your life tormented by depression, loneliness, deception, confusion, fear, sickness, or relational issues? Speak the Name of Jesus. Everything is subject to the Name of Jesus and MUST bow its knee. Whatever the enemy is using to keep you in bondage, be it alcohol, pornography, smoking, lying, anger, controlling spirits, manipulation of others, lust or laziness, speak the Name of Jesus. Consistently speak His Name and it will unleash His mighty power to drive out every vice of the enemy.
This Says It All
Rm. 8:35,37-39 - MSG Bible - Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture...None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing-nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable-absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. - Believe and receive this love today.