Rm. 12:1,2 MSG -So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it...God brings the best out of you...Make your life an offering to God today. Lay it all down at His feet and watch what He will do.
Celebrate The Good Stuff!
Luke 15:24 For this beloved son of mine was once dead, but now he's alive again. Once he was lost, but now he is found! And everyone celebrated with overflowing joy. - We all have heard of the story of the "prodigal son." He spent all his inheritance on ungodly living and ended up taking care of, and eating the same food as the pigs. He finally came to his senses and returned to his father. But what I want to focus on is the love and acceptance of his father. The father never mentions the son's failures and sin, but rejoices over the fact that he came home. He celebrated the good by throwing a party. Let's celebrate the good things in our lives!
Just Forget It!
Is. 43:25 - I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and will not remember your sins. - Do you dwell on your past? Past hurts, past injustices, past failures? Here is a test, what is the first thing you think about when you wake up? Or, what do you talk about with your friends? I am not downplaying the "real life issues" we all have them. What I am saying is, if the One Who created us blots out all these things, and He chooses not to remember them, why do we hold on to them? Don't you think it's time to give the past a burial? Put it under the Blood of Jesus, and forget it. God has!
Stand Under The Spout!
Ps. 42:8,9 - Yet all day long God's promises of love pour over me. Through the night I sing His songs, for my prayer to God has become my life. I will say to God, "You are my mountain of strength;"... - God's Word is full of promises that belong to you and I. Promises of health, financial blessings, wisdom, direction, hope, peace, love, and so much more. It's up to you and I to turn on the spout by opening God's Word, reading, meditating, agreeing with, and making confession of these precious promises. The more we do, the more real they will become to us. Get under God's spout of love through daily spending time in His Word.
Truth, A Powerful Light
Prov. 6:23 - For truth is a bright beam of light shining into every area of your life, instructing and correcting you to discover the ways of godly living. - The world's truth has become very twisted and tainted. No longer, even under oath, do people tell the truth. If it serves the purpose of "SELF" people are quick to lie, deceive, and throw all moral conviction out the window. The only way for you and I to measure truth, is by holding what we here and see up to The Truth, the Word of God. There was a time when the Bible was the standard for our government and the morality of society. Friends, we must allow the pure light of God's Word direct our lives in these ever darkening times.
The Praise Challenge
Ps. 100:1-4 - Lift up a great shout of joy to the Lord! Go ahead and do it - everyone, everywhere! As you serve Him, be glad and worship Him. Sing your way into His presence with joy! And realize what this really means - we have the privilege of worshiping the Lord our God. For He is our Creator and we belong to Him. We are the people of His pleasure. You can pass through His open gates with the password of praise. Come into His presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to Him and affectionately bless His beautiful name! - Instead of complaining, let's use the password of praise and let's see how long we can keep it up. I mean, no complaining about anything, only praise.
Follow Your Guide
Col. 3:15 - Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, Who called you to peace as part of His one body. And always be thankful. - The world around us is steeped in turmoil, unrest, fear, and strife. If we are not careful we can allow what is taking place in the natural to have access into our soul. As Believers, we've been given a Supernatural Guide, PEACE. It's not a thing, but it is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. He is our Guide. In every situation, every decision, every challenge, if we will look to our Guide and follow His leading, He will direct us through, around, over, and past all that this life presents to us.
You Are Valuable!
Jn. 10:10 A thief has only one thing in mind - he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect - life in its fullness until you overflow! - When a thief breaks into a home, a bank, a store, or jewelry store, he is not looking for dishes, paper cups, old sneakers, and the like. A thief is looking for what's valuable. He's looking for the most costly, precious items. You are God's most valuable and precious creation and this is why the enemy is endeavoring to steal, kill and destroy your life. His soul purpose is to get back at God, by hurting what's most valuable to Him. Thank God we have the One Who came to STOP, DEFEAT, AND DESTROY the works of the enemy. We have JESUS!
Have You Gotten Dressed Today?
Col.3:12 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones, His own picked representatives, who are purified and holy and well-beloved by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and patience which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes with good temper. - Naturally speaking, when you get dressed in the morning your clothes don't just jump from the hanger to your body. You have to make the choice of what you will wear. We must, daily, choose to put on godly behavior. We set the tone for our day by choosing to dress ourselves with Christ-like behavior.
You Are Never Alone
Heb. 13:5 ...live content with what you have, for you always have God's presence. For hasn't He promised you, "I will never leave you alone, never! And I will not loosen My grip on your life!" - In your darkest hour, be encouraged, you are never alone. Deut. 31:6,8 declare -...it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you...He will march with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you, fear not, neither become broken in spirit - depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm. - Friends, you are never alone!