January 28, 2012
“Power and Grace”
Scripture:
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty.
Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O LORD, and this is Your kingdom.
We adore You as the One who is over all things. Riches and honor come from You alone,
for You rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is at Your discretion
that people are made great, and given strength. (NLT)
Observation:
In order for Christians to receive and use the power that is needed to grow in God’s grace and expand God’s Kingdom, we must first believe this truth from above (a message that is found throughout God’s Word) and keep it at the foremost front of our minds and written firmly on our hearts, for in Christ Jesus we have all the power we will ever need. There is absolutely nothing that our Lord cannot accomplish in and through our lives in order to fulfill His will and bring to completion His ultimate plan (Ephesians 1:19-23).
Application:
Everything that we have or don’t have comes from the authority which the Lord has over us. He gives us what He wants to give us and He takes away what He wants to take away. It is the Lord God’s will that will be done; not ours. God always has and always will be the One who directs all of man’s steps; whether we choose to follow Him or not. God is in absolute control of everything He has created, because without God’s sovereign sustaining power there would be nothing but uninhibited chaos without purpose or end. So, no matter how weak you may feel, or how ill-equipped you may be, my dear bothers and sisters in Christ, know that God is constantly at work within you and can accomplish infinitely more than you could ever want or hope for when you believe in Him (Ephesians 3:20). The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the blessed hope and the strengthening power of God for every believer. Because He lives, we also will live (John 14:19). Satan, in all his powers of darkness could not prevent Christ’s exaltation, nor can he prevent any of God’s people from gaining their eternal inheritance. We and what we have is protected by God’s incredible power and guaranteed by His Holy Promise. By knowing these simple, yet profound truths, will bring joy and peace to all those who live faithfully in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayer:
Dear God, help me to never doubt or forget the incredible power You have so graciously provided Your follower’s. Help us to know when to tap into this power and how to use it wisely. Without Your amazing grace and power we would be a hopeless people.
Amen
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
January 21, 2012
“The Father’s Son”
Scripture:
Psalm 18:16, 28
He reached down from Heaven and rescued me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
LORD, you have brought light to my life;
My God, You light up my darkness. (NLT)
Observation:
Not so long ago the LORD our God saw my life drowning in a dark sea of self-pity and self-hatred; despising this cursed life and longing for an end. I was sinking deeper into the darkness that sin brings to every lost and isolated life—a life that had slowly and emphatically weighed me down into the complacency of defeat and the utter regret of ever being born, especially the person I had become. I hated God, I hated myself, and I hated life—and unbeknownst to me, the exact place where the Enemy of God wanted my lost soul. There are no words in any human language that can fully explain the persistent, unrelenting torment that living in darkness brings to the person who finds their self lost in it. The best picture I can give you is one of feeling trapped in and tied up with hopelessness during a free fall into an unknown darkness that you know will end badly and realizing there is absolutely no one down there to save you from whatever horrors that are waiting below. Living a life of darkness is not how it was meant to be, for there is One who can rescue us, One Way to escape. There is Hope!
Application:
The One Person, who has the power to overcome the deepest darkness of the soul is the Christ, our Lord Jesus; the Light for this World and the Savior of its souls (John 16:33). It is God the Father who mercifully plucks us out of the realms of darkness. It is God the Son who graciously clothes us with His Light. And it is God the Holy Spirit who takes care of the rest. Being pulled out of the deep waters of darkness and into the Light of the Son and being empowered with the Source of all Life doesn’t make this difficult life-journey a "Walk in the Park". But what it does do though; is it gives us comfort in knowing the Truth—not manmade foolishness and random ideology; not hopeful guessing or intellectual philosophy, but God’s absolutes. Knowing God and the mystery behind creation is not difficult to understand if you belong to God. All others belong to this world and are oblivious to the Truth, and thus, they become followers of the untruth—the father of lies and the god of this world, the Devil (2 Corinthians 4:4). Don’t be fooled, my friends, Satan is both powerful and devious and as long as we live in this dark filled world, it will be a fight to the finish that ends good for all those who belong to God. So, be ever so grateful and forever so thankful when the Father of Hope shines His Son into your life, because without Him all is in vain and all remains lost. His Saving Light is in the Father’s Son.
Prayer:
I simply thank You, O God, for who You are and all that You have done. You are the God who truly gives life to the dead. My life is Yours.
Amen
“The Father’s Son”
Scripture:
Psalm 18:16, 28
He reached down from Heaven and rescued me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
LORD, you have brought light to my life;
My God, You light up my darkness. (NLT)
Observation:
Not so long ago the LORD our God saw my life drowning in a dark sea of self-pity and self-hatred; despising this cursed life and longing for an end. I was sinking deeper into the darkness that sin brings to every lost and isolated life—a life that had slowly and emphatically weighed me down into the complacency of defeat and the utter regret of ever being born, especially the person I had become. I hated God, I hated myself, and I hated life—and unbeknownst to me, the exact place where the Enemy of God wanted my lost soul. There are no words in any human language that can fully explain the persistent, unrelenting torment that living in darkness brings to the person who finds their self lost in it. The best picture I can give you is one of feeling trapped in and tied up with hopelessness during a free fall into an unknown darkness that you know will end badly and realizing there is absolutely no one down there to save you from whatever horrors that are waiting below. Living a life of darkness is not how it was meant to be, for there is One who can rescue us, One Way to escape. There is Hope!
Application:
The One Person, who has the power to overcome the deepest darkness of the soul is the Christ, our Lord Jesus; the Light for this World and the Savior of its souls (John 16:33). It is God the Father who mercifully plucks us out of the realms of darkness. It is God the Son who graciously clothes us with His Light. And it is God the Holy Spirit who takes care of the rest. Being pulled out of the deep waters of darkness and into the Light of the Son and being empowered with the Source of all Life doesn’t make this difficult life-journey a "Walk in the Park". But what it does do though; is it gives us comfort in knowing the Truth—not manmade foolishness and random ideology; not hopeful guessing or intellectual philosophy, but God’s absolutes. Knowing God and the mystery behind creation is not difficult to understand if you belong to God. All others belong to this world and are oblivious to the Truth, and thus, they become followers of the untruth—the father of lies and the god of this world, the Devil (2 Corinthians 4:4). Don’t be fooled, my friends, Satan is both powerful and devious and as long as we live in this dark filled world, it will be a fight to the finish that ends good for all those who belong to God. So, be ever so grateful and forever so thankful when the Father of Hope shines His Son into your life, because without Him all is in vain and all remains lost. His Saving Light is in the Father’s Son.
Prayer:
I simply thank You, O God, for who You are and all that You have done. You are the God who truly gives life to the dead. My life is Yours.
Amen
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
“Truly Wise”
Scripture:
Ephesians 1:7-9
He [God] is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom
through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven.
He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ,
designed long ago according to His good pleasure. (NLT)
Observation:
Incredibly, when the Lord redeems us, He not only forgives our sins and takes away the guilt and punishment for our rebellion, but He also provides the Holy Spirit to help us gain both wisdom and insight—two very essential ingredients that are needed for godly living. God’s written Word spells out everything we need to know about His will for our lives, but it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to understand it and the strength to carry it out.
Application:
Even those who have never obtained any academic degrees will gain the wisdom of God that surpasses even the most educated unbeliever. For as a believer you understand the most absolute and basic truths and values concerning life. You know that God is the Creator and He controls the course of history. You know the reason for mankind’s very existence is to know and glorify the Creator. As believers in Christ you have goals and priorities that rise above the limits of earthly circumstances. Such wisdom escapes the unbelievers because they tend to view the things of God as being either irrational or irrelevant, or they view God with total disdain. Unfortunately though, there are many Christians who believe that God’s will should be their priority for life, but think He is either too vague or His will is cleverly hidden from their sight. They tend to make the transfer from secular to biblical harder than it really is by searching for those hard to find, hidden messages found only between the lines of Scripture that, if discovered, will finally lead them down the path that God has chosen for them. My dear friends, God’s revealed will for our lives is the same for every believer and are easily found in the inerrancy of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Once you understand what God’s will is, you will have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and the confidence that He will use you in His plan for eternity. Remember, it is God’s will, not yours. Everyday that our sovereign and gracious God gives you is an opportunity to prayerfully ask God to give you what you need to fulfill His will for that day and in the process He will refresh your spirit with His Truth (Isaiah 40:31). The goal: to live a godly life in thanksgiving; a life that God will honor, and a life lived that will glorify His Holy and Mighty Name.
Prayer:
Dear Lord God, please continue to reveal Your will to me. Help me to understand and cope with any direction that you point out to me. Continue to pour out Your mercy and grace to all those who follow Your calling. Help us do what only You can help us do—shine Your Light for all to see, for this world is getting difficult to maneuver in.
Amen
Scripture:
Ephesians 1:7-9
He [God] is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom
through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven.
He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ,
designed long ago according to His good pleasure. (NLT)
Observation:
Incredibly, when the Lord redeems us, He not only forgives our sins and takes away the guilt and punishment for our rebellion, but He also provides the Holy Spirit to help us gain both wisdom and insight—two very essential ingredients that are needed for godly living. God’s written Word spells out everything we need to know about His will for our lives, but it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to understand it and the strength to carry it out.
Application:
Even those who have never obtained any academic degrees will gain the wisdom of God that surpasses even the most educated unbeliever. For as a believer you understand the most absolute and basic truths and values concerning life. You know that God is the Creator and He controls the course of history. You know the reason for mankind’s very existence is to know and glorify the Creator. As believers in Christ you have goals and priorities that rise above the limits of earthly circumstances. Such wisdom escapes the unbelievers because they tend to view the things of God as being either irrational or irrelevant, or they view God with total disdain. Unfortunately though, there are many Christians who believe that God’s will should be their priority for life, but think He is either too vague or His will is cleverly hidden from their sight. They tend to make the transfer from secular to biblical harder than it really is by searching for those hard to find, hidden messages found only between the lines of Scripture that, if discovered, will finally lead them down the path that God has chosen for them. My dear friends, God’s revealed will for our lives is the same for every believer and are easily found in the inerrancy of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Once you understand what God’s will is, you will have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and the confidence that He will use you in His plan for eternity. Remember, it is God’s will, not yours. Everyday that our sovereign and gracious God gives you is an opportunity to prayerfully ask God to give you what you need to fulfill His will for that day and in the process He will refresh your spirit with His Truth (Isaiah 40:31). The goal: to live a godly life in thanksgiving; a life that God will honor, and a life lived that will glorify His Holy and Mighty Name.
Prayer:
Dear Lord God, please continue to reveal Your will to me. Help me to understand and cope with any direction that you point out to me. Continue to pour out Your mercy and grace to all those who follow Your calling. Help us do what only You can help us do—shine Your Light for all to see, for this world is getting difficult to maneuver in.
Amen
“Heart Matters”
Scripture:
Proverbs 27:19
As a face is reflected in water,
so the heart reflects the person. (NLT)
Observation:
As fallen human beings, we are all prone to follow our sinful natures with ease, either without thinking about the consequences or devising a way for our escape. In either case, we will eventually pay a price for our sinful waywardness. It is because of our rebellious nature to sin against God that we have a deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9) and thus, must be ever so mindful of what we put into our hearts, for it is in the heart our direction for living begins—be it for God or against God.
Application:
Therefore, if anyone is to successfully change the direction in which this misguided world is leading them, they must first and foremost, look deeply into the condition of their heart, for it is from the heart that our desires flow; it is just the way the Lord designed human beings to be. Because of the sin condition of our hearts it is only through God’s infinite power and wisdom that anyone is able to experience a truly transformed heart and life—one that loves God and is glad to live for Him—the kind of transformation that God desires for everyone (Ezekiel 36:26-27). No matter who we think we are or what we believe our capabilities are, we cannot do this on our own, because the power that sin has over everyone’s heart, mind, and soul is far too strong for our frail human condition to faithfully battle without God’s sovereign help. This fallen world where Satan reigns can only satisfy the sinful desires of your heart, dear friend, desires that are not only temporary at best, but are desires that will continue to draw you farther and farther from the Truth, leading you into a darkness that ends with final condemnation and eternal separation from God and all the goodness He has so carefully planned for those who have a heart of God. Our merciful God graciously calls every heart to change, but He does not force anyone to Himself; unless it is His will to do so. So take it to heart, my friends, do not gamble with the LORD our God. Instead, step up while you can and trust Him to transform the sinful desires of your heart into godly desires that will light a path and guide you into the very Presence of all God’s Glory (Matthew 5:8).
Prayer:
Please renew the spirit in my heart, O LORD, for it is there where my desires come from. Create in me, dear God, a right spirit that thrives on Your goodness. Protect me from the fiery arrows of the Devil that are aimed at piercing my wounded heart. Please create in me clean desires that honor and glorify You.
Amen
Scripture:
Proverbs 27:19
As a face is reflected in water,
so the heart reflects the person. (NLT)
Observation:
As fallen human beings, we are all prone to follow our sinful natures with ease, either without thinking about the consequences or devising a way for our escape. In either case, we will eventually pay a price for our sinful waywardness. It is because of our rebellious nature to sin against God that we have a deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9) and thus, must be ever so mindful of what we put into our hearts, for it is in the heart our direction for living begins—be it for God or against God.
Application:
Therefore, if anyone is to successfully change the direction in which this misguided world is leading them, they must first and foremost, look deeply into the condition of their heart, for it is from the heart that our desires flow; it is just the way the Lord designed human beings to be. Because of the sin condition of our hearts it is only through God’s infinite power and wisdom that anyone is able to experience a truly transformed heart and life—one that loves God and is glad to live for Him—the kind of transformation that God desires for everyone (Ezekiel 36:26-27). No matter who we think we are or what we believe our capabilities are, we cannot do this on our own, because the power that sin has over everyone’s heart, mind, and soul is far too strong for our frail human condition to faithfully battle without God’s sovereign help. This fallen world where Satan reigns can only satisfy the sinful desires of your heart, dear friend, desires that are not only temporary at best, but are desires that will continue to draw you farther and farther from the Truth, leading you into a darkness that ends with final condemnation and eternal separation from God and all the goodness He has so carefully planned for those who have a heart of God. Our merciful God graciously calls every heart to change, but He does not force anyone to Himself; unless it is His will to do so. So take it to heart, my friends, do not gamble with the LORD our God. Instead, step up while you can and trust Him to transform the sinful desires of your heart into godly desires that will light a path and guide you into the very Presence of all God’s Glory (Matthew 5:8).
Prayer:
Please renew the spirit in my heart, O LORD, for it is there where my desires come from. Create in me, dear God, a right spirit that thrives on Your goodness. Protect me from the fiery arrows of the Devil that are aimed at piercing my wounded heart. Please create in me clean desires that honor and glorify You.
Amen
“Renewal”
Scripture:
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NKJ)
Observation:
Starting a new year with renewed aspirations and hope is a tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation. It just seems to be our human nature to do so. But in reality this renewal, if taken to heart, should faithfully be made at the beginning of each and every new day that God gives us, rather than just once a new year.
Application:
The reasoning behind this is first; tomorrow is unknown—what it will bring or will there even be a tomorrow, and second; as imperfect people who are prone to succumb to our weaknesses, especially those weak areas that pull us away from God, we need some One greater than ourselves to help us overcome those addictive, hard to let go, habits which cause us pain and unhealthy living—both physically as well as spiritually. And in order to accomplish true and lasting renewal in our lives we must first look at the heart, for it is from the heart that true change really takes place (Proverbs 23:7). And it is only God, our Creator, who can give us the new heart we need to overcome the deadly habits that we are all prone to follow. Being creatures of habitual nature, we must replace those old sinful habits (the things we know we shouldn’t do but like to do them anyways) that drag us down and replace them with new godly habits (things that our old stubborn nature doesn’t want us to do) that lift us up (Galatians 5:17). And the best way to accomplish this true and lasting change of heart, dear friends, is by humbly asking God what we need, where to find it, and then how to keep it. This critical change you desire takes more than just a couple or so day’s of commitment; it takes a steadfast daily renewal of ones mind, heart, and soul. There are multitudes of worldly ways that sound great and look even better, but the best place to begin looking is to God and His Truth. For it is in God and through His Word where you will find the key to healthy living and the right habits that will ensure your success, give you hope when you fall short, and supply you with the renewed strength and wisdom that will not only get you started on your new life-journey, but will help you remain steadfast in this lifelong quest that will bring you victoriously into the Presence of the Throne of God’s Glory and Grace—grace for the moment, and the glory forever!
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to surrender my life to You at the beginning of each new day, for the sinful nature that demands my obedience is much to powerful without You to sustain me. Help me stay grounded in Your Word and connected to Your Spirit, for it is only then that I can be victorious at the end of each day that you give to me.
Amen
Scripture:
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NKJ)
Observation:
Starting a new year with renewed aspirations and hope is a tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation. It just seems to be our human nature to do so. But in reality this renewal, if taken to heart, should faithfully be made at the beginning of each and every new day that God gives us, rather than just once a new year.
Application:
The reasoning behind this is first; tomorrow is unknown—what it will bring or will there even be a tomorrow, and second; as imperfect people who are prone to succumb to our weaknesses, especially those weak areas that pull us away from God, we need some One greater than ourselves to help us overcome those addictive, hard to let go, habits which cause us pain and unhealthy living—both physically as well as spiritually. And in order to accomplish true and lasting renewal in our lives we must first look at the heart, for it is from the heart that true change really takes place (Proverbs 23:7). And it is only God, our Creator, who can give us the new heart we need to overcome the deadly habits that we are all prone to follow. Being creatures of habitual nature, we must replace those old sinful habits (the things we know we shouldn’t do but like to do them anyways) that drag us down and replace them with new godly habits (things that our old stubborn nature doesn’t want us to do) that lift us up (Galatians 5:17). And the best way to accomplish this true and lasting change of heart, dear friends, is by humbly asking God what we need, where to find it, and then how to keep it. This critical change you desire takes more than just a couple or so day’s of commitment; it takes a steadfast daily renewal of ones mind, heart, and soul. There are multitudes of worldly ways that sound great and look even better, but the best place to begin looking is to God and His Truth. For it is in God and through His Word where you will find the key to healthy living and the right habits that will ensure your success, give you hope when you fall short, and supply you with the renewed strength and wisdom that will not only get you started on your new life-journey, but will help you remain steadfast in this lifelong quest that will bring you victoriously into the Presence of the Throne of God’s Glory and Grace—grace for the moment, and the glory forever!
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to surrender my life to You at the beginning of each new day, for the sinful nature that demands my obedience is much to powerful without You to sustain me. Help me stay grounded in Your Word and connected to Your Spirit, for it is only then that I can be victorious at the end of each day that you give to me.
Amen
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