Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV
We're a society of multi-taskers. I think it's an incredible testament to how God created us, but I don't think we were meant to do it every day, all day long. After all, we're supposed to do ALL things in moderation, right?
At any rate, I think God showed me a new perspective of our text for today - specifically, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. How many of us claim this Scripture when we have a ton of things to do and we're already tired? Yes - I see those hands...
How many of us quote this Scripture in prayer back to God in kind of a back-handed way because we think we've already got more than enough to do and now there's one more thing and doesn't He know how busy I am, but I'll suffer through because I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength...
Somewhere along the way, the enemy of our soul has managed to warp our thinking! How many people do you know who refuse help with their tasks at hand because they think they're showing signs of weakness if they can't do it on their own? Or worse, think they're disappointing God if they can't accomplish it on their own?
When I don't have the strength to do something on my own, but someone comes alongside to help, I CAN get it done. When we have more tasks to be completed in a day than we can get done by ourselves and inside we're trying to pump ourselves up with the Word of God, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength... I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength... I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength... then someone offers to help. How many of us refuse the help with, No, I can do it...
God never called us to walk alone. Hear me out. I'm not talking about your times alone with God - those are mandatory - I'm talking about the walking out part of our journey. If your load is heavy, it is made lighter by splitting it with someone, thereby increasing your strength. If you have MUCH to do, doesn't it get done more quickly if there is an extra pair of hands? This morning, I finally recognized that as another form of strength - a gift from God. I can do all things through Christ who GIVES me strength... Think about it.
What if that strength you're begging God for comes in the form of another person?
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for answered prayers, even when the answer is no. Help us to recognize Your answer doesn't always fit our specs because we're not You. We acknowledge and affirm that You know what is best for our lives. Father, please give us strength. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Monday, May 27, 2024
Go the Distance
You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
Psalm 119:73 NLT
We can have a genius IQ and still lack common sense. We can read the Bible cover to cover, but if we're reading just to be able to say we read it and don't make it applicable to our lives, we are fools. It's been said that the distance between heaven and hell is 18 inches. That's the distance from our head to our heart...
It's not head knowledge that gives us a relationship with God, it's our heart knowledge - asking Him into our hearts. Allowing Him to change them from hearts of stone to tender, responsive hearts as He promised in Ezekiel 36:26, And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
Prayer:
Father,
You made us; You created us. Please give us the sense to follow Your commands. Change our hearts we pray so that we will follow You in spirit and in truth. Help us to go the distance, Father! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, May 24, 2024
Have Mercy
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”
And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
Luke 18:35-43 NLT
“Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”
And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
Luke 18:35-43 NLT
We all know this story is about a physical healing miracle. And it is extraordinary! And all who saw it praised God, too. However, I keep thinking about this from the aspect of spiritual blindness...
We might hear the world passing by, but not quite see what's truly happening. Would we cry out to Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”? And when the world around us tried to drown out our pleas, would we cry all the louder for mercy to have spiritual insight?
Prayer:
Father,
We cry out for Your mercy! Rip the scales off our eyes! Let us see as You see - with hearts of compassion, ready to offer grace and forgiveness, and to speak Truth in love. We want to be Your hands extended to those in need. Help us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Friends' Favorite - Called by Name
Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” Then they remembered that he had said this.
Luke 24:5b-8 NLT
In the depths of grief and despair, it's difficult to remember even the important things. It's as though the disconnect affects everything. The details are lost under a mountain of memories and can't make their way to the top through the ocean of shock and (or) tears. Shock and grief can make you feel as if all the oxygen is being sucked out of your world. And as we all know, the brain doesn't operate well without oxygen.
Christ was kind enough to warn His loved ones what was going to happen, but they were still in denial. In John 20, Mary Magdalene discovers the body of Christ is missing and runs to tell Peter and John. Later, after they're gone, she is still weeping at the tomb. How often do people go back to a graveside because it was the last place they 'saw' their loved one? It's human nature. Blinded by her grief, she didn't even recognize her beloved Savior until He called her by name. "Mary!" (verse 20)
God's Word tells us that He has ransomed us. He has called US by name and we are His. (Isaiah 43). Will we accept the ransom He paid on the Cross at Calvary? Will we answer when He calls us?
Prayer:
Father,
There aren't enough words to properly thank You and praise You for all You have done to buy us back and redeem us from sin, death, hell, and the grave. But we believe Your Word - that Jesus Christ is Your Son, that He died on the Cross at Calvary to pay for our sins and that on the third day, He arose victorious over death, hell and the grave. We accept Jesus as our Savior, and wait for the final day on this earth when You will call us home because we are Yours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
In the depths of grief and despair, it's difficult to remember even the important things. It's as though the disconnect affects everything. The details are lost under a mountain of memories and can't make their way to the top through the ocean of shock and (or) tears. Shock and grief can make you feel as if all the oxygen is being sucked out of your world. And as we all know, the brain doesn't operate well without oxygen.
Christ was kind enough to warn His loved ones what was going to happen, but they were still in denial. In John 20, Mary Magdalene discovers the body of Christ is missing and runs to tell Peter and John. Later, after they're gone, she is still weeping at the tomb. How often do people go back to a graveside because it was the last place they 'saw' their loved one? It's human nature. Blinded by her grief, she didn't even recognize her beloved Savior until He called her by name. "Mary!" (verse 20)
God's Word tells us that He has ransomed us. He has called US by name and we are His. (Isaiah 43). Will we accept the ransom He paid on the Cross at Calvary? Will we answer when He calls us?
Prayer:
Father,
There aren't enough words to properly thank You and praise You for all You have done to buy us back and redeem us from sin, death, hell, and the grave. But we believe Your Word - that Jesus Christ is Your Son, that He died on the Cross at Calvary to pay for our sins and that on the third day, He arose victorious over death, hell and the grave. We accept Jesus as our Savior, and wait for the final day on this earth when You will call us home because we are Yours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Friends' Favorite - Shame Off You
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9 NKJV
The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We know that to be so true. Those of us who love the Lord feel guilt and remorse over those sins. And satan knows that, too, so he keeps reminding us. "Shame on you - you call yourself a Christian." Next thing you know, not only do we still feel guilty, there's shame piled all over on top of that guilt, right? We start to feel like failures when it comes to being a Christian...
Okay, the Director yells, "Cut!" Stop the action right there! It's like a bad scene out of an even worse movie...
We can all quote vs 23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God but that's only part of the sentence. It's not the whole sentence. Immediately following verse 23 the Word continues, and ALL are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus [emphasis mine]. Which all? The same ALL that had fallen short are now justified freely by His grace!! Do you know what that means? Shame OFF you!!
So, who are you going to believe? The lies from the enemy of your soul or the One who died to SAVE your soul? Shame on or shame off?
Prayer:
Father,
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in You for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of You, bringing every thought we have into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Forgive us for believing anything that would dare to exalt itself above our Christ and His redemptive work in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We know that to be so true. Those of us who love the Lord feel guilt and remorse over those sins. And satan knows that, too, so he keeps reminding us. "Shame on you - you call yourself a Christian." Next thing you know, not only do we still feel guilty, there's shame piled all over on top of that guilt, right? We start to feel like failures when it comes to being a Christian...
Okay, the Director yells, "Cut!" Stop the action right there! It's like a bad scene out of an even worse movie...
We can all quote vs 23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God but that's only part of the sentence. It's not the whole sentence. Immediately following verse 23 the Word continues, and ALL are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus [emphasis mine]. Which all? The same ALL that had fallen short are now justified freely by His grace!! Do you know what that means? Shame OFF you!!
So, who are you going to believe? The lies from the enemy of your soul or the One who died to SAVE your soul? Shame on or shame off?
Prayer:
Father,
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in You for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of You, bringing every thought we have into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Forgive us for believing anything that would dare to exalt itself above our Christ and His redemptive work in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Paraclete
If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:15-18 NKJV
I honestly don't know how people do life without Christ. There are days life is great, but then there are those other days... The ones that turn into weeks. Months. Seasons. Sometimes really LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGGGG seasons. Can you relate? It's too hard without Someone to walk with us.
It's during those times especially that I am so thankful for my Paraclete. No, not parakeet. Paraclete - the Greek word meaning Counselor, Comforter, Encourager, Advocate, Helper. The same Helper Jesus prayed the Father would send to us. The Holy Spirit. The often ignored Third Part of the Holy Trinity. The One who is ALL those things to us. Counselor, Comforter, Encourager, Advocate, Helper, the Spirit of Truth providing guidance in EVERY season of our lives.
Never alone. Never abandoned. Never without help. Thank You, God.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to abide with us forever. To guide us into all Truth, to testify to us of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. To bring to our remembrance all that You have taught us. Fine-tune our hearts to hear and quickly respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
I honestly don't know how people do life without Christ. There are days life is great, but then there are those other days... The ones that turn into weeks. Months. Seasons. Sometimes really LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGGGG seasons. Can you relate? It's too hard without Someone to walk with us.
It's during those times especially that I am so thankful for my Paraclete. No, not parakeet. Paraclete - the Greek word meaning Counselor, Comforter, Encourager, Advocate, Helper. The same Helper Jesus prayed the Father would send to us. The Holy Spirit. The often ignored Third Part of the Holy Trinity. The One who is ALL those things to us. Counselor, Comforter, Encourager, Advocate, Helper, the Spirit of Truth providing guidance in EVERY season of our lives.
Never alone. Never abandoned. Never without help. Thank You, God.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to abide with us forever. To guide us into all Truth, to testify to us of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. To bring to our remembrance all that You have taught us. Fine-tune our hearts to hear and quickly respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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