Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

 In the last 14 years of my employment, I was a supervisor, which meant if there were any complaints, I was the one who had to hear them. Some days it seemed like nothing would go right, but then, out of nowhere, someone would pay a compliment to how we operated or about one of our staff. Those positive comments were uplifting for me and my team, and gave us the encouragement to work harder to accomplish the mission successfully.

 Today’s verse gives encouragement for us, as Children of God, to pray earnestly and be vigilant to the needs of others and for ourselves. It also adds one caveat, give thanks in your prayers. I truly believe God is just like us, He loves to receive compliments and praise for what He’s done and currently doing in our life. I’ve said for years, “praising God greases the gears of our prayer requests”.

 Maybe you are experiencing a dryness in your prayer life. You ask God for help, but very little seems to be happening. Try to incorporate praise in your prayers. It does 2 things: 1. Helps you take your focus off your problems and allows you to see what great things God has blessed you with, 2. It shows God that you trust Him enough to solve your issue by praising Him and not just giving Him the heavy burdens you want to pass along to Him. Trust me when I say, this works! Been there, done that. And when I give Him praise, it opens my eyes to the inner workings of His response to my request.

 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19

 Your world may seem like nothing good is happening, but when you turn your attention to God’s blessings, you’ll soon see He’s providing everything you need in your moment of need. God bless!

 Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:5-6

 Have you ever watched a rock climber? They scale sheer cliffs grabbing the smallest slits in the rock to hoist themselves to the next level. For their safety, they use spring loaded mechanical devices that wedge into crevasses that secure a rope that is connected to them, in the event they slip, it will prevent them from falling to their death. A committed climber must have trust in his equipment, otherwise he won’t have the confidence to perform the climb.

 As children of God, we too can relate to a climber’s equipment. Once saved, our life should be committed to Christ for the remainder of days on earth. But there is the second element that keeps you loyal to your commitment, that is faith in God! Your spiritual journey will be met with resistance from the world, that includes your friends, neighbors, co-workers, even family members. We live in a world today that encourages people to rely on self rather than a higher power. I can assure you; self will always fail and bring you crashing down, with repercussions that can last a lifetime.

 As your faith in God grows from various experiences, you will slowly develop an inner light that will shine, even during life’s darkest moments. I’ve witnessed seasoned Christians go through traumatic events that would otherwise devastate the normal person, yet out of their circumstances, they put their faith in God, and He provided inner peace, strength, and encouragement to forge on. Without making myself sound prideful, I’ve come to that point in my life where I can trust God in all circumstances.

 My prayer is that you too either possess this commitment, backed by faith in the One true God or are in the developmental process of building faith in Him. Either way, God will continue to bless you when you sustain your commitment to live the Christian life in this dark world. God bless!   

 “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. Luke 11:35

 While sitting in Sunday School (Life Group) this morning, I noticed a number of light bulbs were burned out, creating dark spots across the room. At one time those bulbs shined brightly, but over time they eventually gave out.  

 With the thought of my observation this morning, today’s verse came to mind. As Christians, we are like a room full of light fixtures with light bulbs inserted. Some, shine brightly, while others are either faded dim or completely burnt out. The truth is, it can be difficult to live the Chrisitan life in this world full of ungodliness and moral depravity, combined with an eager enemy (Satan), always scheming to trip up those closest to Jesus Christ. As you take a moment to reflect upon your life, ask yourself if your light for Christ is shining brighter than when you accepted Him, or has the fiercest battles put a hole in your light?

 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

 A good indicator that your light isn’t shining, if your daily walk is darkened by sinful pleasures and spending less time indulging in spiritual matters and more time in worldly affairs. If that’s you friend, you must seriously consider the sincerity of your Christian status. Darkness and light cannot co-exist. You are either the light of Christ or spiritually dead. There is no middle ground.

 If you claim to be a child of God, yet struggle to shine for Christ. Let me remind you who you are as a child of God. Let this verse be the encouragement you need to light up the darkest parts of your life.

 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

 

 …bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

 The concept that thoughts turn into action is best summarized by the quote often attributed to Lao Tzu: "Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny". 

 Have you ever experienced this for yourself? A sinful thought comes into your mind and later that day you find yourself fulfilling that desire. We all have done this and it gets frustrating because we want to live a life pleasing God. How can we avoid fulfilling these lustful desires and evil thoughts?

 Today’s scripture brings this process into play for the everyday Christian. We are to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. That might sound good on paper, but getting that job done might seem impossible, but is it really impossible for you to avoid putting sin into action? God has given us His Holy Spirit to not only provide wisdom, but help us fight the daily battles that go on in our mind. What’s truly powerful is the Holy Spirit prays constantly for us Romans 8:26-27. God has equipped you with all the necessary resources to discard those sinful thoughts, so you can keep living a life of obedience to Him.

 The next time a sinful thought enters your mind, stop giving it more attention, and pray, asking God to erase that thought and focus on the cross of Christ. What He did for you, to save you from eternal damnation, should be reason enough not to indulge in behaviors that can tarnish your witness, even worse, harm your relationship with Jesus Christ. It may take days, weeks, maybe a lifetime to honestly bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, but when you do your life will align more with Christ and in the process God will bless your obedience.

 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

 Have you ever been around someone who exhibits arrogance? The way they carry themselves appears that they are always “in charge”, and will do anything to belittle those around them, especially those in authority. This is a classic case of narcissism and they are a pain to be around, especially if you unfortunately live with them.

 Today’s verse gives us a good idea of who is actually “in charge”. The God of this universe orchestrated your life to fit in with others, at work, home, community, and in the church. He doesn’t need anyone to take on the role of king over His people, He wants us to live a humble life, willing to love others unconditionally, help others in need, comfort the suffering, and most of all, submit to God’s will. God may have placed you in the role of a supervisor, CEO, or preacher, but that doesn’t excuse you from living humbly with those you oversee.  

 Who’s in charge of your life? You or God? Make the right choice to humbly submit to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Your life will benefit greatly and perfectly fit in with others who co-exist with you during your lifetime! God bless!

 

 Happy Valentine's Day. Let today's scripture be your guide in loving others and yourself. 

I Corinthians 13:1-13 NKJV

[1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. [2] And though I have the  gift  of  prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the  poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. [4] Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; [5] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; [6] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails. But whether there  are prophecies, they will fail; whether there  are tongues, they will cease; whether there  is knowledge, it will vanish away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. [11] When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12] For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. [13] And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21

 You obtain a driver’s license, and soon learn that disobeying the speed limit can cost you your license. You enroll in a college class, and experience a failed grade because you didn’t do the work expected. You are hired for a job, and find yourself unemployed for not doing your work. These are all hard realities of life; they are painful, and something you wish you could redo to make things right.

 Today’s verse speaks to people who profess to be Christians but don’t live according to the biblical standards God has presented in His word, the Bible. On the day of judgment, they will discover their profession was false and will spend an eternity regretting how they lived. Because someone professes Christ, doesn’t give them the freedom to live in sin. No one is perfect and we all sin, but those who chose to live in deliberate sin are not living within the will of the Father.

 “Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” “And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:22-23

 OUCH! Can you imagine those who thought they were saved, and discovered their self-willed life sent them to Hell? It’s a hard reality, but it’s truth and those who are not living the Christian life, even in the secret and private parts of life, will have an eternity to regret their decisions.

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13

 A life of obedience to God’s word is the result of true confession of faith. If you have been living for self and not God, then you still have time to change your direction. The hard reality is it’s difficult living a godly lifestyle in a godless society, but with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, living inside of you, it can be done. Pray and ask God to help you change those areas of your life that need God’s touch to remove the world out of you, so you can experience God’s blessings of faithful living today, and into all eternity. God bless!