Philippians 4:4-7- Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God; 7 and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.7). -NIV
This is contained in a letter that Paul wrote to the church of Philippi who they themselves were being persecuted. As Paul sat in his jail cell, not sure if he would be executed, he encourages the church to Rejoice. How could he focus on joy when he was suffering such trials and persecution? Paul was facing his potential earthly death. Paul was able to focus on the hope and joy that only Christ could bring. If Paul had focused on his current circumstances he could not be joyful. If we focus on Christ alone, we are able to set aside our earthly sorrows and rejoice in the Lord and his promises. We can praise God and give him thanks. Paul then instructs them to not be anxious about anything but to set these things before the Lord in Prayer and Thanksgiving. It is then that God’s peace will fill your heart, protecting you from your predisposed anxiety.
REMEMBER to have HOPE AND FAITH IN GOD NOT Circumstances.
Daily Challenge:
The next time that you feel anxious about something, remember God’s promises to you. There are many promises – pick one.
The second challenge – When you’re feeling low, make a decision to have a Praise Party. What is a praise party? Ask my kids and they will tell you it is one of their favorite things to do. We forget about everything and just worship God with singing and dancing. You will be AMAZED at how different you feel after having a praise party for the Lord! Try it now and see!!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
God's Love
Understanding God’s love is essential in developing our relationship with Christ and is crucial to our well being. It helps us in gaining an understanding that He is ever faithful, that God is omnipotent, omnipresent and is sufficient.
For God SO loved the world that he gave his only begotten son!!! He loved me enough to fulfill his prophesies and for Jesus to take stripes as he was beaten and was sacrificed for me. None are worthy of the grace of God – I am not worthy for all that he has chose to do for me. If God loved me enough to make the ultimate sacrifice, will he not come along side me when I am suffering? God loves me – God LOVES YOU TOO! He sees every tear that we cry. He knows our heart. He knew that we would falter and lack understanding. So, he sent an ever present helper. Can we not trust that our ever present helper the Holy Spirit will do just that – be our ever present helper in time of joy and time of need? We must remember that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit work for God’s glory in our life. God is a deliverer.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:35,37 KJV
Find strength in God’s love. Find strength in God’s word. For God is the word.
Jesus told us that things would not be easy for us as Christians.
2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution."
Satan delights when we stray from the father. Satan delights when we doubt. But as Jesus defeated Satan, so can we. If we rely on Christ, he will provide us with the same strength that he had in the Garden of Gethsemane. We cannot do it alone. Often, when all of the world seems right, it is easy to be a follower of Christ. It is natural to thank him for your many blessings. But when we are faced with a challenge or one of life’s many tragedies, only then do we test our relationship with Christ. It is then that we grow. It is only then do we learn to trust. Unfortunately, it is also then that we have a tendency to stray, to doubt, and to forget. It is then when we rely on our own understanding. As we grow in our faith we learn to Trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding. In all of our ways acknowledging he who will make our paths straight. As we mature as Christians we learn to lean on Jesus – learn to lean on the Holy Spirit and on the father. The bible speaks of new Christians who are fed milk to maintain them. The trials and tribulations of our life are the meat and potatoes. They are the protein that our body and soul needs to grow in Christ. Once again, the Bible never promises that things will be easy. But the bible does promise that these are the times that you will mature in Christ. For if our master was not above suffering, shall we be? For Jesus said "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you,". We shall suffer – we shall have a lack of understanding, our hears shall hurt. But know that we serve a mighty God! As Christ has, so shall we, learn to rely on the father. For us, this takes time. If you understand how much God loves you, you have taken the first step to growing in your relationship with Christ.
Never forget the sacrifice God has made and the love that he has for you. You are his child whom he loves. GOD LOVES YOU!
Let us pray –
Heavenly father we thank you for your promises so that we may know you are an ever faithful God. You prophesied the coming of your son, the death of your son, and the resurrection of your son. You were faithful in these things giving me a knowledge and hope that you are faithful in all things. You know my heart, you know that I am hurting. You know my innermost desires. Lord, I pray today that you help me to carry these burdens. That you provide me with the peace and understanding that your will shall be done. Lord I thank you for all that you have done for me. I praise you as you are always victorious. I pray that you help me to be joyous every day and to remember all that I have to be thankful for. In your name we pray, Amen.
For God SO loved the world that he gave his only begotten son!!! He loved me enough to fulfill his prophesies and for Jesus to take stripes as he was beaten and was sacrificed for me. None are worthy of the grace of God – I am not worthy for all that he has chose to do for me. If God loved me enough to make the ultimate sacrifice, will he not come along side me when I am suffering? God loves me – God LOVES YOU TOO! He sees every tear that we cry. He knows our heart. He knew that we would falter and lack understanding. So, he sent an ever present helper. Can we not trust that our ever present helper the Holy Spirit will do just that – be our ever present helper in time of joy and time of need? We must remember that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit work for God’s glory in our life. God is a deliverer.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:35,37 KJV
Find strength in God’s love. Find strength in God’s word. For God is the word.
Jesus told us that things would not be easy for us as Christians.
2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution."
Satan delights when we stray from the father. Satan delights when we doubt. But as Jesus defeated Satan, so can we. If we rely on Christ, he will provide us with the same strength that he had in the Garden of Gethsemane. We cannot do it alone. Often, when all of the world seems right, it is easy to be a follower of Christ. It is natural to thank him for your many blessings. But when we are faced with a challenge or one of life’s many tragedies, only then do we test our relationship with Christ. It is then that we grow. It is only then do we learn to trust. Unfortunately, it is also then that we have a tendency to stray, to doubt, and to forget. It is then when we rely on our own understanding. As we grow in our faith we learn to Trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding. In all of our ways acknowledging he who will make our paths straight. As we mature as Christians we learn to lean on Jesus – learn to lean on the Holy Spirit and on the father. The bible speaks of new Christians who are fed milk to maintain them. The trials and tribulations of our life are the meat and potatoes. They are the protein that our body and soul needs to grow in Christ. Once again, the Bible never promises that things will be easy. But the bible does promise that these are the times that you will mature in Christ. For if our master was not above suffering, shall we be? For Jesus said "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you,". We shall suffer – we shall have a lack of understanding, our hears shall hurt. But know that we serve a mighty God! As Christ has, so shall we, learn to rely on the father. For us, this takes time. If you understand how much God loves you, you have taken the first step to growing in your relationship with Christ.
Never forget the sacrifice God has made and the love that he has for you. You are his child whom he loves. GOD LOVES YOU!
Let us pray –
Heavenly father we thank you for your promises so that we may know you are an ever faithful God. You prophesied the coming of your son, the death of your son, and the resurrection of your son. You were faithful in these things giving me a knowledge and hope that you are faithful in all things. You know my heart, you know that I am hurting. You know my innermost desires. Lord, I pray today that you help me to carry these burdens. That you provide me with the peace and understanding that your will shall be done. Lord I thank you for all that you have done for me. I praise you as you are always victorious. I pray that you help me to be joyous every day and to remember all that I have to be thankful for. In your name we pray, Amen.
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