What it Means to Know Jesus
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to his disciples and greeted them this way: “Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19) When we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are granted the gift of the Holy Spirit, living inside our hearts, connecting us to God, and supplying us with access to unlimited peace. Knowing Jesus means we are able to know true peace. No matter what invades our lives, we can rest assured we are safe in the everlasting arms of Jesus.
Set Apart
Believers have been set apart for God. We are no longer citizens of this world but we have become citizens of the kingdom of God. Nothing in this world has any power over our eternal future – God holds our future safely in His capable hands. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) Our identity is in Christ. We are not measured by our profession, our wealth, the way we look, or where we live. We are now children of God and partakers of a heavenly calling.
Knowing Jesus is the key to separation from all the troubles of this world and access to all the power of God. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Sometimes, our first instinct in times of trouble is to run in the opposite direction, but a much better approach is to run towards Jesus. When we meditate on the teachings of Jesus, we will discover the peace that He provides and uncover the best path forward. We can travel through all the difficulties of this world with confidence when we know Jesus.
Your Relationship with Jesus
There is nothing more satisfying than building our relationship with Jesus. This world often pushes us toward an artificial peace found in drugs, alcohol, food, or other dead-end attempts to outrun our pain. The truth is nothing compares to the peace found in knowing Jesus. No one knows you better than Jesus. Jesus loves you unconditionally. Jesus has promised you an eternal existence in His loving arms. Jesus is the holder of comfort and security for all believers.
We move closer to Jesus when we honestly confess our worldly misdirection and sincerely seek to demonstrate our love for God by sharing that love with those around us. We move closer to Jesus when we fully understand our complete reliance upon Him for everything in life. We move closer to Jesus when we passionately fill our hearts and minds with His teaching. We move closer to Jesus when we focus our lives on walking directly in His footsteps. Our lives take on a whole new meaning when we move closer to Jesus and exalt Him as our Lord and Savior. Knowing Jesus means knowing peace.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
Trusting God Brings Peace
Trusting God Brings Peace
The Bible tells us that when we put our complete trust in God, He will take care of our every need. Of course, this is much easier said than done. The enemy of God works day and night to destroy our trust in God by pushing us in all the wrong directions. For that reason, we often lose sight of the awesome power of God. When this happens, our best course of action is to spend some time in prayer thanking God for all the past blessings in our lives. When we look back on all that God has done for us, we can restore our trust and once again receive His blessing.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8
Trust and Obey
We have to keep in mind that God will only meet our needs if we first trust and obey His instruction. In addition, our needs may not be the same as our desire. The enemy is constantly telling us we need far more than is necessary. This is the devil’s distraction. On the other hand, God is completely aware of precisely what we need. “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8) When we seek first His kingdom, we can be certain he will fulfill His promise to look after us.
There isn’t anything going on in our lives that God can’t deal with. Nothing is too far gone that God can’t restore it fully. No problem is beyond God’s power to resolve. As a result, we can find peace when we place our trust in God. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) We can’t let the devil distract us with worldly solutions to spiritual problems. If we are sincerely trusting the Lord with our problems, we know from past experience He will provide the appropriate response at just the right moment in time. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) God is always faithful and never misses a chance to bless those who are walking in step with Him.
God is Good
We can’t lose sight of the fact that everything of value in our lives comes from God. All of our basic needs, all of our material wealth, all of our loving relationships; everything that has real meaning in our lives comes from God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) There is no reason for us to expect others to meet our needs when we understand that ultimately all of our blessings come from God.
Praise God for Sending His Son
Genuine faith is complete trust in God. Even when things seem to be going in the wrong direction, it is our faith in Jesus Christ that insures us that God is with us, guiding our steps through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God sent his Son to die on our behalf, demonstrating beyond any doubt that He will do whatever it takes to meet our needs. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)
Finding Peace
God is delighted to take on the full responsibility of meeting all of our needs as long as we place our undivided trust in Him. When we push this world aside and ignore the temptations of the enemy, we can find peace in knowing that God will meet our needs far beyond our expectations. When we surrender to God fully, He reacts to that devotion by going to work on our behalf. Nothing is more powerful than the awesome hand of God guiding our lives toward a peace that transcends all understanding. There is no greater love.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
Identifying God’s Instruction
Identifying God’s Instruction
The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells us and remains with us as part of God’s everlasting promise to never leave us or forsake us.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17
The Holy Spirit is an awesome precious gift from God that serves as our guiding force and establishes our citizenship in the kingdom of God.
“This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13
Access to the Holy Spirit
If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have access to the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, interpreting the Holy Spirit’s instructions is not always easy. We can’t type in a specific question and receive a detailed response the way we might search for answers on the Internet. Our interaction with the Holy Spirit is more likely to be in the form of subtle guidance than a step-by-step plan. God wants us to find our own way through life; and rather than give us all the answers, He prefers to simply point us in the right direction. Even when we don’t know exactly what questions to ask, the Holy Spirit is there to speak on our behalf.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
There are essentially two voices inside the heads of all believers. One is the voice of this world filled with selfish desires. The other voice is that of the Holy Spirit guiding you toward the light of truth.
“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
Messages from the Holy Spirit
Frequently, believers receive messages from the Holy Spirit when reading the Bible or listening to a trusted Bible teacher. When a passage you’re reading or a word you are hearing sounds like it was written specifically for you, don’t discount it as a coincidence – recognize that teaching as guidance from the Holy Spirit.
God also uses the events in our life as teaching tools and as a form of guidance. God may use a blessing of some kind to point us in a new direction. God may use disappointment to point us in a new direction. God may place us in a difficult situation to get us to focus in a new way. No matter what is going on in your life, the Holy Spirit is with you helping you to make the right choices. Whatever may come our way – defeat, financial troubles, tragedy, sickness, affliction – everything is a part of God’s instruction, managed and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
God is Always with You
God is constantly working to get our attention so that we will seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and focus our lives on achieving that which is the will of God. God knows precisely what we need in this life. God also knows exactly what it will take to get our attention and get us pointed in the right direction. The best way to identify God’s instruction is to stop asking why our lives are going in a certain direction and start asking God, in prayer, what He wants us to learn from our current experience. God placed you right where you are because he knows that’s where you need to be. If you ignore the voice of this world and tune into the voice of the Holy Spirit, you will find God’s instruction in every aspect of your life.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
With God You Can’t Lose
With God You Can’t Lose
We all face difficult times that often come out of nowhere and overtake our lives with an overwhelming sense of dread. How we respond to stressful challenges is a true measure of our relationship with God. You may remember the familiar story from the book of Mark about a boat ride Jesus took with his disciples. When the disciples became afraid of the wind and waves overtaking their boat, they didn’t understand how Jesus could remain calm. His response to their fear is a simple truth we all need to ponder, “He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) Then with little effort, Jesus stopped the wind and calmed the sea.
Trust and Obey
As followers of Jesus, we are to trust and obey. When we focus our lives on following the teachings of Jesus, all of our battles are preordained to be victorious. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that has provided us with the ultimate victory over death. “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57) And His intervention on our behalf continues until the end of time. We can’t lose with God on our side. These times of extreme pressure are used by God to help us grow closer to Him. Every challenge in our lives gives God a chance to demonstrate his faithfulness. Ultimately, every one of these dark moments will be extinguished and resolved through the awesome power of God and a blessing will follow.
More than Conquerors
If we look back on our lives, we can easily identify times of despair that were turned around by God’s intervention. Anyone who has been a believer for more than a few years can likely cite numerous examples of God’s love resolving what may have seemed like insurmountable odds. “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) No one and no disruptive force can successfully oppose God. When we rely on the power of God rather than our own strength, we are unstoppable. In every situation we need to look beyond our own abilities and take hold of the power of the Holy Spirit living inside.
Rely on the Power of God
Know this: The strength and wisdom of your Lord and Savior will always prevail. Reject those who are telling you otherwise. Those who do not know Jesus have little understanding of what He can accomplish on our behalf; they depend on the flimsy tools of this world for their defense. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4) As followers of Jesus, we are relying on the power of God. All of our battles belong to the Lord. When we respond to our struggles with a positive affirmation of our faith in Jesus, there is absolutely nothing that can stand in our way. No matter what you are going through, declare out loud your ultimate victory as you joyfully endure God’s challenge. Let your struggle move you closer to Him, and receive the strength and wisdom He will provide. In the end, you will be greatly blessed.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
The Power of Prayer
The Power of Prayer
Contrary to popular belief, prayer is not God’s drive-thru window, where we can order up anything we want in life. Prayer is our direct connection to God and should be used to acknowledge God’s awesome power and love, to give thanks for all of our blessings, and to seek His participation in our lives. Yes, God can perform a miracle in your life through prayer, but He is far more likely to point you in the right direction so that you can resolve any problems you might have on your own. Prayer is where we access the power of God in our lives. “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) Often, it is in prayer that we discover a new perspective and realize that God already has our problems well in hand.
Resist the Devil
Possibly the best use of prayer is in our fight against the wicked forces of the enemy. We are in a battle between good and evil in this world, and we can’t win this fight on our own. When our struggle is against darkness, our only hope is to resist with the bright light of truth found in the Word of God. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:7-8) When we come to God in prayer, He will immediately fill our hearts with the needed love and fill our minds with the needed wisdom to overcome any and all schemes of the devil.
It is our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that binds us to God forever and insures victory over the devil. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9) As followers of Jesus, we know for certain in our heart that the battle has already been won. It is through prayer that we connect with God and discover the precise steps needed to overcome the enemy. Rather than seeking resolutions to our problems through prayer, God wants us to spend time in prayer in order to discover how we can resolve our problems on our own, in His power.
Seek God First
We can overcome the enemy in all cases when we connect with God through prayer and seek his advice, counsel, and power. Working alone without first connecting with God is what the enemy wants us to do. Don’t fall into that trap! Seek God first in prayer and then move forward with His clear direction and support. Ask God to guide you in your prayers rather than asking Him to miraculously resolve your struggles without any effort on your part. “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalm 143:8) Start every morning with prayer. God wants us to be in an ongoing conversation with Him through prayer, all day every day. No matter what the enemy throws at us, we will always be victorious when we take the Lord with us into battle.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
Adversity and God
Adversity and God
Adversity is the tool God uses to develop his followers into extraordinarily capable ambassadors in service to His eternal purpose. We are in training for our eternal existence in the kingdom of God. In much the same way we would train for any Olympic sport or any other athletic endeavor, we are challenged to our maximum in an effort to increase both our strength and ability to their full potential. Athletic training is hard work and often painful. Training to become a true servant of God is also hard work and often painful. Keep in mind, no matter how difficult your life is today your faithful service to God will reap unimaginable rewards in your eternal life to come.
Adversity Helps Us Focus
The world we live in is filled with the enemy’s diversions. It’s easy to get pulled off in the wrong direction and overwhelmed with worldly things rather than the things of God. Adversity is sometimes used by God to open our eyes to the enemy’s misdirection and point the way to a more productive path forward.
Adversity Helps Us Learn to Trust God
Frequently, when we are challenged with adversity, we discover the solution is not within our own power and our only hope is to trust God completely. We all have a tendency to try to solve our problems ourselves, and sometimes neglect to seek God’s help. Those of us who have been walking with God for more than a few years, all have many examples of problems that were obviously solved by God, rather than as a result of our own strength. These are important moments in our relationship with the Lord. These profoundly overwhelming experiences are used by God to strengthen our trust in Him.
Adversity Develops Perseverance
Just like lifting weights builds muscle, adversity builds perseverance. The longer our spirit is able to endure difficult times the more useful we are in service to God. The book of James begins with this familiar verse, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) Athletes find joy in the hard work it takes to develop their strength. In the same way, we are to find joy in the difficult times God uses to develop our spiritual awareness.
Adversity Demonstrates God’s Faithfulness
The stories about God’s faithfulness found in the Bible come alive when we experience it first-hand. God would be unable to demonstrate His faithfulness without adversity. Psalm 34:19 tells us this, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Every time we experience God’s faithfulness in our life, our faith in Him is strengthened and we are more devoted to following His teaching. We find this in 1 Peter 5:10, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” We can count on God. Every trip through the deep valley of adversity is a chance for God to guide us back to the mountain top where we can clearly see his never-ending faithfulness.
Adversity Prepares Us to Help Others
Probably one of the best byproducts of adversity is our ability to help others who are experiencing similar circumstances. As we struggle to overcome difficult times, our connection to God is our greatest source of comfort. When we find the path beyond our troubles, guided by the Holy Spirit, we are thereby gifted with the spiritual strength to comfort those who are still struggling. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us this, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” This verse is a perfect example of how God uses adversity to train believers to be His ambassador in service to others.
Adversity Prepares Us to Serve God by Serving Others.
Praise God for his thoughtful and compassionate use of adversity to help us grow in spiritual strength! Like a celebrated Olympic coach, our Lord pushes all believers to the limits of their endurance and not beyond. He stands ready to intercede on our behalf whenever needed; and He pushes us as hard as he can to achieve his ultimate goal of victory over the enemy.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Challenging times are always in God’s control. No matter what we are going through, God is with us. God will never allow us to be overcome by adversity. There is nothing in this world that can stand toe-to-toe with the awesome power of God. No matter what we are facing, we will eventually find our way back into the loving arms of God – stronger, wiser, and ready to serve Him in a new way. Every moment of adversity will one day be rewarded with unimaginable blessings from God. If we keep our feet firmly planted on the rock of our salvation, we will never be disappointed and we will ultimately find a victory that goes on forever.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
Where are You? Part Five
Where are You? – Part Five – Final Chapter
Where are YOU in your walk with the Lord?
PERSPECTIVE
In the book of Deuteronomy (28:1-2) we learn the simple formula for achieving God’s blessing. “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I am commanding you today, that the Lord your God will put you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings will come to you and reach you if you obey the Lord your God.” Then later in the book of Matthew (22:37-40) Jesus explains precisely what the most important commandments are for us to follow, “And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” Everything boils down to loving God and loving your neighbor. All the laws found in the Old Testament are covered in these two simple to understand commandments. That’s clear perspective!
Get the Big Picture
As we seek to carry out God’s grand design for our lives, it’s important for us to look back and recalculate the lessons learned. At the same time, we need to take a careful inventory of everything going on in our lives right now – at this very moment. Finally, we have to look out beyond the horizon and carefully plan for the future. We will never be successful without this kind of clear perspective. Our mission to achieve God’s calling in our life depends on an unencumbered view of the past, present, and future. We need the history of God our Father, the salvation of Jesus Christ, and the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit.
GLORY TO GOD
Our ultimate goal is our eternal existence with God. Glory to God for His awesome grace and for our salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Glory to God for every moment of success we achieve in our quest to find our place in God’s master plan. Glory to God for giving us the Holy Spirit to help point the way. Glory to God for what is to come. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) We have a confirmed appointment with eternity. Everything we do in this world is in preparation for that trip.
Your Walk with the Lord
Ponder these final thoughts before you continue your journey: Seek the wisdom of sincere believers. Remain humble. Be diligent. Never stop learning. Give thanks. Seek nothing in return. Maintain a clear goal. Nurture your relationships. And always give glory to God.
VICTORY
Our eternal home is indescribable. What we know for certain is the life we are living in this world will not even be worth remembering in the world to come. “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than arrogance of spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8) As we patiently wait for the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our mission is to realize God’s perfect design for our life. Our goal is to discover God’s calling and find our place in His ultimate plan for the universe. We each have a specific itinerary mapped out in complete detail. When we lock in to those coordinates, we are on the road to fulfill our Creator’s plan for our life. We simply need to pursue this calling with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
Where are You? Part Four
Where are You? – Part Four of Five
Where are YOU in your walk with the Lord?
FOCUS
Achieving God’s desired path in our life requires continuing education. Our first source of knowledge is, of course, the Word of God, but we shouldn’t stop there. There are many wise counselors in this world that can offer trusted guidance. “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 11:14) Christianity is a fellowship of spirit-filled believers eager to assist one another. God doesn’t expect us to do anything alone. Fellowship is central to being a follower of Jesus. Of course, finding the right counselor is critical to our success. To that end, we need to seek God’s help, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) We need to ask God for the wisdom to know when to seek help and the wisdom to resolve situations on our own.
Study to be Approved
Our goal has to always be to master whatever is needed to achieve the mission God has placed before us. Through careful Bible study and the advice of thoughtful Bible teachers, we will find a clear focused approach to resolve any situation. “I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your judgments before me. I cling to Your testimonies; Lord, do not put me to shame! I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.” (Psalm 119:30-32) God has filled the Bible with clear instructions for any and all difficulties we may encounter. The more time we spend in the Word or with trusted Biblical guides, the more focused we will become and the easier it will be for us to see God’s path forward.
DETRACTORS & DISTRACTIONS
The enemy is the master of lies and manipulation. His counterparts are those detractors who mock and ridicule all things Christian. Together they attack sincere believers with every means of distraction. When we encounter this kind of harassment, it’s easy to seek some form of retaliation – let go of those thoughts – seek peace instead. “Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.” (Romans 12:17-18) The best thing we can do when we are confronted with those who are under the influence of the enemy, is walk away. “Do not speak to be heard by a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9) These kinds of people have been seduced by the devil and have nothing but foolishness to offer. “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant, but the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:2) Their goal is to move us away from doing God’s work and tangle us up in a web of nonsense. Don’t let them have their way.
Turn Your Back on Distraction
Open insults are more desirable than fellow believers who fail to stand behind us. And honest constructive criticism from a fellow believer is more desirable than patronizing compliments from one of the enemy’s coworkers. “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:5-6) All of this is nothing more than needless distraction. We need to avoid these kinds of useless detours as best we can.
“Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me. For there is nothing trustworthy in their mouth; their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.” (Psalm 5:8-9)
FAITH
Through it all, we are absolutely nothing without faith. The world we live in is filled with difficult to understand connections – Christian churches in opposition with other Christian churches, good people doing bad things, bad people doing good things, and those deserving going without, while those who are underserving flourish. “I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and chance overtake them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Without faith, these painful contradictions would leave us lost. Our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees us an eternal existence far beyond all of this inconsistency. It is that faith, and trust that Jesus is on His way back for us, that makes our pursuit of God’s calling possible. “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31) Faith is the armored vehicle we use to overcome the enemy’s attacks. There is nothing that has the ability to overcome our faith.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
Where are You? Part Three
Where are You? – Part Three of Five
Where are YOU in your walk with the Lord?
FAILURE, BETRAYAL & TEMPTATION
Earth is God’s training ground for our eternal existence. For that reason, we are in a constant battle between good and evil. Negative experiences are the tools God uses to build up our spiritual awareness. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” (James 3:16) Our assignment from God is to bring order and light to every negative situation we encounter. These moments in life can be difficult, painful, and hard to endure; nevertheless, when we face failure, betrayal, and temptation we are at the same time given the necessary wisdom to overcome these obstacles. And in the end, we will benefit greatly from fighting our way through the solution. “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) Nothing is more rewarding or important than working our way through one of God’s lessons of endurance. Indeed, James tells us that a victory over our various trials is God’s perfect result.
Avoid the Enemy’s Distractions
We can’t allow difficult encounters to push us off our path to achieving God’s ultimate plan for our lives. We can’t let the enemy distract our God-given design and manipulate us into a compromise that will block our further spiritual progress. In Romans 5:3 we are told, “We also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance.” We have to turn our back on the enemy and praise the Lord for his difficult lessons knowing that there is enormous value in every moment of tribulation. The enemy has no power over us unless we give in to his lies. We simply need to keep our eye on Jesus without looking to the right or the left, knowing absolutely that the victory has already been won.
EXCESS BAGGAGE
We all have some measure of excess baggage that we are dragging around in our lives. For some of us, it is unresolved bitterness or anger and for others it is inappropriate behaviors that go against the clear teachings of Jesus. In Hebrews 12:1we find this admonition, “Let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us.” It’s important that we take control over this excess baggage so that it does not have an opportunity to hinder our spiritual progress.
Avoid Disruptive People
Sadly, some of our excess baggage will be people who have not trusted the Lord and who find pleasure walking in the darkness of this world. Of course we have to do what we can to bring these people to the light, however, we can’t let them manipulate our decisions or disrupt our mission to serve God. We need to pray for these lost souls and give them the respect they deserve. “Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.” (Romans 13:7-8) But in the end, those who are disruptive in our lives should be moved off to the side where they are no longer an obstacle in our path forward.
Travel Light
In short, we have to get rid of any extra weight we don’t need to carry. Our lives are short and we have to travel light if we are to achieve everything God has planned for us. Like an Olympic athlete, we have to condition ourselves to run this race with speed and endurance. Eliminating any excess baggage will give us the needed strength to achieve victory. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Corinthians 9:24) We have to take complete control over our lives in order to be true servants of God.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
Where are You? Part Two
Where are You? – Part Two of Five
Where are YOU in your walk with the Lord?
DECISIONS
Following God’s plan for your life is not always easy. Sometimes it’s difficult to be certain we are even going in the right direction. Sometimes we have a hard time seeing precisely what God wants from us on any given day. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14) The world we live in wants our emotions to take over when we are unsure of God’s presence. The enemy wants us filled with anxiety and frustration that leads to anger and other unpleasant states of mind. We find this in Psalm 37:8-9, “Cease from anger and abandon wrath; do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be eliminated, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.” God is always with us. No matter what’s going on in our life, God is by our side at all times. Wait for His clear direction.
What has God Designed You to Do?
Our best decisions will be made when we consider what it is we do best – what it is that God has designed us to achieve. When we analyze all the possibilities, along with the help of the Holy Spirit’s supply of solid wisdom, we have a winning strategy. “Comply with sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.” (Proverbs 3:21-23) We have to work together with God to determine what needs our attention and what is a worldly waste of time. Sound wisdom consists of careful analysis, asking all the right questions, and keeping what’s important to God at the top of our list.
Seek Any Needed Help
In every decision we make, we need to look at the long-term possibilities and potential problems. When we take a nearsighted approach to any situation, it’s easy to make mistakes or miss details that will make a big difference. Sometimes creative solutions are needed and our personal expertise is lacking. Knowing when to seek help is essential to finding the best path forward. “For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5) Our brothers and sisters in Christ are put in our lives for a reason. We complement each other. They are there for us in our service to God and we are there in support of their efforts as well.
Manage the Risk
Only when we carefully consider all of the available possibilities, and all the available godly advice, should we ever consider taking any risk in our mission; however, if we have carefully considered the negative outcome of any purposed risk, and decide those potential negative results can over time be corrected, some risk along with prayer may be the right way to go. Trusting God to provide is always a secure path; however, God wants us to do our part as well.
Time is Short
In all of our decisions, we need to keep in mind that our time here on this earth is short. It’s important for us to manage our time well. All the minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months should be considered in everything we seek to accomplish. Our personal mission may be to simply nurture our friends and family with God’s love or we may be called to a much larger mission field. Whatever the case, how we manage our time is a critical factor.
RELATIONSHIPS
Our lives need to be filled with other believers all pointed in the same direction. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20) The combined spirits of sincere followers of Jesus Christ are a powerful force. We need to align ourselves with like-minded people who are looking out for each other. However, be aware of those who pretend to be on your side but in truth are moving in another direction. In Luke 6:26 we read, “Woe to you when all the people speak well of you; for their fathers used to treat the false prophets the same way.” Not everyone who pats you on the back has your best interest at heart. It’s important for us to nurture those who have our back, but at the same time we need to step away from those who we discover have an ulterior motive for their praise.
One with God
When our relationships stand firm on the solid rock of Jesus, we can be comforted in knowing that we have a special association like no other. Of course, we need to seek peace with all the people in our lives, even those who disappoint us. “Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:14-15) God’s desire in life is that we have fellowship with others believers. God’s desire in our life is that we point unbelievers to the saving grace of Jesus. God’s desire is that we all become one with Him.
All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context. Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations. In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon. Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.
Where are You? Part One
For those Seeking and Those Sharing the Gospel
Refocus Your Relationship with Jesus Beyond Religion
CONTACT
