Stuck

There is a popular product on the market for those who have private septic systems.  It is called RidX. If you flush a packet of RidX down your toilet once a month, the product promises your septic system will maintain its health. RidX is formulated to breakdown things that clog your septic tank. There are also things that clog our spiritual lives and require action on our part. Sometimes, we just get stuck spiritually.

When we are stuck we must get rid of paralyzing thoughts. Paralyzing and poisonous thoughts drive us to continue in sin, depression, anxiety, anger and dozens of other critical patterns of thought. This outlook is carnal and only creates a hindrance to our personal relationship with Christ and others.

Our mindset actually controls our will, our attitude and our daily outlook on life itself.  Thus our actions are controlled by the way we think.  How we speak to others and the things we do are justified by our thought pattern.  If we do not want to be stuck, we must learn to change the way we think.

“Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.”  (Philippians 4:8)

We must get rid of the distractions in our lives. Meaningless distractions will always attempt to stand in your way and keep you stuck.  Learn to prioritize your ‘to do list’ and focus on what is the most important.  It may also be helpful to make a list of time-wasters and place it on your desk, your refrigerator, your car dashboard, your phone, or the bathroom mirror.  Remember not to allow these obstacles to distract you in your walk or prevent you from a path of success and victory.

Hebrews 12 declares, “….. Let us throw off every weight and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set before us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

We must endeavor to change our thinking.

Content

On many occasions, Paul sat in a cold and dark prison cell singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord. He taught us through his experience that contentment was something that he had learned. In his writings, he repeats himself over and over again that even in adverse circumstances, we are able to dwell in the peace of God. 

He said, "Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." He was sharing that he had been in all sorts of situations and predicaments before, but God had been faithful through them all.

When things in life do not go the way they were planned. Or when we suffer hurt, shame, brokenness or sorrow - We can walk in contentment knowing that God can fix it, if we will only take the time to smell the roses. 

Paul said he learned to be content, to dwell on the positive, the lovely, and the good report. He refused to let his mind ponder the negative, the bleak and the lowly. He kept his frame of mind focused on God's ability "to do". Enjoy the roses and forget the fact that they have thorns. Reflect the goodness of God on your life and make a choice today to "be content". Rest in the sheltering arms of your personal Almighty Savior and dwell in the peace of God.  He offers His Divine Peace in every situation.

Power in Your Song

Did you realize that everything changes when you begin to sing? Now you might be thinking: 'Yeah, everyone scatters!' But actually something happens deep inside of you even if you cannot carry a tune.  The joy rises from your innermost being.  It's a mechanism birthed within us to prevent stress, relieve anxiety, and change our attitude.  We were born to sing. Now, I know some who hear you may not feel that way - but something grand happens on the inside when you sing.

Pay attention to the birds in the air.  They wake up singing.  When they stop to rest on a bush or a tree....they sing.  They were created to sing and make melody to the Lord.  And so were we.  So start singing.

Scripture teaches, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:16-17).

The thought is that feeding yourself daily on the Word (your bible) and pondering its pages, and applying its' precepts helps you to walk in wisdom and SING. The more of the Word you feed into your heart and mind, the more rejoicing flows out of your mouth. The more pages you ponder of Holy Scripture, the more singing and giving thanks you are able to do without planning or thinking about it. The song will come naturally.

Be positive today, Get into the Word & by all means please Sing, Hum and Praise God! And keep singing. There is power in your song.

New

I love new things and I am so glad that God is able to make all things new. Scripture declares, "The LORD your God is with you; He is mighty to save." (Zephaniah 3:17) When we commit our lives to Christ at an altar of prayer we make a surrender of our heart, soul and mind totally to Him.  Our past is completely wiped clean and He gives us a brand new start with new opportunities.  

Sometimes we still have consequences to live through because of our sin but our heart and desires are transformed by the power of the Spirit.  We no longer desire to walk in the old way of life but everything becomes new.

God is mighty to save you, to change you, to make your heart new.  You should choose to never go back to the way you lived before.  You should realize the power of God's change in you and walk in His power.  

This does not mean you are now perfect and always do and say everything right.  But this means God has empowered you to walk in right standing and make right decisions.  We are given the Word of God as a guide to help us and strengthen our faith.  The choice is our choice.  God is mighty to save but gives us a free will to choose.  Will you decide today along with me to choose right?  Be wiped clean by the Spirit of God.

Practice Serving

God has placed gifts in our lives to serve the Church.  And the Word of God teaches that we should serve well and open our hearts to needs all around us. But serving does not secure our entrance into heaven, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

We all have God-given gifts. 1 Peter 4:10,11 shares that each one has received a gift in which to serve God fully. This Scripture teaches that we should be good servants of God's great gifts of grace. "He who speaks should speak words from God and with God's love. And anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives, so that in the end God will receive Glory and Praise through Jesus Christ."

It is true that those who give God their best gifts and serve with hearts of love, reap blessings and favor of the Lord. Those who live life generously and unselfishly with big hearts see multiplication of reward. Their lives in turn bring God much Glory.

When we serve, we should not complain, but serve as unto the Lord. He is the One who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings, health and gifts to serve, and strength to surrender each day to His cause. We should serve with a grateful heart and with pure motives simply out of our love for Jesus.

Genuine Love

Genuine love is most clearly defined in Scripture. The Word of God teaches us the true definition of love in John chapter 3. Here we find that God sent His only Son to die for our sins. This was an astounding and true expression of unconditional love. 

We were undeserving of His great love, yet He loved us and sacrificed for us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life."

Also in 1 Corinthians 13, Scripture outlines a clear definition of real love. "Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not behave itself unseemly. It think no evil, keeps no record of wrong, is not easily provoked. Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."  

Wow. That is an incredible mouthful of God's unfailing love toward us and the pure way we are to treat one another with a God-kind of love. 

Do we really love like this? If only you and I would strive to display this kind of genuine care and concern for each other.  The world would be a better place to live and relationships would go much more smoothly. Ask God to help you today to display genuine love in all your relationships.

Patterns to Sew

I took home economics in high school and learned to sew a skirt from a good pattern.  The pattern gave me the template to cut, sew and assemble a skirt. As long as I followed the pattern, it was a perfect fit. The detailed instructions of the pattern gave me all I needed to succeed.

Sometimes we walk through our lives in the same pattern we have walked before.  Perhaps the pattern we follow is one laid before us from someone else.  Maybe we follow the same path without even thinking. We believe it is a perfect fit and the way to success. 

We tend to be creatures of habit and we do things the way we have always done them before. Sometimes, we do not even know why we do them this way. And, it is not always a good trait to be creatures of habit.

There is great calamity when a believer repents, comes to God and yet, continues to walk in his old ways of sin, following the pattern that he used before. A pattern that is familiar to him but a  pattern that is against the Word of God. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 50:22-23, and shares with us the seriousness of ordering our conduct holy before God. He teaches that we will be torn to pieces if we choose to forget God and continue to walk in the pattern of sin. "Woe to the people who have known righteousness and yet turn aside, longing after this present world." 

Pray today that God make you strong in faith, keeping Him first priority insomuch that your life might bring Him much glory. It's time we break out of old patterns that really do not glorify God or build faith.  It's time we strive to follow the patterns of Scriptural Truth. This is one pattern that will never lead us astray and will give us the instruction we need for success in all of life.

How to Pray

Sometimes, we are beaten down and we have allowed circumstances to discourage us to the point we just do not know how to pray. Our backs are against the wall and we are in despair.  And our humanity overtakes us.  We feel overwhelmed by a series of events that have taken place in our lives.  It is in the middle of these happenings, Jesus teaches that both He and the Holy Spirit prays and intercedes for us. Jesus takes our case directly before the throne of God. So when you feel like you do not have the words to say to God, remember Jesus is already interceding in your behalf.  Jesus stands as our advocate in heaven with the Father.

Before Jesus left the earth He gave us a promise. He said I am going away, but I am sending you another Comforter, the Holy Ghost and He will guide you in all truth.  John 14:16 declares, "I will pray the Father and He will give you another comforter, that He may abide with you forever." And Scripture teaches, when you do not know how to pray as you ought, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for you with groanings that cannot be uttered.  He prays for you according to the will of God for your life (Romans 8:26-27).

There are times when our vision is cloudy concerning the will of God.  We are faced with several alternative routes and we question which turn in the road is precisely God's Will.  It is often that we do not concretely know which way to turn.  But the Holy Spirit who abides in every Christian always prays for you according to the will of the Father.  And the more time we spend in the Word and in prayer, we cultivate our spiritual relationship and become more sensitive to God's Divine and perfect Will. Ask yourself: Which turn would bring God the most Glory?

The Bible says, we have not because we ask not.  So start asking and ask big.  Watch God start interceding in even the small circumstances of your daily life.  Ask God for wisdom.  Ask God for blessing.  Ask God for intervention in critical situations.  Ask God for healing and deliverance. Ask God for freedom to walk upright and blameless.  Ask God to change your heart daily.

God wants His very best for You.  He desires to bless you abundantly and accomplish a mighty work in You. So, Ask and keep on asking.

Put Off

When we surrender to God, He changes us. In Ephesians 4:22-24, "Put off your former language from the old man which is corrupt and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." When you make a commitment to Christ everything should change: your language, your desires, your attitudes, where you go and what you do. You should no longer walk in the corruption of the world, but you should now walk in the newness of God.

God is able to empower you in a "life change".  You were once a sinner, but you are now saved by grace.  Once filthy and corrupt in your language, but now redeemed and sanctified in your speech by the power of the Spirit. Because we now walk with Christ, we have a new desire to obey the Word and please God. 

All of our actions are now different because we have "put off" the old man with his corrupt deeds, and we have "put on" the new man who follows and presses hard after God. Paul said, I must spiritually die to myself daily, crucifying the old sin nature that seeks to control me. I must daily pray and pursue godliness in my life and walk in newness.

God said He would set you free from the bondage of sin and bring about positive change in your life. But there is a "putting off" and there is a "putting on". The choice is your choice.

Settled

In 1 Samuel we find the story of King Saul and how he tried to sabotage his successor, David.  He was jealous and truly wanted to eliminate him.  There are times that you and I are moved with anger, rage, jealousy and even bitter roots.  In these times we seek to exercise revenge on our enemies instead of letting God handle it. But this is not the right action. God has settled it.

Scripture teaches that we should love our enemies and those who intentionally persecute us.  We should strive passionately to show them the love of God and prepare ourselves to react to them opposite of the way we normally would.  We should keep a changed heart and attitude when dealing with those who seek to bring us harm.  Romans 12 teaches, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him.  If he is thirsty, bring him something to drink because in doing good you are overcoming evil."

When we treat those who oppose us with the love of God, God acts to rescue us and He settles it in the realm of the Spirit. "For the Lord your God is He that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." Deuteronomy 20:4