Decide

Many today struggle with how to live for God in this generation. And often people question how to go about pleasing God and living an upright life. I have heard many people say that it is just hard to live right today. But actually when we completely surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, it is not difficult. He equips us to serve Him and frees us from the bondages and captivities that once held us in a state of imprisonment.

Serving God and following His ways begins with a decision. Scripture concisely records, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every good work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Eccles. 12:13-14)

Simply spoken the Word says - here is your answer, this sums it all up. This is the whole duty of man: 1) Fear God and 2) Keep His commandments. If we pursue God and press with all our hearts to please God with the way we handle our decisions and actions in life, then we will maintain a godly fear of Almighty God. This in turn will kindle a burning and compelling desire to obey the commands of God that are laid out in Scripture.

One day our works will be judged, including every secret thing, both good and evil. And one day God will step out on a cloud and call His remnant of people home. The remnant will be a people who fear God and keep His commands. Make a decision today to follow hard after God and be ready for eternity.

Withdraw Yourself

In Mark 1:35, Scripture teaches us that, "...very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." Often, you and I stay busy babysitting and entertaining our distractions. We need to have a plan, an organized segment of our day designated specifically to God. Even Jesus realized that He had to slip away from the distractions of a normal day to spend time with His Heavenly Father. Even Jesus, needed a solitary place to pray. Luke 5:16 teaches, "Jesus often withdrew Himself away to a lonely place and prayed."

Do you ever begin cleaning in the kitchen and find something that belongs upstairs in the bedroom. So, you stop cleaning to tote the item upstairs only to find yourself completing something that you find upstairs that needs to be taken care of? These are distractions. Something that takes you away from your purpose.

Spiritually, we also face numerous distractions. You must stay up late or get up early. It is vital that you have a specific, designated time (away from all distractions) to spend with God. Scripture found in Ezekiel 18:31 instructs us exactly what should be the precise focus of our heart, "...get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit." When you are determined to "Get Yourself a New Heart and a New Spirit", you will do what is necessary to eliminate your distractions. It is our spiritual desires that drive us to accomplish His will for our lives. Withdraw yourself to a quiet place and spend time with God.

Always Pray

We must learn to pray like Jesus. Did you know Jesus prayed all the time? Sometimes we get too busy and do not pray as often as we should. Jesus set the perfect example for those who would follow His steps. He instructed His followers in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing". Jesus prayed always.

Jesus prayed at the brink of the morning's light, at the gateway of a new day. Jesus prayed when facing crisis, great sorrow, and the pressure of a day's work. Jesus preceded great achievements and miracles with prayer. Before He chose His disciples, Jesus prayed. He prayed always.

Great men and women of God have learned the same practice of praying. They have learned the importance of pausing throughout each day to pray. To whisper a prayer at any given moment. They know who holds tomorrow and they understand who has the power to change circumstances. 

Jesus set the example for us. He prayed always even to the end while He hung on the cross; He bowed His head and He prayed, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

The Covenant

Jesus ratified the new covenant with His own blood. Colossians 2:13-15 resounds, "And you, being dead in your trespasses and sins hath he quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses..."

The Passover gives us a clear picture that holds much significance in reminding us of the tremendous sacrifice of our Covenant Lamb - Jesus. This covenant Lamb, Jesus is an unblemished lamb without sin who gave His life that you and I might walk in freedom from sin and be atoned for our sin.

The cup of communion represents Christ's blood that was broken and spilled out for you. The loaf of bread represents His body without of the yeast of sin's corruption. And the bitter herbs symbolize the suffering of our Lord and the pain He endured to purchase our deliverance.


Jesus sealed the deal when He sacrificed Himself for us. We only need to repent of our sin and ask Him to change our lives. "If any man sin, He has an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous." (1 John 2:1) We can then walk in a New Covenant with Christ. And that is a great feeling of freedom. Pray now and ask God for forgiveness for all the ways you have failed and shamed him.

Heart Trouble

Jesus teaches that sometimes man has heart trouble: issues with his heart, his motivation, and his thought processes. When you have pain in your chest and you visit your physician, he will put you through a series of tests that check the function of your heart. The Word is clear that we should take the time to always examine the inner workings of our spiritual heart. By doing so, we will find where we have truly and honestly placed our treasure.

Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Doing good for the right reasons is more important to God than just our works alone. God is concerned with why we do what we do. If we carry 10 pots of soup to the sick this week only to write in a journal and keep track of our good works, then we have done good for the wrong reason.

Matthew 6 is asking each of us to examine our heart and our priorities. Where do you spend your time? Do you proceed to do the things you know God's Word instructs you to do like give, tithe, treat others with honor and respect? Do you place others before yourself and care about the needs of the hurting and the poor? Or are you selfish and absorbed with only you?

Examine your checkbook and see where your heart is? Do you spend your finances on big screen televisions and manicures, pedicures, and hair salons without any assistance going to those who have no food? Do you dine out and waste money on entertainment and vacations, but fail to give to the house of God that the Word of God may be preached and continue to reach the lost?

When it comes to matters of the heart it is imperative that we ask ourselves, Where is our heart? "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Remain Strong

Often, you will see commercials about how strong your paper towels or toilet paper is.  But do you realize, God wants YOU to be strong?

You have an enemy and Scripture teaches that, "your adversary as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour." (1Peter 5:8) He is out on a mission to take you down, to put you under. He desires to destroy and devastate your life and purpose. But God in you is greater. And Jesus came to give you life and life more abundantly. God will make you strong.

We will sometimes face trials and suffering that are a direct result of an attack of our enemy. And there will also be times where life just happens and things do not go our way just because we live in a fallen world. We must remember in the hard times and in the difficult times not to blame God. If you will walk in close fellowship with God and obey His commands, He promises a hedge of protection and provision for you. But His Plan is much bigger than what we see with our eyes. God has you in the palm of His Hand and He is Sovereign.

Remember 1 Peter 5:10,"But may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered awhile - perfect, strengthen, establish, and settle you." Therefore, God actually uses the hard times in our lives to perfect us.  He takes our difficulty and roots us into a deeper relationship with Him. Sometimes our trials establish us and to strengthen us. We become stronger and more vibrant because of the challenges we face. Stay focused that God's ultimate goal for you is to prepare your heart for heaven.

So do not see your trial as though some strange thing has happened unto you, but rejoice because God is making you new. And your enemy is nothing more than "all roar". One day soon, we will see him bow before the King of Glory. So stand strong.

So Blessed

Do you realize how very blessed you are?  Often, we overlook and take for granted the many blessings in our lives. Just to be awake, alert and alive are blessings. To be able to function physically and mentally - we are blessed of God.

But although God wants to prosper you and bless you abundantly that you cannot even fathom. He is more concerned with where you stand spiritually.  Ephesians 1:3 declares, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing." When hard times come into your life - you must turn in faith to Christ as your Savior. He is your provider. 

God desires that you prosper spiritually. He desires that you pull yourself up close to Him and be eager to learn His Divine principles. He wants our soul to prosper so we will be ready for eternity. Being a christian is full of benefits and beautiful blessings as we are able to stand on the promises God gives to the faithful.

I do not know what I would do without God, I am nothing apart from Him. But with Him and through Him, I know I can rejoice in specific blessings He has promised to pour out. He offers salvation and for that I am already blessed.

Control

Sometimes our emotions are out of control. But temperance and self-control is vitally important to the christian believer. We must practice remaining in control of the carnal man by dedicating ourselves to prayer and the Word of God. It will not likely be easy to remain in control at all times, however we should strive to triumph.

Your adversary would love to ruin your testimony by causing you to be "out of control". So work hard at discipline and character of heart through daily communion with Jesus. Your enemy knows that if he can lower your influence on others, you just may not be able to win them to Christ.

In Matthew 5:43, Jesus said, "You have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you and to those who hate you, do good; pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."

Do not retaliate when faced with wrongdoing, but be careful to prove yourself to God as children of the Father in all manner of action and words.

Do Not Fear

In life, adversity will come. The storms of life often seem to billow against us and sometimes its easy to become fearful of what lies ahead. In Luke chapter 8, the Apostle tells us of the great storm that arose out of nowhere that the followers of Jesus had to face. They became very much afraid and alerted Jesus, "Master, master, we perish!"

Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea and they ceased and there was a great calm. Jesus then questioned them, "Where is your faith?" But the reason he questioned their faith was simply because they forgot what he said. Jesus had told them, "Let's go over to the other side".

Do you realize how many times Scripture teaches, "Do not be afraid"?  Often the Word declares, "Fear Not."  However, when Jesus gives you specific instructions, it doesn't matter what adversity you face - you are going over to the other side. When God directs you in a decision, it doesn't matter what the odds seem to be against you - Listen to the voice of God. 

Often, adversity is a detour and distraction of the enemy to make you afraid and veer you off course. So, do not be afraid and stay on the right path. Do not get distracted. Keep the faith. God knows exactly what He is doing.

The God of Impossible

People of all walks of life said that man could not possibly land on the moon; it was impossible.  Yet in July of 1969, Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that first landed mankind on the Moon under Commander Neil Armstrong. What people said could not be done - happened.

Henry Ford was a man in history that was marked by many as a complete failure.  He was financially broke on five occasions and most of his early businesses failed.  Numerous people told Mr. Ford to quit, give it up, and that it could not be done.  Yet today his family owns one of the most successful motor companies in the world.

Mark 9:23 declares, “All things are possible to them that believe.”

Scripture also records the historical happening of many things that seemed unattainable. And as I see it, God is waiting on you and I to believe in the impossible.  With man, our situation may seem unfathomable, but with God all things are possible if we walk in faith. He is the God of impossible. 

So let your faith swell up within you and arise. Be assured that Christ Jesus is at work, He knows what we need, and He desires that we place our total trust in Him.  Scripture teaches, “He is the El-Shaddai, the All Powerful One.” Nothing happens apart from His Purpose and no circumstance is beyond the power of God.