10/21               Psalm 119:71

71 My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

LAZY

We often are lazy in dealing with our spiritual disciplines.  Suffering gets our attention and takes us to the Father for growth.  We listen, sometimes cry out and always are able to benefit from a difficult time when we trust the Lord. 

10/20               2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

DIFFICULT

It is difficult to understand this until you experience first-hand what Paul is saying. Christians are just passing through this world.  Whatever hardship that is faced is met by their faith and the power of God.  He will see us through.  Sometimes we will suffer deep loss and deprivation which results in our growing in Christ.  To see the unseen God in our heart and mind equips us to know Him better and know from experience what Paul is declaring here: whatever we face the Lord is with us and the more difficulty we face the greater we experience His power in us. Life is hard but Jesus is always victorious. 

10/19               2 Corinthians 4:8-11

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

CHANGED

A Christ follower is changed.  They have a new heart, a new mind, and they are saved into the Family of God.  They live to serve the Father by serving their fellow man.  They experience everything any person experiences but are beloved of God-HE is their Father and He cares for them.  Those of us who follow Jesus live from victory to victory.  The final victory has been won and we are living out the power of God in our daily life.  This world is passing away but those that name the name of Jesus as their Lord and Savior are eternal.  In Christ we have light and life for living.  Jesus is Lord. 

10/18               Psalm 34:19

19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

THINK

Think about your life. All the times the Lord has delivered you from the chaos and harshness of daily life.  The Lord has put a hedge of protection around you and if you will not spurn the Lord He will protect you.  Seek the Lord while he may be found, confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior. Christ is alive today and is indwelling the individual believer.  Don’t let the world and its minions overwhelm you simply keep your eyes on Jesus and do what He says.  He will protect you and deliver you from this present evil. 

10/17               John 21:18-19

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

FOLLOW

As we live and minister it is always important to remember who we are following: Jesus.   It will be easy to keep our ego in check as long as we remember what we are doing and for whom.  I do this for Christ’s sake.  I do this for I am filled with desire to glorify the Father.  I do this because I am filled with the Holy Spirit and He compels me to share the Gospel.   

10/16               John 11:3-4

3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 

WHO

Who gets the glory? Jesus said it was done so that the glory would go to God.  As we seek to grow in Christ-likeness we would be ahead of the game if we begin to focus on the Father’s work.  He cares for you and everyone you know.  As you minister to others remember that the glory for our work belongs to the Father. We are telling the Good News and it all leads to Christ.  

10/15               John 9:1-3

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” 3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

POWER

We have the power of God to live life like Jesus. Do the next right thing.  Be kind to one another.  Love those you are with.  Be the person you know in your heart you can be.  Jesus is Lord and when He is Lord of our life we will live like Jesus. They knew them by their love for the brethren. 

10/14               Revelation 21:4

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 

JOURNEY

We are on a victorious journey to the Father.  Everyone has a date with eternity.  That moment when we pass from this life to the next.  In this life we have the power to choose where we will be. Whosoever will may come to Jesus but that is one choice and it is a choice that only I can make for my life. Failure to choose Jesus means that we have made a choice to be away from the Lord for eternity.  When I pass from this life to the next the Word of God says that if I don’t choose Jesus I have chosen outer darkness and eternal separation from God-Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  You choose. Choose wisely.  Your choice counts. Choose Jesus. 

10/13               Romans 4:7

7 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

FREE

Jesus sets us free from our bondage to sin.  Do not let the Evil One ensnare you once you are free.  Learn the Word of God, the Bible, and claim those 7,000 plus promises day by day as you face life.  Joy and peace are part of your heritage therefore when you are down claim the name of the Lord.  When you sin run to Jesus and confess your sin and He will forgive you.  Don’t spend one minute under the lies of the powers and principalities of the air because Jesus will set you free.  Jesus is Lord, claim His power and live a Christ filled life. 

10/12               Proverbs 18:10

10 The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.

CLAIM

Claim the name of the Lord as you face trials and tribulations.  His name is a strong fortress against the wiles of the Evil One and Jesus will equip to stand firm in the chaos of life.  He is Lord of all things including our life.  Turn to Jesus and He will help you every time.