10
Jul '15
Challenge to Change
10
Jul '15
“For I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6, KJV)
Isn’t it comforting to know that God does not change? No matter what comes, God can be trusted. You can trust God to help you with the affairs of life and the affairs of your family.As believers, we must do whatever it takes to fulfill God’s original plan for the home. One of the greatest challenges facing each of us is the challenge to change. Change is never easy. God never changes, but He will help us make the changes we need.
You may be tempted to try to change your spouse, children, or other family members first, but it will not make your circumstances or relationships any better. Success comes when you allow God to change you. Your decision to change will encourage others to do the same. It’s contagious!
Accepting God’s guidance will help your family bring glory to God. God’s prescription for a successful home life won’t change; it’s established in His Word. But if we purpose to follow His instruction, we will experience the kind of family that God intended.
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Hearing God’s Voice
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8, KJV)
My soul, now that the cool of the day has come, retires awhile and hearkens to the voice of thy God. He is always ready to speak with thee when thou art prepared to hear. If there be any slowness to commune it is not on his part, but altogether on thine own, for he stands at the door and knocks, and if his people will but open he rejoices to enter. But in what state is my heart, which is my Lord’s garden? May I venture to hope that it is well trimmed and watered, and is bringing forth fruit fit for him? If not, he will have much to reprove, but still I pray him to come unto me, for nothing can so certainly bring my heart into a right condition as the presence of the Sun of Righteousness, who brings healing in his wings.
Come, therefore, O Lord, my God, my soul invites thee earnestly, and waits for thee eagerly. Come to me, O Jesus, my well-beloved, and plant fresh flowers in my garden, such as I see blooming in such perfection in thy matchless character! Come, O my Father, who art the Husbandman, and deal with me in thy tenderness and prudence! Come, O Holy Spirit, and bedew my whole nature, as the herbs are now moistened with the evening dews. O that God would speak to me.
Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth! O that he would walk with me; I am ready to give up my whole heart and mind to him, and every other thought is hushed. I am only asking what he delights to give. I am sure that he will condescend to have fellowship with me, for he has given me his Holy Spirit to abide with me forever. Sweet is the cool twilight, when every star seems like the eye of heaven, and the cool wind is as the breath of celestial love. My Father, my elder Brother, my sweet Comforter, speak now in lovingkindness, for thou hast opened mine ear and I am not rebellious.
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16
Jun '15
I Will Not Fear
16
Jun '15
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear; what can man do unto me?” Psalm 118:6 (KJV)
In life, we are faced with a lot of obstacles and challenges. Some can be so overwhelming that we are crippled by fear. The psalmist wants you to know that there is no problem too big for God to solve or any battle so great that God can’t award you the awesome victory. Just think about it. With God as your Father, a Father who cares, a Father who reigns over all creation, and a Father who fights your every battle, what can man actually do unto you?
Are you facing any challenges today that are trying to stir up fear in your life? If so remember if you are walking with God and there is nothing to fear. God is sovereign, He is everywhere present, all-powerful and He knows all things. He is fully equipped to handle any attack brought against you. There is no strategy conceived by a man that God can’t disarm and render powerless.
Starting today face every trial and test with boldness knowing that nothing can harm you. Be sure to live your life with the revelation that you don’t have to face life alone. God is surely on your side. So place your trust and reliance in Him and don’t fear what man can do to you.
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Devotional
“Jesus said to her,
‘I also don’t judge you guilty. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.'”
John 8:11
If you have ever wondered how God reacts when you fail, frame the words of that verse and hang them on the wall. Read them. Ponder them.
Or better still, take Jesus with you to your canyon of shame. Invite Christ to journey with you.to stand beside you as you retell the events of the darkest nights of your soul. And then listen. Listen carefully. He’s writing. He’s leaving a message in the sand. His message has two words: Not Guilty.
by Max Lucado
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Praying Until Something Happens “PUSH”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Prayer is loving communication with God. An expression of our inner spiritual needs. Through prayer we can find strength of spirit, guidance, wisdom, joy and inner peace (Psalms 118:5-6, Psalms 138:3, Isaiah 58:9-11, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7). Prayer may be long or short, alone or in a group, silent or aloud, but it should be a true communication with God and not done for public recognition (Matthew 6:5-8).
God will answer our prayers and give us everything we need and more (Mark 11:24, John 15:7). But a wise parent will not give a child everything he or she wants. Similarly, prayer is not a magical trick to get anything we want or a “quick fix” for problems that we should be solving ourselves. God answers prayer requests in His own way in His own time (Psalms 40:1-3), and will not grant requests that are against His holy and wise purposes (1 John 5:14-15), are selfish in nature, are not in our best long-term interest, or those made with impure motives (Psalms 66:18, Proverbs 28:9, Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 59:2, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:3).
Questions:
1) Reflecting on your own prayer life, what does PUSH represent for you?
2) Referring to verse 17, “pray without ceasing”. Is it ok to continually ask God for the same things that we desire from him?