Receiving Encouragement to Believe!

God’s Word alerts us that in difficult times our hearts can go astray. They can become hardened and turn away from God. We all know that wondering of “Where is God?” when something significant does not go as we had hoped or planned and life seems to tumble around us. When you don’t understand God, unbelief creeps in. It can harden your heart to the point where you tune out God even when He speaks to you. Let me encourage you to listen to God’s words to you. Have a wonderful day in His presence and allow His Word to help your unbelief.

 

“See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13)

 

It is easy to be deceived into thinking God doesn’t have our best interest at heart, especially when things don’t go well. We need to guard our hearts against unbelief and rebellion and know that, in those tough places, He is there to guide us through and teach us.

 

When you feel unbelief slipping into your soul and find rebellion nibbling around the edges of your heart, seek out spiritual encouragement. Walk and talk with a friend and be honest in sharing your need of prayer. Do a Bible study on a topic that grabs at your heart. Choose to spend some time with God and cry out to him from the depths of your soul telling Him all the things in your heart. Choose to turn toward Him. God will encourage you even when people aren’t there to. Choose to draw near to Him and ask Him to help your unbelief.

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Tapping into Prayer

I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. … This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:4,6)

Throughout the Bible God makes it clear that our prayers are very important to Him. He loves for us to talk with Him, just as we would our closest friend, and promises to be there for us whenever we call. He says, “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

He wants you to tell Him about your burdens, and to give Him all your cares, so that He can bring hope to your heart, peace to your soul, and strength to your life (see 1 Peter 5:7). But even when you’re at a loss for words, and don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit Himself speaks on your behalf (see Romans 8:26). Yet God is not only interested in your struggles. He wants you to talk with Him about everything, from your smallest victories to your greatest fears and all things in between.

Isn’t it good to know that you have a direct line to God? That He is available to talk to you anytime, day or night? In fact, you can talk to Him right now. Tell Him how you’re feeling; that you’re hurting. Tell Him about your disappointment. Talk to Him about your anger and your pain. Tell Him how you love Him and need Him so. He hears your weeping, your requests, your praise, and thanksgiving. Prayer moves God. And when He moves in your life, you will feel His presence, experience His peace, and draw from His strength in ways you never thought possible!

 

• Hebrews 4:16 says, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” God actually invites us to spend time in His presence to communicate with Him. Will you accept His invitation?

  In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are told to “Pray without ceasing.” How can you stay in constant communication with God? Why is this communication so important?

  Start a prayer journal today. You don’t have to use a fancy notebook. Any paper that you can find will work. Use the journal to write down your feelings, emotions, and struggles as if you are writing letters to God. List your specific requests at the end of each page, and as God answers your prayers, be sure to write down the date and the way in which He answered you.

Flee from sexual immorality

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  ~ 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 

 

Well I know this is not the most popular topic, but last time I checked it’s in the bible and we need to hear and receive the truth of God’s word and obey it. Paul is not saying sexual sin is worse then all other sin. He is saying that sexual sin is different than all other sins. I think you would agree There is something about abusing sexuality, about expressing sexuality in an inappropriate way. It kind of just follows you around it’s like no other category(been there done that prior to giving my life to Christ five years ago). There is something about our sexuality that’s far deeper then what’s simply physical. All other sins a person commits are outside the body. Whoever sins sexually sins against their own body. In other words when you sin sexually(which the bible clearly states that is anything outside the bonds of marriage between a man and a women), when you are irresponsible with the expressions of your sexuality. Paul says you hurt yourself. He says there are many sins you can commit and you feel bad about and say your sorry and you move on. 

So what would you expect God who loves you to say, except flee from sexual immorality. If you’re a Christian, a Christ follower then He is speaking directly to you. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that is meant be used to glorify God. Then He says you’re not your own, you’re inhabited by the living God. You don’t belong to you anymore, you and I we’re bought with a price. When Christ died for our sins He paid for your sins and mine. When you pay for something, you receive something, and when you acknowledge that Christ died for your sins, God paid for you, you are not your own. Then He draws the logical conclusion is honor God with your bodies. We as followers of Christ have been called to honor God with our bodies as it relates to your sexuality and your expressions of your sexuality. If I’m looking at you from a across the table as a single person, my advice would be to stay out bed and honor God, make it habit of honoring God with your bodies. Trust me you will be glad you did, just as in some cases that you are sorry that you didn’t.  It’s really none of my business what you do with your body, you don’t belong to me, you belong to God, and you were bought with a price. I just want to encourage anyone single like I did myself 5 years ago to honor God with my body and remain pure until until I’m married to the woman God has chosen for me.  

Morning, Noon and Night!

”Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.” ~ Psalm 55:17

I absolutely love that we can seek the Lord not only in morning quietness but consistently throughout the day. Let me encourage you to not let unexpected problems distract you from His Presence. Instead, talk with Him about everything, and watch confidently to see what He will do. We need to be grateful that we can talk to God at any time, and how blessed we are that He listens and cares!

Our heavenly Father yearns to have a personal, loving relationship with us. What an incredible concept that is! The King of the universe the Creator of all heaven and earth, the maker of the moon, sun and stars. the one who has no needs and no shortcomings and cares about what we think and feel. That is almost incomprehensible. He wants to spend time with us, hear about our struggles and successes, encourage us, and share His glorious plans for us.

Prayer is a wonderful privilege a chance for direct communication with our Creator. No matter how busy He may be, He always has time in His schedule for us.

 

“Be still and know that I am God! ~ Psalm 46:10

Good morning everyone this morning God clearly gave me these words “Be Still my child” and led me to one of my favorite scriptures to meditate on . As I meditated on this verse, I saw that “be still” could be translated “cease striving” or “let go, relax.” Have you been doing everything you know to do, everything you could do, in order to get whatever you’re waiting for – and then came the Word of God: “Be still, cease striving… know that I am God.” If you are to walk in faith, if you are to live by faith, you have to cease striving. You have to shut your mouth and quit trying to teach, to instruct, to straighten out, and you are to know God. He sits as sovereign on His throne; He hasn’t moved. And you haven’t seen “the rest of the story.” You part in this situation is simply “to be still” rather than “to do.” Have a wonderful day in the Lord’s Presence.

“Be still and know that I am God! ~  Psalm 46:10

So how many times have you felt the Lord saying these words…  “Just wait…”  We would love for Him to finish that sentence. Let us know what we’re waiting for and possible who and how long should we wait, and when can we be done waiting! I would assume waiting is not most of our strong suits. But this is where God has you, let me encourage you like I do myself to welcome the wait as I know the wait will be so worth it and even though you continue to go to Him in prayer and the answer continues to be, “Just wait…”

I’m not sure where you are at in life right now, but I promise your period of waiting is just a season. This is another opportunity to lean on God and His Word. This is another opportunity to watch God do incredible things. Really all we have to do is wait. Maybe that’s not so bad in the context of all that God can do when we simply choose to wait on Him.

So here it is,just be still. No matter how difficult it is! Choose to pray, seek God and His Word, and wait on Him, for the blessing He has in store for you. Let Him be in control. If that means waiting, then waiting you must do! Will you wait with me?  Will you allow God to come through in His timing and not yours?

God is in Control!

I think we all would admit we often don’t understand why bad things happen. Even so because God is sovereign, He is absolutely in control of everything including my life and yours. I believe that God has a purpose for everything He does or permits. When we are in the midst of a difficult time, it is hard to resist crying out, “God, Why is this happening?” Sometimes we get the answer and sometimes we don’t. What we can be sure of is that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. He has a purpose for even our most painful experiences. Have a wonderful day in His presence. 

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to his purpose for them” ~ Romans 8:28.

Seeing in advance how the Lord will work evil or hurt for our benefit is very difficult, if not impossible. My limited human perspective doesn’t allow me to grasp His greater plan. However, I can confirm the truth of this biblical promise because the Father’s good handiwork appears all through my pain, hardship, and loss. I have experienced Him turn mourning into gladness and have seen Him reap bountiful blessings and benefits from my darkest hours.

As believers, we must accept that God won’t always make sense to us. Isaiah teaches that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isaiah. 55:9). He sees the beautifully completed big picture. We can rely on the fact that God is in control, no matter how wildly off-kilter our world seems to spin. 

Great is thy faithfulness!

“They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness..” Lamentations 3:23

I want to remind you that God is faithful. What He says He will do, He will do. He is faithful even when we are not– our lack of faithfulness will not change His faithfulness. He has always been faithful- you will never find one time when He has not been. He is faithful- past, present and future. His faithfulness is great and beyond measure.

Today lean upon the faithfulness of God. Trust His faithful- know you can trust His faithfulness. Put your faith in Him and His ability, not yours. He will never fail you, and He will never let you down. He may not answer your prayers the way you think they should be answered, but He does answer them! He wants the best for you! Trust Him!

 

Never Give Up!

“Don’t Give Up”. I want to ENCOURAGE YOU today! I don’t know exactly what you are facing in your life this moment, I don’t know what your problems are, what trials and tribulations you are experiencing in your life right now. But I do know this, everyone reading these words today is going though something. No matter what it is, I want to give you a message right from the throne room of God. Don’t give up. Never ever give up!!


“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

I am not going to tell you that all of your problems will be solved by the time you go to bed tonight, chances are they won’t. I am not going to tell you that everything will work out exactly the way you want it to, chances are they won’t. I am going to tell you, however, that God will provide the answers to whatever your problems may be. I am going to tell you, however, that God will work everything out. God promised us in His Word, “…and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28

My friends, God loves you. He knows what you are going through in your life today. He has not abandoned you, He has not forsaken you. In your darkest hour you can be assured that God is right there with you. When everyone else has turned their back on you, when everyone else has run away, when nobody is left to stand with you…GOD IS STILL THERE! On the night He was betrayed, Jesus saw His disciples run from Him, deny even knowing Him, yet He was never alone because God was with Him. Even when those you love the most leave you, Jesus is there because He promised to “never leave you nor forsake you.”

God put on my heart to tell you today…DON’T GIVE UP!  Today you have a choice. God is with you so decide to obey the Lord. Be strong and courageous in all you face.

Let the Lord be Your Guide!

God is looking for us to put our hope and trust in Him today, ALL day long, not just tomorrow or when we are in need of Him. He’s challenging us to see all the moments of our lives as being filled with meaning. Each moment is filled with the presence of God, but sometimes we are so stuck on vision and dreams that we skim right by them. I encourage you to start your days differently. Start each day by praying, asking God to give you a clear understanding of each moment. It’s okay to still plan and dream about the future, of course, but concentrate more on each moment, as well! Have a wonderful day allowing God to be your guide.

“Show me the right path O Lord, point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me. for you are the God who saves me, All day long I put my hope in you.” ~ Psalm 25:4–5

God is the only one who can guide us. We must seek His guidance and direction in all things. Another words when we need guidance in our lives we should say God show me Your way in how I should approach this. Too often we we want to take our approach to how we should handle a situation and then want God to fix our mess. Doesn’t that just seem a little backwards? Now granted we may get in situations and need His help, but first and foremost we need to be seeking His guidance, His directions.

Let me encourage you to let the Lord be your guide in all that you do. He will never lead you astray and will always be with you every step of the way. Be encouraged to know even when the journey gets rough that He will provide comfort even in those times. In fact I love how the Apostle Paul put it the joy we can even find in our suffering (Colossians 1:24). Not that we look forward to getting hurt, but that we endure for Christ’s sake. This pain is for God’s glory despite how difficult it may seem, it works for our good. Once again my brothers and sisters be encouraged and seek God for His guidance.

Problemed Promise

TO KNOW GOD’S PROMISES AND HIS PROVISIONS
God has never asked anything from His children that was not for their benefit. Our Christian journey is about Faith! Learning to lean on Jesus and to live by faith! A faith that call us and moves us to Action! True worship always requires 2 things: Worship – always requires Obedience and Worship – always requires Sacrifice!

Genesis 22:1-8 (NKJV) ~ Abraham’s Faith Confirmed
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad[a] and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

Abraham was told to take his son to the mountain and sacrifice his life for God. Imagine having to sacrifice your loved one? I cannot!! But Abraham had some radical faith. Abraham believed in God’s promises and did not focus on the problem/provision. He faithfully obeyed God and took Isaac up the mountain. He left the men with full intention to fulfill God’s request and would return with full assurance that he would return ‘with the boy. He didn’t how God was going to do it but knowing God was enough.
Why do we do what we do? Such as saying grace, praying, reading the word….we do it because we want to know God!!! Our responsibility is to believe God and obey God just like Abraham did. Abraham was released from the responsibility of preforming and trying to figure out how he would not have to kill his son; he was only to trust God and know that God would provide the sacrifice. Abraham went up the mountain with the promise of God and came down the mountain with the provision of God. All Abraham saw was the promise! He held on to his faith in God!!

Point to ponder: You only see that one side of the mountain, but God sees both sides. Hold onto the Promises of God and Let Him send His Provisions!