Exodus 1:8-10 "Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. 10 We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country"
The new Pharaoh made a decision based upon fear and it ended up costing him the very thing that he did not want to lose. When we make a decision based upon fear, we make the wrong decision. Fear always causes loss, it destroys your potential for greater things and causes you to lose the very thing you were trying to hold onto, whether that be a relationship, marriage, children, occupation, finances or a ministry.
Fear many times comes out of a lack of knowledge(the new Pharaoh didn't know Joseph or what he had done)but when making a decision you need two things, the right information and a clear word from God. When you have these two things you can step out in faith, with confidence that you are doing what pleases the Lord and you will have great success.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
An Attitude of Expectancy
Psalms 5:3 "Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly."
David had a holy habit of meeting with God each morning. He set the pace for each new day at the feet of Jesus. But he came with an attitude of expectancy. He expected to hear from God, he expected an encounter with the Lord each day. Do you? Is your quiet time just that, a quiet-time or is it a daily encounter with the living God.
If you have got stuck in a routine that has lost the life giving presence of God, then understand there is nothing wrong with your routine, but there is something wrong with your faith. You've lost your attitude of expectancy and you are just going through the motions. God honors our appointments with him, but only if they are filled with faith. Without faith you can not please God and without faith your quiet time is just quiet-time. But when you come before the Lord with an attitude of faith, expecting a divine visitation every morning, then you will not be disappointed. So don't give up on your quiet time, revamp it with faith.
David had a holy habit of meeting with God each morning. He set the pace for each new day at the feet of Jesus. But he came with an attitude of expectancy. He expected to hear from God, he expected an encounter with the Lord each day. Do you? Is your quiet time just that, a quiet-time or is it a daily encounter with the living God.
If you have got stuck in a routine that has lost the life giving presence of God, then understand there is nothing wrong with your routine, but there is something wrong with your faith. You've lost your attitude of expectancy and you are just going through the motions. God honors our appointments with him, but only if they are filled with faith. Without faith you can not please God and without faith your quiet time is just quiet-time. But when you come before the Lord with an attitude of faith, expecting a divine visitation every morning, then you will not be disappointed. So don't give up on your quiet time, revamp it with faith.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Exciting the Heart of God
Psalms 147:10-11 "He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. 11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love."
It is not our strength that causes God to get excited, it is our faith in him. Human strength is not what God is looking for, he is looking for people that will put their trust in him. Those who will hope in His unfailing love. God gets excited when people step out on faith, trusting in Him to meet their needs and move the mountains in their lives.
It is so easy to base our lives upon our own strength, to literally remove God from the equation. If you are not attempting things that only God can do and stretching for things that only God can make happen. Then you are living in your own strength and God is bored, unexcited and unengaged in your life. But I say let stir up the heart of God and get him excited. Let's live lives that cause God to sit on the edge of his throne and elbow the angels as he points to our lives with excitement, as he sees a people that are living by faith and trusting in his unfailing love. Let's tap into the supernatural provision and power of God that he has made available to us by faith, Let dare to believe God and reach for the impossible.
It is not our strength that causes God to get excited, it is our faith in him. Human strength is not what God is looking for, he is looking for people that will put their trust in him. Those who will hope in His unfailing love. God gets excited when people step out on faith, trusting in Him to meet their needs and move the mountains in their lives.
It is so easy to base our lives upon our own strength, to literally remove God from the equation. If you are not attempting things that only God can do and stretching for things that only God can make happen. Then you are living in your own strength and God is bored, unexcited and unengaged in your life. But I say let stir up the heart of God and get him excited. Let's live lives that cause God to sit on the edge of his throne and elbow the angels as he points to our lives with excitement, as he sees a people that are living by faith and trusting in his unfailing love. Let's tap into the supernatural provision and power of God that he has made available to us by faith, Let dare to believe God and reach for the impossible.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Stepping Stones
Psalms 141:3 "Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.
"Take control of what I say and guard my lips", this simple prayer has the potential to change the direction and destination of our lives. When God controls our tongue, then he controls our life. Our words are the stepping stones of our lives, they literally pave the pathway into our future. You will end up exactly where you said you would be.
So the principle is simple, if you don't like the path that your life is on. Surrender your mouth to God and when you allow him to control your tongue, it will change the pathway of your life.
"Take control of what I say and guard my lips", this simple prayer has the potential to change the direction and destination of our lives. When God controls our tongue, then he controls our life. Our words are the stepping stones of our lives, they literally pave the pathway into our future. You will end up exactly where you said you would be.
So the principle is simple, if you don't like the path that your life is on. Surrender your mouth to God and when you allow him to control your tongue, it will change the pathway of your life.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The People Trap
Proverbs 29:25 "Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety."
I want you to say this with me "I will not fear people, because I choose to trust the Lord", didn't that feel good. I will not fear people, why? Because the scripture teaches us that it is a trap. When you live in fear of people, you become a people pleaser and you get trapped. You get trapped by their expectations and ideas, that are constantly changing. The people pleaser trap has no end and will suck the joy out of your life.
The only way to break free from the trap is to choose to trust the Lord. To recognize that he is your source, not people. When you begin to trust the Lord, you begin to live your life with purpose. What is your purpose, to please God.
Which really isn't as difficult as you may think. First of all, he has given us his word that never changes. He has offered Jesus to pay for all your sins and mistakes and he has given you the Holy Spirit to live in you and empower you to do what pleases God.
So I challenge you today to come out of the trap and start to enjoy the freedom that comes from trusting in the Lord. Let say it one more time "I will not fear people, because I choose to trust the Lord", just saying it makes me smile. Have a Blessed Day!
I want you to say this with me "I will not fear people, because I choose to trust the Lord", didn't that feel good. I will not fear people, why? Because the scripture teaches us that it is a trap. When you live in fear of people, you become a people pleaser and you get trapped. You get trapped by their expectations and ideas, that are constantly changing. The people pleaser trap has no end and will suck the joy out of your life.
The only way to break free from the trap is to choose to trust the Lord. To recognize that he is your source, not people. When you begin to trust the Lord, you begin to live your life with purpose. What is your purpose, to please God.
Which really isn't as difficult as you may think. First of all, he has given us his word that never changes. He has offered Jesus to pay for all your sins and mistakes and he has given you the Holy Spirit to live in you and empower you to do what pleases God.
So I challenge you today to come out of the trap and start to enjoy the freedom that comes from trusting in the Lord. Let say it one more time "I will not fear people, because I choose to trust the Lord", just saying it makes me smile. Have a Blessed Day!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
In Tune
Psalms 125:4 "O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you."
What is the tune of your heart? Jesus taught us that "out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks" So whatever comes out of your mouth is the tune of your heart.
David asked God to do good to those who are good, why are they good because their hearts are in tune with the Lord. Jesus also taught us that out of a good heart comes good things and out of an evil heart comes evil. So the quality of your life will be determined by the condition of your heart. And they way you check your heart is to listen to your mouth.
So I want to ask you again, what is the tune of your heart? Take time to listen to what you are saying and realize that the problem with your mouth is really a problem of the heart. But here is the Good News, Jesus came to heal the broken hearted! Negative tongues come from wounded hearts, bitter words come from broken hearts, angry words come from a damaged heart.
There are two lessons to be learned from this truth. The first is that if your words don't line up with what God says about you or others, then you need to get alone with God and ask him to reveal and heal your wounded heart. The second lesson is that when you hear hateful, negative and angry words coming out of people's mouths, you need to recognize that their hearts are out of tune and they need your prayer not your criticism.
What is the tune of your heart? Jesus taught us that "out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks" So whatever comes out of your mouth is the tune of your heart.
David asked God to do good to those who are good, why are they good because their hearts are in tune with the Lord. Jesus also taught us that out of a good heart comes good things and out of an evil heart comes evil. So the quality of your life will be determined by the condition of your heart. And they way you check your heart is to listen to your mouth.
So I want to ask you again, what is the tune of your heart? Take time to listen to what you are saying and realize that the problem with your mouth is really a problem of the heart. But here is the Good News, Jesus came to heal the broken hearted! Negative tongues come from wounded hearts, bitter words come from broken hearts, angry words come from a damaged heart.
There are two lessons to be learned from this truth. The first is that if your words don't line up with what God says about you or others, then you need to get alone with God and ask him to reveal and heal your wounded heart. The second lesson is that when you hear hateful, negative and angry words coming out of people's mouths, you need to recognize that their hearts are out of tune and they need your prayer not your criticism.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Real Deal
Daniel 6:28 "So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian."
Daniel prospered in the midst of a ungodly society because he refused to compromise his convictions and dedication to God. The secret to success and promotion is not conforming to the world but standing for God.
To many Christians hide their Christianity like it is something to be ashamed of, while others flaunt it like it is the next great fad. But Christianity is not a thing to be ashamed of nor is it the next fad. Christianity is a life giving relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. That influences and controls every area of the life of believers. No area of life is exempt from the impact that a genuine relationship with God brings.
True Christianity will cause you to go against the flow of ungodliness and stand for righteousness. Because Daniel had a life giving relationship with God, he already knew what he would do, even before he was confronted with being thrown in the lions den. A Christians lifestyle doesn't change with the seasons or circumstances, because our actions are determined by the standard of the word of God.
I believe like King Darius, our world is looking for the reality of the Gospel. They are looking for something that is so real that you and I would be willing to die instead of compromise. When we conform to the world we allow the culture to change us, but when we stand without compromise we position ourselves to be used by God to change the culture and turn it back to God.
Daniel prospered in the midst of a ungodly society because he refused to compromise his convictions and dedication to God. The secret to success and promotion is not conforming to the world but standing for God.
To many Christians hide their Christianity like it is something to be ashamed of, while others flaunt it like it is the next great fad. But Christianity is not a thing to be ashamed of nor is it the next fad. Christianity is a life giving relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. That influences and controls every area of the life of believers. No area of life is exempt from the impact that a genuine relationship with God brings.
True Christianity will cause you to go against the flow of ungodliness and stand for righteousness. Because Daniel had a life giving relationship with God, he already knew what he would do, even before he was confronted with being thrown in the lions den. A Christians lifestyle doesn't change with the seasons or circumstances, because our actions are determined by the standard of the word of God.
I believe like King Darius, our world is looking for the reality of the Gospel. They are looking for something that is so real that you and I would be willing to die instead of compromise. When we conform to the world we allow the culture to change us, but when we stand without compromise we position ourselves to be used by God to change the culture and turn it back to God.
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