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.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
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.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Perfection
Psalms 119:96 "Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit."
Perfection is limited by our abilities, but God's commands have no limits because God is limitless. So when when we try to operate out of a spirit of perfection we are doomed to fail. But when we operate out of an obedient spirit to the word of the Lord, we can not fail because the source of our victory is God's ability not ours.
Perfection is limited by our abilities, but God's commands have no limits because God is limitless. So when when we try to operate out of a spirit of perfection we are doomed to fail. But when we operate out of an obedient spirit to the word of the Lord, we can not fail because the source of our victory is God's ability not ours.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Blessed Life
Ezekiel 16:15-19 "But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. 16 You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen? 17 You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them. This is adultery against me! 18 You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to dress your idols. Then you used my special oil and my incense to worship them. 19 Imagine it! You set before them as a sacrifice the choice flour, olive oil, and honey I had given you, says the Sovereign Lord."
The children of Israel made the mistake of thinking that their "fame and beauty was their own" and they began to give themselves away to idols and they began to prostitute themselves out to others.
Hear me when I say we are bought with a price, we are not our own. Everything we have comes from God, every good thing belongs to him. We lost ownership of our lives when we accepted Jesus and received the gift of eternal life.(1Corinthians 6:19-20) We are stewards of the gifts and graces of God. We don't have the authority to give our lives or anything in it away to anyone or anything other than to God, for his glory and honor. We were made by him and for him, we exist for the glory of God.
Imagine if you went into work tomorrow and started giving away the supplies and products of your company, what would happen? They would fire you for theft and prosecute you for stealing something that did not belong to you. The Bible is very clear, we have been purchased by God and we do not own our lives. When you give yourself away to the things of this world, you are a thief, a robber and a prostitute.
God desires us to live a "Blessed Life" full of his Glory, but that is only possible when we understand the difference between ownership and stewardship. When a steward acts like a owner, then the owner has no choice but to bring correction and discipline to the steward. Which usually means he takes away what he once had until he can prove that he can be faithful with the owners possessions. Faithfulness is the key to stewardship, it empowers you to be promoted and entrusted with more than you have ever had before. When a steward uses what the owner has given him, to fulfill the will and desires of the owner he is blessed and given even more.
Are you using what you have to do the will of the one who gave it to you? Are you being a faithful steward or are you acting like the owner and giving away what doesn't belong to you?
The children of Israel made the mistake of thinking that their "fame and beauty was their own" and they began to give themselves away to idols and they began to prostitute themselves out to others.
Hear me when I say we are bought with a price, we are not our own. Everything we have comes from God, every good thing belongs to him. We lost ownership of our lives when we accepted Jesus and received the gift of eternal life.(1Corinthians 6:19-20) We are stewards of the gifts and graces of God. We don't have the authority to give our lives or anything in it away to anyone or anything other than to God, for his glory and honor. We were made by him and for him, we exist for the glory of God.
Imagine if you went into work tomorrow and started giving away the supplies and products of your company, what would happen? They would fire you for theft and prosecute you for stealing something that did not belong to you. The Bible is very clear, we have been purchased by God and we do not own our lives. When you give yourself away to the things of this world, you are a thief, a robber and a prostitute.
God desires us to live a "Blessed Life" full of his Glory, but that is only possible when we understand the difference between ownership and stewardship. When a steward acts like a owner, then the owner has no choice but to bring correction and discipline to the steward. Which usually means he takes away what he once had until he can prove that he can be faithful with the owners possessions. Faithfulness is the key to stewardship, it empowers you to be promoted and entrusted with more than you have ever had before. When a steward uses what the owner has given him, to fulfill the will and desires of the owner he is blessed and given even more.
Are you using what you have to do the will of the one who gave it to you? Are you being a faithful steward or are you acting like the owner and giving away what doesn't belong to you?
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