The Promise of Humility

  The Promise of Humility

Read | 1 Peter 5:5-7

Jesus’ life exemplified humility. He did not assert His divine rights while on earth but instead left behind the glory and authority to which He was entitled. Cloaking himself with humanness, Jesus chose to be an obedient servant of His Father (Phil. 2:5-8).

Our Savior’s example was and still is countercultural. This world does not value an attitude or lifestyle of humility; rather, it applauds high achievement, outward beauty, elevated positions, or exceptional skills. But God assures us that if we choose meekness—living in submission to Jesus as Master of our lives—He will reward us in both this life and the life to come. (Matt. 5:5 niv).

In today’s verses, Peter outlines our options. Spiritual blessings are promised if we choose God’s way of humility. But if we pridefully forsake His path, the Lord will oppose us because we are essentially working against Him in arrogant self-sufficiency. However, when we humble ourselves by yielding to His authority and desiring to obey Him, He will be our source of strength and confidence.

There’s something else to consider: Since we sometimes buy into the significance society places on instant gratification, we tend to want recognition now. But God honors us according to His perfect way and timing.

The decision is yours to make: Will you humble yourself and live for God’s glory rather than yours? Or will you plot your own course and invite His opposition? If you’re wise, it’s not really much of a decision after all. So take a look at your priorities and ask God to reveal any areas driven by pride.

Overcoming Worry

Overcoming Worry

Read | Psalm 37

Once we comprehend how worry undermines trust in our Father and how willing He is to remove it from us, we need to seek out ways to cooperate with Him. So let’s look at some common sources of worry that we can avoid.

One thing we can do is learn not to pay attention to the wrong people. There are many purveyors of doom and gloom all around us. I’m sure we all can think of various sources of such negative thinking, and steps we can take to avoid them, whether it’s a neighbor or newscast that plunges us into despair. We don’t have to listen to something evil just because it is making a lot of noise.

Storing up treasures on earth is another thing to avoid. The more we stockpile worldly goods, the more we are tempted to worry about what might happen to our possessions.

We will be mastered by either the material or the spiritual. The Lord put it this way: “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matt. 6:24). To avoid serving the wrong master, we must deliberately choose to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (v. 33). This means we must willingly pursue obedience and submission to God’s ways as He conforms us to the image of Christ.

Anxiety can be overcome. Our loving heavenly Father understands the human propensity to worry. And He has promised that putting His interests first will always result in our needs being met. The more we prioritize Him, the less apprehension will have a foothold in our lives.

God's Goal in Communicating

God's Goal in Communicating

Read | 1 Corinthians 2:9-14

There is no circumstance in our lives about which the Lord will not speak to us. And we can be sure that when He does, His words are always purposeful. Consider some of the Father’s goals for His children:

• God wants us to comprehend the truth of what He is saying. As Christians, we can be confident that this will happen because the Holy Spirit is present within us, and John 16:13 promises that He will guide us into all truth. It may take time and effort on our part, but the Lord’s intention is for us to clearly understand what He’s communicating.

• Our heavenly Father also has a goal to conform us to the image of Christ. As we read the Scriptures, His Spirit may point out Jesus’ compassion toward the Samaritan woman as our example for living. Or He may warn us, through Jesus’ rebuke of Peter, not to rely on human understanding. Our part is to respond to His words by aligning our lives with the truth, and not to resist.

In addition, God reveals truths about life in Christ so we will be able tocommunicate those same principles to others. Jesus spoke only what His Father had taught Him (John 8:28). Likewise, we need to be listening carefully every time God speaks so we, too, will know what to say.

God has something to say: to the obedient and the disobedient; to the powerful and the weak; to the self-assured and the insecure; to the lost and the saved. Don’t miss what He has to tell you. Let whatever happens in the course of the day draw you to Him, and practice giving Him your full attention.

The Power of Testimony

  The Power of Testimony

Read | John 9:1-38

Have you ever considered the sheer power in your simple testimony? John’s gospel tells a wonderful story of a blind man whom Jesus healed. If the story simply ended with the man opening his eyes and praising God, even that would surely be powerful. However, John takes the account further and shows us what happened next.

The Jewish authorities didn’t know what to make of this miraculous healing. They had all the facts—a man they knew was born blind, the crowd that overheard his interaction with Jesus, the proof of identity that his parents provided—and yet they refused to believe what was clear to so many. That is, they challenged the man’s testimony.

The religious authorities voiced their disbelief by calling Jesus a sinner (John 9:24), as if this untruth would somehow disqualify His miracle.

The man’s response in John 9:25 was brilliant in its simplicity: “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

No matter what else was said, the man knew the Pharisees could not refute the basic fact that he had been healed. Scripture
shows that the authorities lost their tempers because they could not argue their way around that fact.

People simply cannot argue against the truth of your experience with Jesus. Rejoice that the Lord has given you such a powerful weapon in the midst of so great a spiritual battle. In situations where you anticipate a confrontation about your faith, take the time to reread John 9 so God can encourage you.4

Our Life is Our Ministry

When we are confronted with queasy looks and skeptical thoughts about our faith, we have all the reason to stay unmoved and don't perturb at all, if we can't recall passages from the Bible to prove our relationship with the Lord. We have our life as impeccable testimony to reach out to those people, our transformed life, our changed attitude... the love we have began to feel and ready to give just as how the Lord Jesus loved us. Reaching out would not always be through verbal preaching, but showing compassion, mercy and grace to people around us. Our actions with genuine sincerity based on obedience to His will is our strongest ministry.  That power of the Lord in us shall exude in us through the Holy Spirit enabling us to walk as our Master walked.

Telling It Like It Is

Telling It Like It Is

Read | Matthew 10:32-33

Life often demands proof. Sometimes it seems that no matter what we say, people simply will not believe us unless we can provide some definite verification. That can be a good thing when what you’re sharing is the most important news in the world—and you have the evidence to back it up.

The news I’m talking about is the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. And the proof is your own personal testimony.

Every single believer has an irrefutable account of how Christ saved him or her from sin. It is disheartening when people downplay their faith story as boring or “ordinary.” How could this story ever be ordinary? It isn’t just some narrative about how you spent your day; we’re talking about a supernatural event. This is the chronicle of how Almighty God entered your heart. News like that is far from boring.

Remember that no one can discount your testimony. It’s your own story—the truthful telling of how God has worked in your life. A testimony is similar to a fingerprint: no two are the same. And regardless of the details, no one can ever deny your own personal experience. Even if some people do not believe in the power of Christ, they cannot refute what He has done in your life.

Boldly giving your testimony can be a challenge, especially if you’re not sure how your audience will react. At such moments, however, know that your story will be something they’ve never heard before. God gave you a special gift in your unique testimony. Are you sharing that gift with others?

Maintaining Joy

Maintaining Joy

Psalm 40:16

Though some people use the terms happiness and joy interchangeably, there is a vast difference in their meaning. Both cause a pleasant emotional response, but the former relies entirely upon circumstance. As soon as difficulty arises and pain intrudes, a person ceases to be happy. On the other hand, joy is a gift from God that enables believers to find hope and peace—even when life seemingly falls apart.

At times, however, even Christians live joylessly. Sinful behavior, of course, is one reason. But there can be other causes, too, including regret about past failures, fear of future mishaps, or a pattern of discontentment that’s ingrained in one’s personality.

If you are a follower of Jesus but lack gladness, take a moment to remember who Christ is—and who you are in Him. To begin with, you are saved eternally, and your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The love of almighty God is unconditional, and His indwelling Spirit will never abandon you. He understands everything that you face and promises to provide for your needs.

When you stop to consider the amazing blessings that are yours in Christ, gratitude will likely overwhelm you. Sadness concerning circumstances may still endure, but the joy of the Lord will carry you through even the deepest pain.

Through life’s good times and bad, does God’s joy sustain you? Or do trials leave you hopeless and discontented? Our Father offers a higher way of living—not without pain but with strength to endure. Continually remember the vast treasure you have in Him and His promises.

God's Way is Best

God's Way is Best

Read | Proverbs 16:18-25

A popular song from the late 1960s talks about someone looking back over his life and proudly proclaiming he did it his way. Five different times, the unidentified person expresses self-satisfaction about not answering to anyone about his lifestyle or choices.

The song’s theme is the exact opposite of how God has called believers to live. As Christ-followers, we are to submit to the Lord and live according to His plan.

How do we live God’s way? By  . . .

• Giving Him our attention. We’re to set aside our agendas and focus instead on our relationship with God and the things that please Him.

• Following His directions. We must obey any steps He has already revealed for our situation. Being confident God will answer, we should continue to ask what the subsequent steps are (Prov. 3:5-6). This requires that we listen attentively to His Word and heed His instructions.

• Accepting God’s provision as adequate. The Lord takes full responsibility for the life that is committed to Him, and He will provide everything we will need for following His instructions. We are to base all of our actions and decisions on this truth(Phil. 4:13), even when our feelings say we have insufficient resources or skills.

What do your choices reveal—that you have chosen to walk God’s way, or that you are singing a song of prideful independence? Consider whether you’ve erected a “hands off” sign over certain areas of your life. It’s not too late to change your tune to “I Did It God’s Way.”

The Father's Far-Reaching Grace

  The Father's Far-Reaching Grace

Read | Luke 15:17-24

Family-oriented movies frequently end by showing a warm reunion. We see loved ones with arms around each other in an expression of love and support.

The parable of the prodigal son paints a similar picture of our heavenly Father’s attitude towards us, His children. That well-known story illustrates the magnificence of grace. In Luke 15:20, the one who was sinned against is running out to eagerly welcome back the one who sinned. Be sure to notice how the one who was mistreated shows compassion to the one who was at fault.

And there is even more. The prodigal did not know that his full rights as a son would be restored. We as believers, however, know in advance what awaits us when we humbly return to our heavenly Father. Because of grace, we can count on acceptance no matter how long we have been absent from Him or how far we’ve wandered.

Grace guarantees that our the Lord will greet us with compassion and forgiveness, lovingly restoring us to full rights as His children. It is not our performance—in other words, not good deeds or even the right words of apology—that matters; it is our position in Christ. When God sees that we belong to His Son, He forgives us.

The parable of the prodigal son points us to the truth that because of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven even before we return. While this does not give us license to sin (Rom. 6:1-2), it does give us reason to celebrate. Our Father is waiting to welcome us home.

Restored by Grace

Restored by Grace

Read | Luke 15:11-16

Independence is a highly valued quality. We teach it to our children, and we demand it for ourselves. There is even a statue called the Independent Man on top of the Rhode Island State House—it stands as a tribute to self-sufficiency and freedom.

The story of the Prodigal Son, however, shows us a less positive aspect of independence—one which, sadly, is woven into the fabric of human nature. The wayward son takes charge of his own life and shuns his father’s care and protection. Fortunately, the story doesn’t stop after revealing the boy’s downward spiral of sin; it also shows us the restoring grace of God.

Sin means acting independently of God’s will. It begins with a desire that is outside His plan. Next comes a decision to act on the desire. When we do, we find ourselves, like the prodigal, in a “distant country,” which is anywhere outside the will of God. To remain there requires deception. We deceive ourselves by thinking that we know better than God and ignoring any consequences. Defeat follows. For a time all may seem fine, but like the reckless son in the story, we’ll find that our way leads to defeat. Finally, we will arrive at despair resulting from famine of spirit, emotions, or relationships. That leads into desperation, where our choices are few and distasteful.

But desperation is not the end of the prodigal’s story. Nor is it the end of ours when we sin. Jesus gave this account of an earthly father’s forgiving love because He desired to point us to the restoring grace of our heavenly Father. God waits with open arms for us, His wandering children.

How Temptation Leads to Sin

How Temptation Leads to Sin

Read | 2 Samuel 11:1-17

Hankering, hungering, longing, thirsting, yearning—all of these terms can be used to describe the word “desire.” Eve yearned for the fruit of the forbidden tree; Sarai longed for the promised child; King David hungered after Bathsheba. (Gen. 3:6; 16:2; 2 Sam. 11:2-4). In each case, their desire became so strong that they took matters into their own hands to get what they wanted. Each of them knew the Lord’s instructions, but when tempted, they found a way to justify their actions to obtain the desired goal. And the consequences were serious.

Throughout life, all of us experience longings. We yearn for circumstances or people to be different and crave things we do not have—or more of what we do have. And then we often find ourselves tempted to fulfill these desires through our own actions. Temptation itself is not sin, but acting on our own against God’s Word is. Stop and remember what happened to Eve, Sarai, and King David.

Our Creator, who designed you in His image, knows what it is you long for, and He has promised to give you what profits you most (Isa. 48:17). Compare your desires with the truth of Scripture, and ask God to help you let go of any that do not meet His standard.

Make Psalm 63:1 your heart’s cry: “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” And Jesus, who is the Bread of Life and Living Water, will satisfy you as nothing else ever could.

Temptation: Strong but Resistible

Temptation: Strong but Resistible

Read | Genesis 3:1-24

Satan is so cunning that he was able to deceive Eve into sinning. Her response to his question (Gen. 3:1-2) reveals that she knew exactly what God had told her. Aren’t we just like that today? We know precisely what the Word of God says, and yet we often fail to obey Him.

Do you spend more time indulging your desires—even if that sometimes means bordering on sin—than you do meditating on Scripture and praying? We have an enemy who is not only wily and intelligent but also savage and relentless. His goal is to alienate you from your Creator, stunt your growth as a believer, and minimize your impact for God’s kingdom. He knows your weaknesses; he also knows how to surprise, lure, and camouflage.

This is why it is imperative for every believer to maintain a strong defense by means of vibrant, abiding fellowship with Jesus Christ. He is our refuge, and His Word is a very effective weapon.

The Lord is holy; Satan is evil. Learn, therefore, to react to temptation with the understanding that its source is an evil enemy bent on stealing your joy and destroying your effectiveness as God’s child. Then turn to the Lord and ask Him to help you overcome. He is the One who is able—and eager—to give you victory.

Remember: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Develop a reflex to turn to the Lord when Satan throws his darts. Pray, “Thank You that I am Your child. Please protect me.” And God, who is faithful, will lead you through the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13).

Confronting Wrong-Daily New Life

Daily New Life

Steve Arterburn

God has given us the responsibility to honestly confront those who do wrong. For most of us, confrontation is a difficult task. For a few, it’s much too easy. I hope you don’t delight in finding fault in others. If you do, stop and consider if you do this as a way of over¬looking your own faults.  

God does call you, however, to help others see the truth. In es¬sence, you can hold up a mirror to your good friends, and they hopefully will do the same for you. 

Jude, the brother of Jesus, reminds us that we are to deal honestly and directly with those who do wrong, while showing them mercy (Jude 22-23). Help others see their faults but with great humility. You’re not responsible for the behavior of others, but you are re¬sponsible to gently and tactfully point out areas of misbehavior that may cause them to stumble, fall, or lose their way.

Are you avoiding some tough conversations? If you have kids, are you confronting them? And when you do are you doing it with gentleness and humility? Check yourself. Is your tone respectful? Is your word choice uplifting or condescending? God calls you to show courage by addressing wrong. But remember the goal is always to see the other person restored, not belittled. Help that person turn back to God.   

“I don’t need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.” - Plutarch (46-120)

When faced with an impossible situation, remember who God is!-Time with God

Time with God

Jeremiah 32:17-22

Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You…O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day.

You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.

When faced with an impossible situation, remember who God is!

Think about how you react to situations that seem impossible. Do you go into overdrive to overcome it? Do you curl up in hopelessness? Do you try to deny the problem is there? As a Christian, maybe you say, “O Lord, what should I do?” Be careful not to let this prayer lead you to focus on your own ability to handle the situation.

Make your first reaction be to focus on who God is. Say with Jeremiah, “Nothing is too difficult for you, O great mighty God.”

Hope: The Anchor of the Soul

Hope: The Anchor of the Soul

Read | Hebrews 6:13-20

Many people in the world—maybe even you—are facing terrible storms in their lives: broken homes, joblessness, loneliness, loss, world crises. These things slash at the very fabric of our hope in Christ. It may even seem as though we are lost, adrift at sea in a small boat during a hurricane. How on earth will we be able to reach the shore safely?

The disciples faced this fear as well. While they were crossing a lake in their small ship, the weather took a frightening turn for the worse, endangering the vessel and, the men assumed, their very lives. In desperation, they went to Jesus for help, but were surprised to find Him asleep. They cried out, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matt. 8:25 niv).

When Jesus awoke, He rebuked them for their lack of faith. Then He proceeded to calm the storm. Through this dramatic demonstration of His power, He showed Himself to be Lord over all creation. It was also a clear lesson about where we are to turn when storms arise in our lives.

Sometimes people think their challenging circumstances mean that God isn’t paying attention. That’s what the disciples thought—until Christ rose to calm the turbulent waters. Nothing is beyond the control of our sovereign Lord.

When the world—or even just our own personal “world”—seems out of control, Jesus is still Lord of all. So what should you do when you think He is sleeping? The answer is simple: Thank God that He is in the boat with you. And then look at your situation through eyes of hope and trust.

The Hope Within

The Hope Within

Stop looking outside of yourself for the strength to carry on. Turn to the indwelling presence of Christ

By Charles F. Stanley

For many years, my Christian life resembled a roller coaster—up one minute and down the next. Instead of making progress, I went through life experiencing more failure than success. I was locked into a relationship with Christ that I didn’t even enjoy. Each struggle to follow Him made me feel as if I never quite measured up to His expectations. But all that changed when I began to comprehend one simple truth: Christ lives in me.

Many believers think the Christian life is something they merely do—like going to church, reading the Bible, praying, and serving. They picture God far away in heaven, hearing their prayers and sending down the strength they need in times of trouble. This may sound good, but it’s not what the Bible teaches. The power we need to live the Christian life isn’t dispensed from “above”—but is released from within the life of every believer through Christ’s indwelling presence.

Just before He was crucified, Jesus Christ gave His disciples an illustration of their relationship with Him. He described Himself as the vine and His followers as the branches who abide in Him (John 15:4). According to the metaphor, they would bear fruit as a result of the Lord’s life flowing in and through them, not by means of human effort. You’ll never see a branch on a grape vine sweating and grunting as it pumps out the fruit. It simply lets the sap flow through it and displays the grapes that the vine produces. And so it is with those who follow Jesus: He is the source of our nourishment and growth. This amazing experience begins at the moment we accept the Lord’s offer of a saving relationship with Him.

Is it really possible?

Perhaps you’re wondering how Jesus can be inside you and in heaven at the same time. The explanation is found in John 14:16-20—before returning to His Father, Jesus explained to His disciples that He was leaving them but would send the Holy Spirit as a Helper who would abide in them forever. Now, we need to be aware that there’s a great mystery in this and our ability to understand as human beings is limited. Yet Scripture is clear that, while Jesus is presently seated at the Father’s right hand, He also dwells within us through the Holy Spirit.

In a way we cannot comprehend, the persons of the Trinity are distinct from one another. But we need to remember that they’re also perfectly one God. This communion shared by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can’t be broken, and if one Person of the Godhead lives within us, we have fellowship with all three. So when the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, Christ also enters in.

The Lord knows that our human frailties and limited strength make us inadequate to live the Christian life. His purpose is to accomplish through us what He knows we cannot do with self-effort or natural abilities. Although Jesus’ disciples walked with Him for three years, they needed more than a side-by-side relationship in order to carry out His will—and so do we. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live Christ’s life as we die to ourselves and learn to truly live.

Jesus lives in us for another purpose as well: to glorify Himself and carry out His kingdom work. Since He is no longer here in physical form, His indwelling presence enables and empowers us to do what He once did on earth—proclaim the gospel, make disciples, teach His Word, and care for people. You may not feel qualified for the job, but that should never be the deciding factor. The Lord promises to make you adequate for whatever He’s called you to do (1 Thess. 5:24). Our union with Him goes both ways. We abide in Christ, and He abides in us. This relationship is His way to qualify you for life in heaven and also His means of preparing you to live a fruitful and obedient life on earth.

How does Jesus’ indwelling presence affect us?

Christ’s union with us is one of the Bible’s most profound truths—that the sovereign, transcendent Creator, who spoke the universe into existence, would condescend to live within the spirit of mortal humans. It’s beyond our comprehension, and the implications are far-reaching.

Transformation: Jesus’ indwelling presence enables each believer to become the person that God intends for him or her to be. Even though you may feel as if you’re far from this goal, as long as you keep learning and applying the truths of Scripture, you will increasingly become more like Jesus. Spiritual transformation and growth are achieved not by trying harder but by submitting to Christ and allowing Him to express Himself through you.

Christ in you is your hope of glory (Col. 1:27). Although we receive glimpses in Scripture of what awaits us in heaven, we’ll be amazed when we step across the threshold and see our Savior face to face. As children of God, we are fellow heirs with Him (Rom. 8:16-17) and will enjoy the honor and rewards He will give us for obedience and faithful service.

Sufficiency: Because Jesus lives in us, we also have the assurance that He will make us sufficient in every circumstance. His riches are available for all areas of our lives, regardless of the need. If you require understanding and guidance, the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (Col. 2:3). If you’re struggling financially, all the wealth of the world is His (Ps. 24:1). When a task is beyond your ability or a trial seems unbearable, He is your strength (2 Cor. 12:9-10). The Lord knows exactly what you should do and is willing to guide you in every situation.

Intimacy: Perhaps the greatest benefit of our union with Christ is the privilege of living moment by moment in an intimate relationship with Him. Anytime day or night we can enter into a private conversation with Him. Jesus is an ever-present friend who knows us more intimately than any human being ever could. Nothing can separate us from Him, because He has taken up permanent residence within us.

A “Christ in you” lifestyle

It’s not enough just to acknowledge that Jesus is in us. This glorious truth is not meant to be an academic concept. It’s intended to transform the way we live. Instead of trying so hard to improve ourselves and act like Jesus, we simply need to let Him flow through us like a stream. We can never pump out godliness, because nothing good dwells in us apart from Him. Only as we yield our lives to the One who resides within will we experience the fullness of His life in us.

A commitment is required if we want to turn this truth into a lifestyle. We must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our life and then act upon this confession. We can’t keep it as simply a doctrinal truth; we need to experience it daily. Begin each morning by reminding yourself that Christ is your life. Then throughout the day, whenever you encounter temptation or a difficult situation, reaffirm it: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and thelife which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20, emphasis added).

The reason so many believers feel weak and inadequate in their walk with Christ is because they rely on their feelings instead of the truth of God’s Word. Feelings fluctuate, but faith anchors our soul and reminds us that Christ is our life no matter what challenge we’re facing or how we have failed. The key to fruitful Christianity is living out what you believe. Then Christ’s character and power will surface and become a part of your life.

If you are caught on a roller coaster of self-effort, it’s time to get off and start enjoying your relationship with Christ. You don’t have to try to live up to His expectations; you just have to believe He is your life, submit to His leadership, rely on His strength, and watch His life flow through you.

In God We Trust

In God We Trust

Read | Matthew 7:9-11

Even though we do not realize it as children, we all learn fundamental lessons about trust from our parents. If a person grew up with a kind, loving mom and dad, then trust seems to come more naturally later on. However, if parents are cold and distant, their grown children can find it difficult to have confidence in others.

That’s why many believers struggle with trusting God. In an age noted for broken homes and absent fathers, how is it possible to learn to trust our Father in heaven?

First, we must understand that God loves us unconditionally, just as we are. We don’t have to earn His favor; in fact, we are entirely incapable of doing so. God loves us, not because of what we can offer Him but because, as 1 John 4:16 tells us, His very nature is love. That love is the reason He provided our salvation at His own great expense—the life of His precious Son Jesus.

Second, we can trust God because He has given us exactly what we needed most: salvation. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). He did not do this because He owed us anything or because of any inherent good within us. He saved us for one reason: because of His all-surpassing love (1 John 4:9).

God knows everything about you, including the unseemly details, and loves you just the same. That alone is good reason to feel perfectly safe with Him. You can trust Him, not only with your future but also with whatever is facing you today. The Lord is worthy of your praise—and your openness with Him.

A God We Can Trust-In Touch Daily Devotional

  In Touch Daily Devotional

A God We Can Trust

Read | Lamentations 3:22-23

Trust is a valuable commodity these days. The reason is because it seems to be in such short supply. Selfish ambition, greed, and a “look out for number one” attitude are all too prevalent; some people even find it challenging to trust themselves. In contrast, though, we have many good reasons to trust the Lord.

First, He is the one true God. There is no one else like Him (2 Sam. 7:21-22), and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). His perfect will is changeless, so we never have to worry about fluctuating ethics or values.

Second, God is the very essence of truth. He does not stand under the authority of some cosmic list of “right” and “wrong.” Rather, He Himself is the very standard of comparison. And because He is truth, we know that He will never deceive.

Third, He has proven Himself to be absolutely faithful. As the Bible says, “The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is [His] faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22 -23).

Fourth, God is trustworthy because He has absolute control of every situation. Psalm 103:19 declares, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.”

Nothing can prevent the Lord from achieving His perfect will, regardless of how difficult the situation may seem to us. Our very lives testify to His power and love. As God’s children, we can safely put our faith and confidence in Him, knowing that we will never be disappointed.

Cultivating a Thankful Heart- Daily New Life

Daily New Life

Cultivating a Thankful Heart

The great English writer G. K. Chesterton once wrote, “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swim¬ming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”  

Wow! What a reminder! There’s no doubt in my mind that I could give thanks more often. We set aside meal time, Sunday mornings, and my favorite holiday; Thanksgiving. But, don’t let an hour go by without giving thanks . . . for your work, school, kids, health, your spouse, your blessings and your challenges.  

When you have a God-awareness about life and when you see and sense Him in your day (in the big things and the little things), it’s hard not to be thankful.

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”  -William Arthur Ward (1921-1994)

Escaping Self-Deception-Daily New Life

Daily New Life
Steve Arterburn

Escaping Self-Deception

Galatians 6:7-10

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

We may fool ourselves into believing that we can simply bury our wrongs and go on, without ever having to admit them. In time, we all discover that those deeds we thought were buried once and for all were actually seeds. They grow and bear fruit. Eventually we have to deal with a crop of consequences and face the fact that self-deception doesn't work to our advantage.

"You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit" (Galatians 6:7-8). "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him [God], he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:8-9).

STEP Five says good-bye to self-deception and hello to forgiveness and cleansing. We should note that there is cleansing from every wrong, not from "wrongdoing" in a general sense. Admitting the exact nature of our wrongs includes giving an account in exact and specific terms. It is only when we get specific that we will no longer be able to fool ourselves about the nature of our wrongs. Since we can't ignore God and get away with it anyway, we might as well come clean and be forgiven.

In recovery, planting our confessions will yield 

a harvest of forgiveness.

Heart Makeover - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Heart Makeover - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Speaker: Edric Mendoza 

Whenever we think of mothers, our thoughts drift into a heart image – a big heart. But while we cherish that kind of heart, the Bible warns us about a different kind of heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Many Christians find it difficult to be intimate with God because of their heart condition. The Hebrew word for “heart” is levav which refers to the inner man. If our heart is not well, we need a makeover. The first thing to do is to check and find the problem, and then fix it. By analogy, that is what we need to do if we have a heart problem – check and fix.

1 Kings 12:26-32 chronicles the life of King Jeroboam. Jeroboam was a bad king, and almost all kings that succeeded him followed his bad legacy. For each of his successors, there is this description: “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit” (2 Kings 15:9).

King Jeroboam ruled the Northern kingdom of Israel after it was divided. He was an evil king and he did much evil in the sight of the Lord even after God promised to make him king and guide him if he would obey (1 Kings 11:38). But in defiance, Jeroboam built altars and shrines in Israel’s high places, made two golden calves and encouraged idol worship. He made priests of people who were non-Levites and instituted a festival like the one held in Judah. Clearly, something was wrong with his heart. Jeroboam simply did not believe or trust in God’s promise. He had a doubtful heart.

All the deeds of Jeroboam were motivated by fear and insecurity. He did not want his people to wander over the territory of his rival, King Rehoboam of Judah, for fear that they would switch loyalty and kill him. He sought advice but ended up with wrong counsel (1 Kings 12:28- 29) and even caused his own people to sin. His second heart problem was a misguided heart.

He blatantly disobeyed God when he instituted a feast which coincided with the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. His real intent then was to prevent the men of Israel from going on their traditional trip to Jerusalem and see King Rehoboam. He wanted to take over and control God’s department. He had a controlling heart which is his third heart problem.

As we see the evil of Jeroboam, it is perhaps time to reflect and assess our own heart. While we obviously will never do what Jeroboam did, are we sure that we are not doing things that are similar to his deeds?
Do we trust God completely and never doubt Him? Do we seek wise counsel that will not only be good but will conform to God’s Word? Do we still want to be in control of our own lives and many other things? How do we fix our own heart?

Ezekiel 36:26 says that God is willing to give us a new heart. He will remove our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. Ask God for a heart that will trust Him instead of a doubtful heart; a heart anchored on God’s Word instead of a misguided heart; and, a new heart that is completely surrendered to God and not a controlling heart.

We need to pursue intimacy with Jesus. To experience a deeper relationship with Him, we need a heart makeover. Hebrews 12:2 exhorts us to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” Heart makeover is only possible through a saving relationship with Jesus.