From: Greg Laurie Ministries
Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
Light reveals things. Light not only exposes what is hidden in the darkness, but light shows the way out. In the same way, the light that shines from Christians shows people not only their shortcomings and their sins, but it shows them the way out, the way to Jesus Christ.
What kind of general opinion do you think people would have of Christianity if you were its sole representative? What if every Christian lived exactly like you? How many would be attracted to or turned off by the gospel?
Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." You may be the only representative of Jesus Christ that your friends, your family, your coworkers, and your neighbors may ever meet. And they will evaluate the whole idea of Christianity on the basis of what they see in you. They will form an opinion about what they think about God based on you. So let your light shine.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
God's Spiritual Influence
From: Bayless Conley Ministries
Isaiah 55:3,10-11 "Come to Me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
In the same way rain brings blessing when it waters the earth (causing it to bring a bountiful harvest and fruitfulness into the lives of the people), so God's spiritual influence brings refreshment and fruitfulness to our lives.
What is God's spiritual influence? It is the impact of His Word and His Spirit upon the hearts of His children.
When you come to God, when you respond to His call to seek Him and incline your ear, He will speak to you. And the effect His Word has when He speaks it into your life, into your heart, is the same effect that rain has on the earth.
His Word, as it penetrates your heart, will bring refreshment, enlightenment, and ultimately, fruitfulness. It will bring revival into your heart causing spiritual growth and progress.
Isaiah 55:3,10-11 "Come to Me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
In the same way rain brings blessing when it waters the earth (causing it to bring a bountiful harvest and fruitfulness into the lives of the people), so God's spiritual influence brings refreshment and fruitfulness to our lives.
What is God's spiritual influence? It is the impact of His Word and His Spirit upon the hearts of His children.
When you come to God, when you respond to His call to seek Him and incline your ear, He will speak to you. And the effect His Word has when He speaks it into your life, into your heart, is the same effect that rain has on the earth.
His Word, as it penetrates your heart, will bring refreshment, enlightenment, and ultimately, fruitfulness. It will bring revival into your heart causing spiritual growth and progress.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
You Need To Know The Why
From: The Purpose Driven Life Ministries
Habakkuk 2:2-3 "Then the Lord answered me and said: 'Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.'"
The next ten years can be the greatest of your life. They can become a Decade of Destiny, where your life is focused and, as a result, you're able to make an impact in all you do.
To get where you believe God wants you to go and be what you know God wants you to be, there are several steps you need to take that will get you focused --
Step #1 - Determine your present position. You've got to know where you are before you can know where you are going.
To do that, ask yourself two questions:
Where am I now? Where are you spiritually, financially, emotionally, relationally, physically, and occupationally?
What would I like to change? In all of those areas you identified, what would you like to be different?
An important principle here is that it is never too late for you to make a change in your life, even though making the change may take longer than you think. This is why you can't procrastinate. You can either drift through the next ten years or you can have direction over the next ten years. God wants you to have direction.
Step #2 - Be specific about what you want. In order to get to where you want to be, you need to describe exactly what you want. You will never reach a vague goal. The more general it is, the less power it has. But the more specific it is, the more power it has in your life.
Ask yourself these four questions:
What do I want to be?
What do I want to do?
What do I want to have?
Why do I want it?
You can't just know the what, you need to know the why - that's your motivation. If you don't know why, you will give up when it gets tough. You don't need to focus on the how for now because, once you figure out the why, God will show you how. He will help you solve the problems that stand in the way of your goal.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 "Then the Lord answered me and said: 'Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.'"
The next ten years can be the greatest of your life. They can become a Decade of Destiny, where your life is focused and, as a result, you're able to make an impact in all you do.
To get where you believe God wants you to go and be what you know God wants you to be, there are several steps you need to take that will get you focused --
Step #1 - Determine your present position. You've got to know where you are before you can know where you are going.
To do that, ask yourself two questions:
Where am I now? Where are you spiritually, financially, emotionally, relationally, physically, and occupationally?
What would I like to change? In all of those areas you identified, what would you like to be different?
An important principle here is that it is never too late for you to make a change in your life, even though making the change may take longer than you think. This is why you can't procrastinate. You can either drift through the next ten years or you can have direction over the next ten years. God wants you to have direction.
Step #2 - Be specific about what you want. In order to get to where you want to be, you need to describe exactly what you want. You will never reach a vague goal. The more general it is, the less power it has. But the more specific it is, the more power it has in your life.
Ask yourself these four questions:
What do I want to be?
What do I want to do?
What do I want to have?
Why do I want it?
You can't just know the what, you need to know the why - that's your motivation. If you don't know why, you will give up when it gets tough. You don't need to focus on the how for now because, once you figure out the why, God will show you how. He will help you solve the problems that stand in the way of your goal.
True Character
From: In Touch Ministries
1 Peter 1:6-7 "You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears."
How a person responds to hardship reveals his or her true character. Hard times are when God's people most need to match actions to words. It's easy to say, "I trust God" or "My Lord is faithful," particularly when life is good. But unless we recognize that He is sovereign even in adversity, the same lips will complain and seek pity. Believers who trust in the Lord's faithfulness and supremacy will steadfastly focus on Him and thereby keep their anxiety and doubt subdued.
In order to conquer adversity, we must begin moving through it. It is essential for a suffering believer to surrender to God's will. We may not know what His purpose is. We certainly won't like the pain, and we'll definitely want the situation to change—fast. But giving the Lord free rein allows Him to mature our faith, conform us to the likeness of His Son, and fulfill His unique plan for our lives.
Surrendering does not seem like a way to advance anywhere. But in reality, we're just handing over the controls to God and saying, "You guide me where You want me to go." Doing so requires a lot of trust. We serve a Lord who is worthy of our faith and confidence
1 Peter 1:6-7 "You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears."
How a person responds to hardship reveals his or her true character. Hard times are when God's people most need to match actions to words. It's easy to say, "I trust God" or "My Lord is faithful," particularly when life is good. But unless we recognize that He is sovereign even in adversity, the same lips will complain and seek pity. Believers who trust in the Lord's faithfulness and supremacy will steadfastly focus on Him and thereby keep their anxiety and doubt subdued.
In order to conquer adversity, we must begin moving through it. It is essential for a suffering believer to surrender to God's will. We may not know what His purpose is. We certainly won't like the pain, and we'll definitely want the situation to change—fast. But giving the Lord free rein allows Him to mature our faith, conform us to the likeness of His Son, and fulfill His unique plan for our lives.
Surrendering does not seem like a way to advance anywhere. But in reality, we're just handing over the controls to God and saying, "You guide me where You want me to go." Doing so requires a lot of trust. We serve a Lord who is worthy of our faith and confidence
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The Real Thing
From Boyd Bailey Ministries
Psalm 32:2 "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit."
Authentic living is real living. You are a bona fide believer in Christ. You are a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. Your faith commitment is unquestioned. You are the real deal. In your life what you see is what you get. Pretense and guile are a distant memory for you. There is nothing counterfeit about your character. This is authenticity.
Authentic people know how to laugh at themselves. As they get older, they take themselves less seriously and they take God more seriously. When you admit to your blind spots, people understand better how to support you in your weakness. Instead of people thinking less of you for your admission of weakness, they believe in you even more. Authenticity feeds respect, while deceit harvests disrespect.
Authenticity begins with God. Because God is 100% authentic, He expects the same from His children. There is nothing at all deceitful about God. His Word is His Word, true and everlasting. You can trust His promises. There is no need to try to hide from God. Your authenticity with the Almighty tells Him what He already knows.
Authentic believers are blessing receivers because they are truth givers. Yes, it is wise to be discreet in your transparency with others. A good start is to say here are my weaknesses, what others do you see? This authenticity will free you and free others to be the Body of Christ—supporting, encouraging and holding each other accountable. Be authentic as He is authentic and, as a result, we will all experience the real thing!
Psalm 32:2 "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit."
Authentic living is real living. You are a bona fide believer in Christ. You are a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. Your faith commitment is unquestioned. You are the real deal. In your life what you see is what you get. Pretense and guile are a distant memory for you. There is nothing counterfeit about your character. This is authenticity.
Authentic people know how to laugh at themselves. As they get older, they take themselves less seriously and they take God more seriously. When you admit to your blind spots, people understand better how to support you in your weakness. Instead of people thinking less of you for your admission of weakness, they believe in you even more. Authenticity feeds respect, while deceit harvests disrespect.
Authenticity begins with God. Because God is 100% authentic, He expects the same from His children. There is nothing at all deceitful about God. His Word is His Word, true and everlasting. You can trust His promises. There is no need to try to hide from God. Your authenticity with the Almighty tells Him what He already knows.
Authentic believers are blessing receivers because they are truth givers. Yes, it is wise to be discreet in your transparency with others. A good start is to say here are my weaknesses, what others do you see? This authenticity will free you and free others to be the Body of Christ—supporting, encouraging and holding each other accountable. Be authentic as He is authentic and, as a result, we will all experience the real thing!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
You Will Never Walk Alone
From: Our Daily Bread Ministries
Isaiah 41:13 "I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'"
Sometimes life can be scary: Loss of loved ones. Financial woes. Health problems. As we carry these heavy burdens and cares, we long for a strong hand to hold ours to keep us steady and secure.
When Joshua took over the leadership of Israel, Moses reminded him of God’s help in tough times. In the difficult days to come, Joshua would need to remember to trust God and His promises. Moses said, "The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Isaiah encourages us with these words from God: "I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" When life gets scary, God is with us, we can hold His strong hand.
This song by Lowell Alexander reminds us of God’s presence: "You will face mountains so steep, deserts so long, and valleys so deep. Sometimes the journey’s gentle, sometimes the cold winds blow. But I want you to remember, I want you to know you will never walk alone. . . . Jesus will be right beside you all the way." He’ll walk alongside us and hold our hand at the "scary" parts.
Isaiah 41:13 "I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'"
Sometimes life can be scary: Loss of loved ones. Financial woes. Health problems. As we carry these heavy burdens and cares, we long for a strong hand to hold ours to keep us steady and secure.
When Joshua took over the leadership of Israel, Moses reminded him of God’s help in tough times. In the difficult days to come, Joshua would need to remember to trust God and His promises. Moses said, "The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Isaiah encourages us with these words from God: "I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" When life gets scary, God is with us, we can hold His strong hand.
This song by Lowell Alexander reminds us of God’s presence: "You will face mountains so steep, deserts so long, and valleys so deep. Sometimes the journey’s gentle, sometimes the cold winds blow. But I want you to remember, I want you to know you will never walk alone. . . . Jesus will be right beside you all the way." He’ll walk alongside us and hold our hand at the "scary" parts.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Even When You Goof Up
From: Bayless Conley Ministries
Psalm 37:23-24 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand."
When you first read these verses, it is easy to focus on the truth that God orders the steps of a good man, someone who is following God. That is certainly a comforting, motivating, and powerful truth. But I want to point you to the second sentence, "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand."
What an amazing statement! Even when your steps are being ordered by the Lord, you can still goof up! God affirms that you may be seeking to walk with Him and you can still mess up, there is always that human factor. Our flesh gets in the way. Sometimes we make wrong decisions. Sometimes we can be a bit stubborn. And sometimes we blow it, even when that is the last thing we want to do!
Here is what I want you to grasp today: Even if you mess things up, even if you stumble and fall, God will not utterly abandon you. He will support you, and He will lift you up with His hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand."
When you first read these verses, it is easy to focus on the truth that God orders the steps of a good man, someone who is following God. That is certainly a comforting, motivating, and powerful truth. But I want to point you to the second sentence, "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand."
What an amazing statement! Even when your steps are being ordered by the Lord, you can still goof up! God affirms that you may be seeking to walk with Him and you can still mess up, there is always that human factor. Our flesh gets in the way. Sometimes we make wrong decisions. Sometimes we can be a bit stubborn. And sometimes we blow it, even when that is the last thing we want to do!
Here is what I want you to grasp today: Even if you mess things up, even if you stumble and fall, God will not utterly abandon you. He will support you, and He will lift you up with His hand.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Our True Calling
From: Bryant Wright Ministries
2 Thessalonians 1:11 "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."
We can all think of a bad day at work, but can you think of any time when you were "in the zone" - a moment where you enjoyed your task - you were caught up in your work and lost track of time? What were you doing at that moment? What skills were you using? What was it that caused you to be passionate about the work? Understanding the answers to these questions will often help you better understand how to best use your time and talents - a calling.
A calling is when we are passionately using our God-given gifts in a way that pleases Him. We are not talking about your personality profile, but about those God-given gifts listed in the Bible like teaching, counseling, generosity, administration, and prayer, among many others. Kirk Livingston, CEO of a communications company, sums it up, "When we find ourselves involved with God at work, we also begin to find the work we were meant to do." And that's how we discover our true calling from God.
Have you discovered your calling? If not, pray and search for God's will. Over time, He'll reveal it to you.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."
We can all think of a bad day at work, but can you think of any time when you were "in the zone" - a moment where you enjoyed your task - you were caught up in your work and lost track of time? What were you doing at that moment? What skills were you using? What was it that caused you to be passionate about the work? Understanding the answers to these questions will often help you better understand how to best use your time and talents - a calling.
A calling is when we are passionately using our God-given gifts in a way that pleases Him. We are not talking about your personality profile, but about those God-given gifts listed in the Bible like teaching, counseling, generosity, administration, and prayer, among many others. Kirk Livingston, CEO of a communications company, sums it up, "When we find ourselves involved with God at work, we also begin to find the work we were meant to do." And that's how we discover our true calling from God.
Have you discovered your calling? If not, pray and search for God's will. Over time, He'll reveal it to you.
Monday, October 4, 2010
When You're Disappointed
From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are afflicted in every way possible, but we are not crushed; full of doubts, but we never despair; persecuted, but never abandoned; struck down, but never destoyed."
Max Lucado says, 'When God doesn't do what we want it's not easy. Never has been. Never will be. Faith is the conviction that God knows more than us... and He'll get us through. Disappointment is caused by unmet expectations... and is cured by revamped expectations... Don't panic... don't give up... be patient... God's in control. It ain't over till it's over.'
So, when you're disappointed:
(1) Look inward. David asked, 'Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?...' (Psalm 42:5) Admit how you feel. You can't deal with what you don't acknowledge. Ask God to show you the root of the problem. Is it pent-up anger? Envy? Unforgiveness? Pride? Lust? Physical and mental fatigue? Be open to what He reveals
(2) Look upward. David said, '...I will... hope in God! I will praise Him...' Instead of focusing on your discouragement, focus on the One who knows the way out
(3) Remember God's past faithfulness. David said, 'I am... discouraged, but I will remember You.' Through every trial Joseph clung to the assurance that God still controlled his destiny. Recalling God's faithfulness builds your confidence that He'll continue to provide
(4) Remember, you don't have to understand. Just because you can't figure out what God's doing right now, doesn't mean it won't make sense later. He '...causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him...' (Romans 8:28)
(5) Don't give in to bitterness. When your hopes are dashed, resentment can set in. '...If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)
Regardless of how deep the pit may seem, God is on your side!
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are afflicted in every way possible, but we are not crushed; full of doubts, but we never despair; persecuted, but never abandoned; struck down, but never destoyed."
Max Lucado says, 'When God doesn't do what we want it's not easy. Never has been. Never will be. Faith is the conviction that God knows more than us... and He'll get us through. Disappointment is caused by unmet expectations... and is cured by revamped expectations... Don't panic... don't give up... be patient... God's in control. It ain't over till it's over.'
So, when you're disappointed:
(1) Look inward. David asked, 'Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?...' (Psalm 42:5) Admit how you feel. You can't deal with what you don't acknowledge. Ask God to show you the root of the problem. Is it pent-up anger? Envy? Unforgiveness? Pride? Lust? Physical and mental fatigue? Be open to what He reveals
(2) Look upward. David said, '...I will... hope in God! I will praise Him...' Instead of focusing on your discouragement, focus on the One who knows the way out
(3) Remember God's past faithfulness. David said, 'I am... discouraged, but I will remember You.' Through every trial Joseph clung to the assurance that God still controlled his destiny. Recalling God's faithfulness builds your confidence that He'll continue to provide
(4) Remember, you don't have to understand. Just because you can't figure out what God's doing right now, doesn't mean it won't make sense later. He '...causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him...' (Romans 8:28)
(5) Don't give in to bitterness. When your hopes are dashed, resentment can set in. '...If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)
Regardless of how deep the pit may seem, God is on your side!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Better Idea
From: The Purpose Driven Life Ministries
Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Have you noticed that things don't always turn out the way you want them to? That sometimes God has a better idea?
The Bible says in Proverbs 27:1, "Don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what tomorrow's going to bring." It's okay to make your plans, but remember that life is unpredictable and God says we shouldn't presume on it. On the other hand, we shouldn't worry about it because God is in control.
The right attitude is to always keep your plans submitted to God. Make your plans but say, "God, if this is what You want, this is the direction I'm going to go. I'm doing this with flexible faith."
Proverbs 16:9 says, "We should make our plans counting on God to direct us." How do you do that? By praying. When you get up in the morning and have your quiet time, say, "God, what do You want to do with me this day?"
Then when interruptions come, you'll remember God is in control. It will dramatically lower the frustration level in your life as you remember it is not all up to you.
Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Have you noticed that things don't always turn out the way you want them to? That sometimes God has a better idea?
The Bible says in Proverbs 27:1, "Don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what tomorrow's going to bring." It's okay to make your plans, but remember that life is unpredictable and God says we shouldn't presume on it. On the other hand, we shouldn't worry about it because God is in control.
The right attitude is to always keep your plans submitted to God. Make your plans but say, "God, if this is what You want, this is the direction I'm going to go. I'm doing this with flexible faith."
Proverbs 16:9 says, "We should make our plans counting on God to direct us." How do you do that? By praying. When you get up in the morning and have your quiet time, say, "God, what do You want to do with me this day?"
Then when interruptions come, you'll remember God is in control. It will dramatically lower the frustration level in your life as you remember it is not all up to you.
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