All tagged god
Are we servants to all those surrounding us? Have we humbled ourselves sufficiently in order to put our own desires behind us, so that we can be obedient to the example that Jesus has placed before us? If so then God will bless us, but if not then we need to take a long look at who we truly are. Do we see much difference in the person we once were and the one we are now that we have accepted Jesus as our Lord?
How do you recognize a person who has given themselves completely over to God’s will? What one trait do you see in such saints that makes them stand out? If you mull this over in your mind, you will come to one conclusion, and one conclusion only... humility. To become a servant you must first humble yourself, to obey God without reservation you must humble yourself, and to become a child of Our Heavenly Father, you must humble yourself before Him. Do you humbly place God before yourself? Are you capable of embodying the absolute humility of Christ?
How much of ourselves have we given to God in love? Do we conform to His will in all things, or only as much as we think it will take to please Him? Jesus was the most amazing and incredible man to have ever lived, and yet He subjected Himself in His entirety to God... His example leads us to understand the true nature of God’s expectation of us as He speaks spiritual truth and demonstrates what it means to be a loving Child of God.
Do we devote our prayer time and the other things in our life to God? If so, then are we giving these things to Him forever, or just until we need them again or it becomes inconvenient for us to do so? Perhaps we don’t understand what devoting something means when taken in this context. What I am referring to here are those things which we commit to God, or Jesus Christ. For many of us it probably begins with a morning time of prayer each day. Have you given Him 15 minutes? 30 minutes? An hour? Have you truly dedicated this time to Him, or just loaned it to Him? If you have made this a promise, have you lived up to that commitment or just prayed when it was convenient?
God answers my prayers! Do you believe that statement without reservation? So many people of faith say this but then spend much of their time and effort making excuses for why they don’t see results. If this is you then I ask, “where is the faith in that?” If you truly know God, then you know Him to be absolutely trustworthy and of rock-solid character.
You have professed your faith in God, and accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, but now you are asking yourself... “What is the Holy Spirit, will I receive it, and how will I know when I do?” Let’s explore the breath of Jesus and the Spirit He breathes onto us. Let’s ask our Lord to give us His comforter, and teacher to be with us as we journey, and to provide us through His Holy Spirit those things we need along the way.
Today is the beginning of a brand-new year, and as such, let’s contemplate the true source of our joy. I have come to understand that I shouldn’t look to the world for my joy, but to the Lord Jesus Christ instead. I came to this conclusion because the world fails me. However, Jesus, my Redeemer and Savior, never disappoints or abandons me. The joy of Christ was, and is, steadfast and unfailing because it flows from the absolute nature of love in God. Are you walking with Jesus today and if so, do you find this joy to be true in your daily life with Him? Are you seeking His joy and preparing yourself to become more completely united with Him over the course of the coming year? If you are then you will find that His joy isn’t the only source of joy you will receive… you will experience the love and joy of God.
Today is the last day of the year, and typically one in which we take stock of our accomplishments and failures over the past twelve months. This is also a time when we make plans for the coming year and determine the condition of our present life. As you do so, do you have regrets that haunt you, and fears that give you tribulation as you look towards the coming new year? Well, “fear not” because our Lord uses what is past and present to prepare us for what lies ahead, and He helps us face today with a firm faith in His goodness, mercy, and grace.
When we come to know Jesus Christ, and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, something amazing begins to happen in, and to us. We are most certainly relieved of the sin which began in Adam and Eve, but the knowledge of good and evil remains... so what is God to do with that?
Are you struggling with whether you will give yourself to Jesus, and fully believe in God? Have you been reasoning and reading scripture without moving an inch closer to actually believing? If so, then quit listening to your own intellect, and still your mind... then open your ears to the still small voice of God that has been calling you to “Come” and which now asks you to determine what has brought you to this place. Hearing God isn’t a matter of intellectual reasoning on your part; it is being inexplicably drawn by His voice alone. So… what are you doing here, and will you come to Him?
Do you know who Jesus is? Have you developed a relationship with God? Are you confident in your faith and feel like you have a handle on it? If you answered “Yes” to the first two questions, that is exciting and wonderful. If you answered “Yes” to the third then you are in for some big surprises as you read on.
The world is five sunrises away from Christmas morning, and the day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Thank God Almighty we aren’t still awaiting His birth but find ourselves celebrating that which has already come! As I do on the birthdays of my own children, I find myself reminiscing and thinking back to that day when Jesus was born and I hope that it brings the same tears to you that is does to my eyes. Jesus is with us always, every minute, day, and week... so I invite you to listen as I praise Him in verse, and to join with me by reading and praying these words of joyous praise...
Feeling the Peace of Christ is one of the most treasured and coveted aspects of the Christian faith; it is a reward for obedience and is our life’s harvest for believing and living our lives as disciples of Jesus. Do you have the Peace of Christ today? Do you understand the difference between the peace of the world and the Peace of Christ because they are quite different.
Are you an individual? Do you see your spiritual and physical selves as being unique and independent of one another? How about your personality? In fact, our physical being is what we are, and our spiritual self is who we are. So it is that as physical individuals we are referring to our bodies, and although they are alike in many ways, God has made them unique. Our personalities, on the other hand, are experienced more than seen, and are boundless in their nature such that only God can truly understand them. When Jesus speaks in John 17:22-23, which of these is he referring to?
Have we given up everything we are to Jesus Christ? It is easy to lay down the sinful, and evil things in our lives, but have we also laid down those we have always considered to be good? Abandoning those things to God that we naturally identify as being good and wholesome is the most profound test of our faith. Even though being able to leave behind those things that are sinful and contrary to God’s commandments and desire for us remains the foundation of our faithfulness and obedience.