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“I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalms 121:1-8 NLT
Here are a few things to be mindful of as you go through today.
How does this make you feel? Safe...secure...protected...at peace. Declare that today will be a worry free day. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT Trust him...“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT Bro. Joe
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“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.” Romans 14:17-18 NLT
How are you serving Christ? As believers in Jesus Christ we are called into service. There is a place of service in the body of Christ for every follower. Not only does God have a place of service for you, He will give you the ability and power to accomplish what He sets before you to do. So, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Romans 12:11 NLT Keeping the right attitude is important as you serve Him. The manner in which you live your life is reflected in your attitude of service. The scripture says that the right attitude of service is reflected by a life of goodness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. That's the key to it all - the Holy Spirit. He is the source of your ability and power to serve. There is freedom in trusting in Him. Look for opportunities to serve today...do it enthusiastically. “There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5 NLT Bro. Joe "Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven!
Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!" (Psalms 150:1-6 NLT) He is truly worthy of your praise today. When you think of all He has done...when you think of who He is...when you realize that he loves you with an unfailing love...you can't help but praise Him...thank Him...worship Him. Set your mind and heart on Him and see how it impacts your day. Praise the Lord! Bro. Joe “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” Mark 8:34-35 NLT
What does it take to follow Jesus? The bottom line is you need to give up your life. Let it go...give control of your life to Jesus. Jesus says that if we try to hang on to it...if we try to control it, we will lose it. We have to be willing to give it all away. How about it? Who has control of your life? Following Jesus means doing what Jesus says...living as Jesus guides you to live. “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” Luke 14:33 NLT Relinquish the ownership of your life to Jesus and you will find true freedom. “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” John 8:31-32 NLT Giving up your life in order to save it. It really does work. Bro. Jo "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)
Do you ever feel as though your faith seems so small that it really doesn't appear to make a difference in your life; that the circumstances of your life loom large and in charge; that fear and anxiety rule more often than peace? "The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!" (Luke 17:5-6 NLT) Don't allow the troubles of life to diminish your faith, use them to grow your faith. "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." (James 1:2-8 NLT) Walk in faith today. Bro. Joe “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14 NLT)
How do you know for certain that you have been chosen? God's word says many are called. It also says there will be those who think they have been chosen but really have not. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’"(Matthew 7:21-23 NLT) So, what makes the difference? Obedience makes the difference. It's one thing to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. It is another to place your trust in Christ and do what He says. Remember the words to the hymn written by John Sammis. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Refrain: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Are you one of the few? Bro. Joe “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9 NLT
We are created for relationships: a relationship with God the father that is made possible through Jesus Christ and relationships with one another. Peter gives us instructions on some do's and don't's of staying connected to one another with the right spirit. We should... ...be of one mind ...sympathize with each other ...love each other as brothers and sisters ...be tenderhearted ...keep a humble attitude ...not repay evil for evil ...not retaliate with insults when we have been insulted ...instead, pay them back with a blessing Our ability to maintain these relationships with one another hinges on maintaining a closeness in our relationship with God. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you...” James 4:8 NLT “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:3 NLT Bro. Joe “Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22 NLT
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” Matthew 6:14 NLT Forgiveness is wonderful to receive, but sometimes difficult to give. While there is a freedom that is experienced when one receives forgiveness, there is a greater freedom experienced by the one that forgives. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? You have the power to forgive them. Remember all that God has forgiven in your life. It's time. Today is the day to walk away from your captivity. Forgiveness and freedom go hand in hand. Be free...forgive. Bro. Jo “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Psalms 62:5 NLT
“Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.” Psalms 90:16 NLT We live in a day and time where waiting has become a lost art. We want things now not later. The ease in waiting quietly is all based on where you place your hope. If your hope is based on what the world offers, waiting is not easy. We live in a microwave society. We want things to happen immediately. However, if our hope is in the Lord, our expectations take on an eternal significance; there comes with that understanding an anticipation and knowledge that God is in control and always on time. His schedule and plan is worth the wait. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT God is at work, and to see His glory is worth the wait. Just wait and see. Bro. Joe “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21 NLT
As His child, God has a place in your heart. A place He calls home. “Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” John 14:23 NLT You are the very temple of God. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” I Corinthians 3:16 NKJV We are told to be certain not to allow anything into our lives that has the possibility of taking God's place in our heart. What could possibly do that? God's word tells us the things we treasure most will consume our heart. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV Treasure God's place in your heart. Guard your heart. Bro. Joe |
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