Word of God #18

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... THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE. Luke 17:19

We become so engrossed with what we see, feel and hear, that we operate within our natural
senses rather than our spiritual ones.

Through your faith, God is protecting you by his power (1 Peter 1:5 NLT)

.

Your faith is what activates the power of God. Before a stone becomes a diamond it is just
carbon put under millions of pounds of pressure. The Bible says,

These trials will show that your faith is genuine (V.7 NLT).

Trouble not only places a demand on your faith, but reveals the depth of it. You do not really
know much about your faith when your bills are paid, your body is healthy, your children are
acting right and your marriage is intact. But when all hell is breaking loose and you trust God
to bring you through it, you know you have got faith.


Sometimes we think we are doing better spiritually than we are. But often the enemy has not
ceased to attack, he is just moved from doing it in the natural realm to doing it in the spiritual
realm. He is attacking your mind, your rest, your peace, your emotions and your thought life.
So what can you do? Lift up the shield of faith and stop the flaming arrow. Take ... the sword
of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and use it to drive him back (Ephesian 6:17 NKJV). Put
your faith to work. Say, Enough is enough, and begin to take back what the enemy has taken
from you. Peace...

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... For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to
God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18, NIV).

... what someone has called the greatest verse of the Old Testament. It will only have
meaning for you, however, if you have personalised it by faith. Can you say,

He was wounded for my transgressions ...bruised for my iniquities?

If you have not yet done so, receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life now.

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CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU ... 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV.

Jesus said,

Do not worry, saying ,

What shall we eat?

or

What shall we drink?

or

What shall we wear?

For [non-believers] run after these things (Mathew 6:31-32 NIV).

The other day I was worrying about something when I heard a minister say,

Worry is lack of trust in God

.

So then I began to worry over the fact that I was worrying. Then some one
else said

Just do not worry about it.

.

Sounds simple enough, but I come from a long line of people who speak faith,
but act out of fear. Then a friend came up with this novel idea:

Why don't you try this worry coupon. It entitles you to worry as much
as you like, but only but only if :

a) it will feed and clothe you;
b) it will add to your life instead of taking
from it;
c) it will make tomorrow better;
d) you do not mind acting like a non-believer!

Then he said,

"If that does not work make a list of all the things you are worrying about, place
it in a box and put it on a shelf where you cannot see it. If God is either unwilling
or unable to take care of it, you can always go and get the box and start worrying
again, but at least give Him a chance. And while you are waiting for Him to answer,
pray stand on His Word and do not give your worries a voice."

" The Amplified Bible says,

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your
concerns, once and for all on Him for He cares for you.

Don't Worry About It

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 LET US GO ... AND BECOME MATURE ... Hebrews 6:1 TLB


Spiritually, some of us have not grown up ...

You ... ought to be teaching others, but instead you ... need someone to teach you ...
until you become ... mature ... (Hebrews 5:12-6:1 TLB)

.

Just as there are signs of physical growth, there are hallmarks of spiritual maturity like the ones
mentioned in 1 Peter 3:8-12 (AMP):

1) Be ...united in spirit.

Now unity is not the same as uniformity where everybody has to think alike or even unanimity
where to have to agree about everything. Unity is focusing on what unites us, instead of the
petty issues that divide us.


2) Sympathising with one another.

The Greek interpretation of the word sympathy is to feel for others. When [they are] happy,
be happy with them ... when they are sad, be sad (Romans 12:15 CEV).

When you become more conerned about others than you are about yourself, you are starting
to mature.

3) Loving each other.

We all need friends to love and support us.

4) Be compassionate.

In a high-tech age it is easy to tune out those in need. When Jesus saw people ...

He felt compassion ... because they were distressed and dispirited ... (Mathew 9:36 NAS.

Hurting people touched His heart, and they should touch ours too.

5) Be ...humble

Look for opportunities to give ... to build up rather than tearing down, to serve rather than being
served, to learn from others rather than clamouring for the teaching stand.

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GOD IS SPIRIT, AND THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT ... John 4:24 NKJV

Someone has said that we are not human beings trying to have a spiritual experience but spiritual beings trying to have a human experience. The life force within you came from God, Who is Spirit. So in the act of worship, it is like going back to your beginnings and reconnecting with Him.

The story is told of a little boy sitting beside the crib/cot of his new born baby sister. He whispers to her,

Tell me what God is like, for I have forgotten.

Jesus said,

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit

In a sense, heartfelt worship takes you into the God zone! David the Psalmist lived there.

Seven times a day I do praise [you]... (Psalm 119:164).

From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised (Psalm 113:3 NKJV).

As the deer pants for ther water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God (Psalm 472:1 NKJV)

In the stream of God's presence our deepest thirst is quenched, our wounds are healed, our strength is renewed, and we are placed beyond the reach of the enemy.

You will never be satisfied just to know about God. Really knowing God comes only through experience and He reveals Himself to you.

And that is what happens when you spend time in the worship zone.

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... WHICH ALWAYS CAUSETH US TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST ... 2 Corinthians 2:14

Jesus said,

... Here on earth you will have many trials ... (John 16:33 NLT).

Having problem doesn't mean you are fake, a failure or the focus of God's displeasure. The storm tested both the
believer's and the unbeliever's house (Mathew 7:24-27). But the believer overcame it. So what is God's goal? To
make you an over-comer, not an escape artist!

Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.


Yes, God will deliver you but first He will develop you. There are problems you cannot avoid and must deal with, such as:

Your physical heredity. In a society obsessed with looks, are you unhappy with yours? Feel too tall, too short, unattractive, not athletic; you are apple-shaped, pear-shaped, your nose is all wrong? Got freckles, double chin, protruding ears? Tried to darken it, lighten it, accentuate it, hide it, reduce it, enlarge it, but it never looks the way you wish? Beware of our culture's carnal norm ... They measure themselves with one another and compare themselves with one another ... without understanding
(2 Corinthians 10:12 RSV).

The Bible points out that

sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator ... saying Stop, you are doing it wrong (Isaiah 45:9 NLT

.


Look your best, but accept what you cannot change. God does not make mistakes. Do not be like those without understanding. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (Samuel 16:7 NLT).


Adopt God's standard, not man's. Start appreciating yourself.

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THE LORD CALLED TO THE MAN, "WHERE ARE YOU?" Genesis 3:9 NIV


The first recorded question God ever asked was,

[Adam] ... Where are you?

And it is a question you need to stop and ask yourself today: Where am I - really? If you do not the
answer, or you do but do not like it, then today's devotions is for you. When God asked Adam,

Where are you?

he responded by saying

I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid (v.10 NIV).

It is amazing the lengths we will go in order to hide. We will bury ourselves in work or get ourselves in an
affair or build a wall around our hearts - anything but face the truth. God was not, trying to find Adam; He
just wanted Adam, to find himself. Until you do that , you are truly lost. And the problem is, when you hide
you become a phoney. Have you any idea how much emotional energy it requires to keep up a charade for
others? Only two things are worse: being a phoney with yourself and being a phoney with God.
Furthermore, you will find it difficult to be honest with others or look them in the eye. Why? Because you will
be afraid they might look into your heart and see the real you. Is that where you are today? Afraid to look
into your own heart? The good news is, Adam was naked but God clothed him; he was guilty but God cleansed
him; he was anxious but God comforted him. And if you come to Him today God will cleanse you, clothe you
and comfort you. He is just waiting for the opportunity to do it!

Stop Hiding!

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BUT THEY ALL ... BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES ... Luke 14:18 NKJV

Let's look at some excuses we offer for not pursuing a dream God has given us:

First, Dreams do not come true for ordinary people like me.

The Wright brothers wanted to fly. Winston Churchill envisioned a free Europe. Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr.
dreamed of racial equality. But you do not have to be a world figure to have a dream. No, the pursuit of a
dream is what makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary people. Ordinary people live
extraordinary lives when they follow their dream. Why do we say that? Because a God-given dream will
motivate you to make important changes in your life. You won't just change who you are in order to live
out your dream; you pursue your dream, and the process changes who you are and what you can
accomplish. In other words, your dream is both your goal and your change-agent.

Second - If the dream is not big it is not worth pursuing.

Size does not determine significance. Your dream does not have to be big; it just has to be bigger than
you. Mother Teresa said,

We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.

Third - Now is not the right time to pursue my dream.

Permission to pursue your dream comes from two sources: God and yourself.

It is never too late to become what you might have been

The timing will never be perfect for you to pursue your dream so you might as well start now,
If you don't, next year you will be one year older and not a step closer to it.

What's Your Excuse?

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Sometimes you have to overcome your family environment.

None of us come from an ideal family. We all experience things like rejection; physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse; poverty; rage; drug addition; divorce; etc. Years later we still struggle with things like low self-worth, marital failure, loneliness, depression, addiction, anxiety, anger control and dysfunctional parenting. But having a bad start does not mean you cannot have a great finish; Your life today is more than what happened yesterday; it is about what you do what you do with what happened yesterday.

Consider Jephthah's background. he was born to a prostitute, kicked out of the house by his brothers, robbed of his rightful inheritance, disappointed in religious leader, a refugee and a rebel living in a cave (Judges 11).

But unbowed, he defied defeat, trained a motley militia of rejects, delivered Israel from their enemies, and made it into the hall of fame with Abraham, Moses and David (Hebrews 11).

How did he do it?

He start where he was, he took what he had, and he did what could. By faith he seized his God-given opportunity. You are more than the product of your environment. Whatever happened back then, you are now;

..a new person. The old life is gone! a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).

Live in the new and renounce the old! ...

You have already won a big victory ... for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything
in the world (your environment) ... 4 John 4:4 TM).

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... LOVE ... KEEPS GOING TO THE END. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 TM

When John and Rita went for the marriage counselling the therapist asked Rita,

What first attracted you to John?

She replied, His strong, silent temperament. The counsellor continued,

So why do you want a divorce?

Alice answered,

His strong, silent temperament!

Sometimes what drew us together ends up a major irritant. In every relationship there are times when it seems it would be easier to quit than to hang in. But short of physical and emotional abuse, there are advantages to working through your issues. For example, there are:

1) Emotional benefits. Contrary to what Hollywood's culture would have us believe, divorced people are more likely to feel depressed due to loneliness. In fact, many say although there are disagreements in the relationship, they miss having somebody to come home to.

2) Health benefits. Emotional stress leads to physical problems, and being in a relationship, especially a good marriage, can be beneficial for your health. It is like having your own nurse or therapist.

3) Community benefits. What your children see influences their future choices. Staying in your marriage teaches them how to work through relationship challenges. Couples with strong marriages are helping to build a nation of loving, responsible parents who can guide their children into the right track.

Love ... keeps going to the end

When [my wife and I] got married we agreed it was for life ... Weeks before our wedding we made a pact to wok out whatever problems came our way ... Yes, we fight. We accuse . We toss bards ... but
we won't be moving out or filing papers ... whatever happens we are staying.

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 ... THEY SPEAK A VISION OF THEIR OWN HEART, NOT FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD. Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV

Many people have been sold a bill of goods when it comes to dreams. The saying,

If you believe it, you can achieve it,

is simply not true. Just about every child dreams of being able to fly like a bird but it is not going to happen, no matter how much they imagine it. Ever watch a Pop idol with some of the contestants are clueless when it comes
to their ability. They sing off key, they screech, the bellow and they howl. And when they are they are told they
are not good enough by the judges, these wannabe stars throw tantrums and say,

That's just your opinion. I'm great.

We all need a reality check. Faith is not a fantasy. It's not mind over matter. It's not having a lottery mindset. People who think this way believe that if they somehow show up at the right place at the right time and make the right connections, then presto, their fantasy will come true! Would it not be nice if it were that easy? But it is not.

Shallow men believe in luck ... strong men believe in cause and effect.

When God gives you a dream you need faith to keep it to bring it to pass. So the question you need to ask yourself is,

Is my dream from God?

When it is you will have the necessary gifts and talents to fulfil it. And what you lack, God will provide in additional relationships and resources. The trouble with chasing fantasy is, while you are doing it you are nmot fulfilling the dream God has given you for your life.


Faith and Fantasy

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LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK ... James 1:4


Have you been asking God,

Why do I have to wait so long?

If so, here are four important things you need to know:

1) Waiting trains you. Time spent waiting can be time spent learning. And if you are learning you are not losing.
God will train you for battle because He is a good general.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle
(Paul 144:1 NIV).

2) Waiting corrects you. The Psalmist wrote:

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word (Psalm 119:67 NKJV)..

Pain can be profitable. Adversity can lead to spiritual advancement if you are willing to glean from it. Pain forces you to look to God for answers, to lean on Him instead of others, to learn where you went astray, to hunger for his presence and His healing touch, to listen for His instructions and be sensitive to the changes He wants to bring about in your life. Yes, you can turn your pain into progress.

3) Waiting reveals those around you. Motives are not easily discerned. Trust God but test people. That is scriptural.

the Lord your God led you ... forty years, to humble you to test you in order to know what was in your heart (Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV).

People can keep their intentions and motives covered for a long time, but waiting generally forces the truth to the surface.

4) Waiting gives God the time to solve the problem. He is a miracle-working God, so do not get ahead of Him and rob Him of the opportunity to demonstrate His power in your life.


The Importance of Waiting

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DO NOT DESPISE THESE SMALL BEGINNINGS, FOR THE LORD REJOICES TO SEE THE WORK BEGIN...
Zechariah 4:10 NLT

Have you learned about the butterfly effect? in physics, it describes how tiny changes in initial
conditions (Such as the flap of a butterfly's wings) can affect weather thousands of miles
away. Imagine, - a fragile butterfly can alter weather patterns on another country! Had it not
flapped its wings, the trajectory of the weather system might have been vastly different. What
can you learn from this? You may feel insignificant at times, as fragile as the butterfly. It may
seem that you are just flapping your wings when you are standing alone for truth and honesty
in the workplace or the home. You say,

What can I do in the face of a problem this big?

More than you think! Your faith, your words, your deeds, your prayers, your example, your kindness
and persistence can release the power of God and activate the forces of heaven to go to work in
that situation. God love to use things that we consider to be insignificant, like Moses rod which parted
the Red Sea, or David's slingshot that brought down a giant, or a boy's lunch that fed a multitude.
Your flapping wings can initiate changes that will influence lives around you for all eternity. Jesus said

If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there,
and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you (Mathew 17:20 NKJV).

It is not about the size of the seed you sow, but about the God who can make it grow. It is not about
the prayer you pray but about the greatness of One Who answers pray.

The Butterfly Effect

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NOW A CERTAIN MAN WAS SICK, LAZARUS OFM BETHANY ... John 11:1 NKJV


From the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, we learn certain lessons.

The first lesson is about reason.

You cannot have radical faith until you have exhausted all reasonable solutions. Mary and Martha did not
send for Jesus until they had done everything they themselves could do for Lazarus. Be reasonable; if you
can do it yourself, God would not do it for you. For example, unless you are willing to change your diet and
start eating right, how can you go to God with confidence for healing? Unless you are willing to put the needs
of your spouse above your own, what is the point in praying for a happy marriage? James writes,

... Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:18 NKJV).

The second lesson is about relationship.

Some folks only turn to to God when they have a crisis. Prayer is a foreign concept to them until they have
a car crash, or their marriage falls apart, or they lose their job. Then, incredibly, they say,

God, why did you let this happen?

It is hard to go to someone when you are in trouble, if you have spent no time building a relationship with
them. Jesus often spend time at the home of Mary and Martha, eating at their table. They were givers, not
takers.

It was Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose
brother Lazarus was sick (John 11:2 NKJV).

When you love the Lord to that extent you can go to Him in faith knowing your needs will be met.

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... OUTWARDLY ... WASTING AWAY ... INWARDLY ... BEING RENEWED ... 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

You know you are getting older when: your knees buckle and your belt does not; you argue
about what denture adhesive is best; you sit in a rocking chair and cannot make it go; by the
by the time you have lit the last candle on your birthday cake the first one has burned out,
you no longer think getting older jokes are funny. Getting older is not for the faint-of-heart,
so the Bible gives glimpses of what it entails.

Isaac 's eyesight gives out (Genesis 27:1). David was always cold (1 Kings 1:1-4). Paul referred
to himself as Paul, the aged (Philemon v. 9 NAS) and talked about the physical and emotional
pains of old age - of feeling abandoned and lonely, being disappointed by fellow workers, and
saying goodbye to friends he might never see again (2 Timothy 4:9-21).

A colleague writes:

On my most recent birthday my sister sent me this message:

The bad news outwardly we are wasting away.

. Did I mention this to my older sister, as I like to remind her she will always be my older sister!) Then she added . The good news:

We do not lose heart ... even though outwardly we are wasting away... the inward man is being renewed everday.

If you have creaky joints, arthritic hands, weakened yes, a slow step, an ear that struggles to hear,
a heart that beats to the sound of a cholesterol drummer, be encouraged! God is preparing a ...
celebration for the day you arrive in heaven, where you will no longer age because you will be in the
land of the ageless.

Getting Older

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... YOU ARE MY FOLLOWERS IF YOU LOVE EACH OTHER. JOHN 13:35 NCV


A respected Bible teacher says:

If there is anything that would keep me away from Christ if I was lost ... it would be the
the attitude of Christians towards one another ... When I was a child and an argument broke out ...
my mother used to say, We may have few differences inside these walls but remember, we
are a family. If your bother or sister needs you ... take care of them ... love them ... and
support them.

Everything we need to know ... can be found in these two verses,

Do nothing from selfishness, or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you
regard one another as more important than himself...look out for the interest of others (Philippians 2:3-4 NAS)

.

In other words, think about the other person ... Do not be selfish. Sounds like something a teacher
might say to a roomful ofchildren .. yet how many adults problems could be solved if that was the driving
force in our relationship? ... How many couples could reconcile their marital differences?

Jesus said

People will know ... you are my followers if you love each other.

In the hours before He died He was praying for us ... to become one heart and mind ... (John 17:21 TM)

Love Each Other - It's That Simple!

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Jesus said,

Ask, and it will be given to you ... (Mathew 7:7 NKJV)

.

But that promise is qualified by this condition: What you are asking for must be in harmony with God's
will (1 John 5:14). When you sign a legal contract you cannot afford to overlook the fine print. As
someone with a dream you cannot afford to overlook reality. If you do, reality will stop you cold in your
tracks. When God gives you a dream, he gives you all that is needed to fulfill it. The more unrealistic your
dream, the more you will be tempted to depend on things you cannot control. You must balance boldness
or dreaming with reality of your situation.

Yes, you do need to reach far beyond what you think you are capable of, but at the same time base what
you do on your own strengths and other factors within your control. The more concern you become with
things you cannot control, the less you will do to improve the things you can control. And when you do that,
you start living in a fantasy world. When God gives you a dream it will play to your strengths.

We spend most of our twenties discovering all the hundreds of things we can be. |But as we
mature into our thirties, we begin to discover all the things we will never be. The challenge
for us is to reach our forties and beyond and put it all together - to know our capabilities and
recognise our limitations - and become the best we can be.

Peace...


,

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Jesus said:

As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own
will but the will of the Father who sent me.

Jesus neither considered or consulted His own will in the matter. Instead he focused like a laser
on one thing-doing the will of God, no more less. Note the words, As I hear. When you have
heard from God the discussion is over; it is time to act. God's not going to change His mind, so
you need to start changing yours and get with the programme.

When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, you give up three basic rights:

a) What it will cost you;

b) Where will it take you;

c) The extent to which it will change you.

In order to enjoy a relationship with Jesus similar to the one he had with His Father, that is the
price tag!

You say,

That sounds very demanding.

Yes, but it is very protective ... When God told His people to do something, He also told them why:

that is might go well with you (Deuteronomy 5:33, 6:3, 12:28)

God is not trying to cramp your style, make your life hard or put you in a straight-jacket. he is a
Father who wants only the best for His children. It is not what every good parent wants? So when
you walk in obedience, God's best is what you will get.

Walking in Obedience.

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Few things can discourage you like children who do not follow in your path. As Christian
parents we long to see our children serve God. If you have prayed, lived your faith
before them as best you could and yet they choose another path, your heartache can be
deep. But others have travelled the path before you.

Isaac saw his son Jacob surrender to God, while his other son Esau rejected Him. Aaron,
the high priest, had two sons who offered strange fire on God's altar. Manoah lived
through the suicide of his son, Samson. Even the prophet Samuel's son

... did not take after him; they were out for what they could get for themselves,
taking bribes, corrupting justice (1 Samuel 8: 2-3 TM).

You are not alone in your concern for your children, and it is too early for guilt, or giving
up on them. Remember - First:

God alone can save. Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9)


Do not try to take on God's responsibility or accept guilt that is not yours. Because He
knows our hearts, God knows how and when to close a deal with your child. So instead
of worrying, keep lifting up their names before Him in prayer.

Second: Let God shoulder the load. Your part is to pray and believe God for them, then
get out from under the burden. He can carry it; you cannot (1 Peter 5:7)

Third: If they are alive, there is hope. (Jeremiah 31:17)

God can arrange circumstances and turn their stubborn hearts around, if you would only trust
Him.

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AND HE ... SAID, BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW ... Revelation 21:5


The Bible's story is one of change from Genesis, the book of beginnings, to Revelation, where
God says,

Behold, I make all things new.

Whatever your situation today. change is possible through Him. However often you have repented,
confessed and tried changing. God can change what you cannot - and make it last. But change
requires understanding certain principles. Let's look at them:

1) You do not need to change others in order to change your life.

I'd be happier if he'd stop ... Things would not improve for me till she ...

Such beliefs make you focus on the problem and not the solution, ignore realistic options and feed
depression.

Make a careful exploration of who you are ... take responsibility for ... your own life
(Galatians 6:4-5 TM).

Instead of trying to change others, which only produce resistance and resentment, let God show
you what you need to do differently to improve your handling of the problem. When you stop
doing what does not work and change your reaction to the problem, others often change
spontaneously.

2) True change begins by addressing your relationship with God.

Bitterness and frustration over problems just result in distancing from God, leaving you to handle
the issue, fear, dishonesty, etc. characteristics of poor change management.

Let's take a good look at the way we are living and re-order our lives under God
(Lamentations 3:40 TM).

With our lives under God,

we are more honest, self-aware, able to perceive realistically; we are respectful, and prepared to
become God's change agent.

Change Can Happen for You

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CONSIDER IT ALL JOY ... WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS. James 1:2 NAS

James writes:

Consider it all joy ... when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing
of your faith produces endurance... that you may be perfect and complete ( vv. 2-4 NAS)

Peter writes:

... do not be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if it is something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12 NLT)

.

Trials are the common thread that unites us. When you get through with one. chances are
that there is another coming up the road. That is why James did not say if but when you
encounter ... trials.

Observe:

1) Trials come in various categories. They are physical, emotional, financial, and relational;
it is not one-size-its-all deal. Some are shocking, like an unexpected loss of a loved one; others
are more drawn out, like an acrimonious divorce or a prolonged illness. Some play out in public
while others take place in your own private hell. Some are due to your own, or other people's
mistakes; others have nothing whatsoever to do with human shortcomings.

2) Trials test our faith.They bring us back to basics and remind us where our priorities should lie.

During ... intense trials I go back to what ... I really believe ... elementals such as prayers and
dependence ... getting quiet and waiting on God. Trials .. force us back to the bedrock of faith
upon which our foundation rests, and this becomes a refining and necessary process.

3) Trails mature us. When we are suffering there is a tendency to try to look for the quick way out. Do not
do that. Trials are designed to make us complete. By letting them do their work, you end up stronger.

Trials

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Peter writes: Never return ... insult for insult ... (1 Peter 3:9 AMP).

When you are under fire, instead of defending yourself with caustic comments and clever comebacks
designed to put the other person in his place, pray

for their welfare, happiness, and protection ... that you may ... inherit a blessing from God
(v.9 AMP).

Keep your tongue ... from evil (v.10 AMP).

Some people never learn this lesson. There is an old English headstone that reads:

Beneath this sod, this lump of clay, lies Arabella Young; who on the 24th May began
to hold her tongue.

During the French Revolution the king and queen were beheaded leaving the crown prince
orphaned. There was talk about beheading him too until somebody said,

If you kill him you will send his soul to heaven. Instead, turn him over to Old Meg and she
will teach him vile, filthy words so his soul will be damned forever!

However, when they turned the prince over to this woman of the streets who tried to get him to repeat
all kinds of profanity, he refused, saying,

I was born to be king and I will not say it!

Bottom line, when you are a child of the King your words would reflect it.

Seek peace (V.11 NKJV).

It takes courage to be a peacemaker. Everywhere you look people are angry about the economy, health care,
unemployment and just about anything else you can think of. Being a peacemaker is not the same as being a
peacekeeper. Peacekeepers look for ways to keep the peace by maintaining a delicate balance between both
sides. Peacemakers plough into the middle of the conflict and help them make peace with each other.
Peace

[letric]

... MOSES ... BECAME SO TIRED ... AARON AND HUR ... STOOD ON EACH SIDE ... HOLDING UP HIS HANDS ...
Exodus 17: 11-12 NLT

We like to think of ourselves as self-sufficient, but it is wise to know when you need help. When
Israel was fighting the Amalekites, as long as Moses held up his staff the Israelites prevailed.
But when he lowered it the enemy gained the advantage. But like the most of us, Moses was
human and his

arms ... became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a
stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side ... holding up his hands.

God not only gave Israel the victory that day, He showed Moses there are times when we all need
help.

I remember a time when I was deeply discouraged ... I questioned whether I was the right
person ... a colleague sensed my despair ... took me out for tea and listened to my concerns.
He took time to [remind me] of all the ways God was using my leadership ... He helped me
gain the perspective I'd lost. By the end of our time together, I felt encouraged, ready to
continue ... I will always be thankful for trhe way he held up my hands.

Most of us find it easier to give help than to receive it. Sometimes accepting help means giving up
your role as the martyr or victim, tearing down wall of independence you have spent years building
and letting other people be there for you. If that sounds like you, pray this prayer:

Lord, You know I tend to rely on myself. Help me to accept the gift You have given me in
the people who want to support and encourage me.


Recognise When You Need Help

[letric]

PAUL, A BOND-SERVANT OF CHRIST JESUS ... Roman 1:1 NAS


When Paul called himself a bond servant of Christ he was referring to an Old Testament
law under which you serve your master faithfully for six years. However, in the seventh year
the law said that you had to be set free. But if you turned back when you were released and
said

Master, I am not serving you because I have to but because I want to,

then your master took you before a judge and pierced your ear, signifying that you belonged
to him forever; that you were committed to listening to him and obeying him (Exodus 21:6)

Today pray,

Lord, I am not serving You because I have to but because I want to. Pierce my ear,
mark me as Yours, bond me together with You so that I can never belong to
another.

When ministry loses its passion it becomes an empty profession. The very word minister is a
verb, not just a noun. It is what you do, not what you claim to be. The word servant also
referred to a third-level galley slave chained to an oar on a Roman ship. Day and night you rowed
to the drumbeat of the ship's master, whether you were in battle or in merchant service. And you
expected to die chained to that oar. What a picture! It is what Paul had in mind when he wrote

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Roman 12:1).

When you think of what Christ has done for you; is it too much to ask?


You're Called to Be a Servant

[letric]

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST UPON HIM, THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM ... Isaiah 11:2 NKJV

During His earthly ministry Jesus needed the Spirit of wisdom when it came to making
decisions and dealing with the enemy. As believers, that same Spirit lives in us. James 3:15 NKJV
says there are three kinds of wisdom:

Earthly wisdom, which is not always dependable because

Sometimes what seems right is really a road to death (Proverbs 16:25 CEV)

Sensual wisdom, which is based on emotions that can lead to confusion, hurt and jealousy.

Demonic wisdom, which is lustful selfish, and ungodly. Godly wisdom, which ...[comes] from above
is ... pure, the peaceful, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, and good fruits, witrhout partiality and ...
hypocrisy (James 3:17NKJV).

The Bible says,

[When] you need wisdom, ask ... God and he will give it to you ... (James 1:5 NLT)


And when you are praying, ask yourself these questions:

a) Are my motives pure or will I be ashamed of them later on?
b) Will my decision result in mercy and compassion or strife and stress?
c) Have I considered all the people who will be affected by the outcome?
d) Am I willing to submit to what God wants or am I determined to plough
on regardless?
e) Will the end result cause me to have a harsh attitude or will it produce an
environment where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control can grow? Galatians 5:22-23)
f) Is it fair and impartial or does it favour a particular person or group?
g) Can I in good conscience pursue this particular course of action or does it
involve some level of deceit and selfishness?


The Spirit of Wisdom