“...casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7
Have you ever said, “Don’t worry; I can handle it”? It’s an understandable response in a culture that seems to demand self-sufficiency and self-reliance.
Bills, a sick child, an irritable boss, a social function you don’t want to attend - all these can add stress to your day. As the tension rises, you lose the joy you know you should feel in your relationship with the Lord.
God doesn’t want you to live this way. When He says to cast all your anxiety upon Him, He is saying this: “I’ll take your heartaches. I’ll take your troubles and your torment. I want you to be liberated. I want to live My life in you.” No problem is too big for Him to manage, and no care is too trivial to concern Him.
In John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Jesus is taking care of all the details in your life, from ensuring your safety to providing you clothing and food. In response, God wants you to act as sheep do, depending completely on the shepherd’s supply and tender care.
Are you trusting Him in every circumstance, or do you try to work things out yourself first? (Matthew 6:33) Christ promises to meet every need.
Remember: Anxiety is a subtle thief - it steals the joy God intends for your life.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Renewing the Mind
“...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is...” Romans 12:2
In his letter to the Romans, Paul addresses believers from diverse backgrounds. Many had been involved in pagan cults. While they had accepted Christ as their Savior, they still fought intense battles within their minds.
Satan’s number one target is our minds. He wants us to think negatively, feel insecure, and run from where God has placed us.
Studies show morality and hope are at an all-time low in our age. But it should be just the opposite for believers. We have everything to live for, not because of who we are, but because of whom we contain - Jesus Christ.
The way you renew your mind is by committing yourself to thinking and viewing life from God’s perspective. More than likely, you will have to ask God to help you make this change. It may also mean cutting off Satan’s access to certain areas of your life. Run a check on all that you read, listen to, and watch on television.
Ask God to show you what needs to go. Anything that conflicts with His truth is Satan’s ploy to side track you. However, the real battle for the mind is fought in the will. God will renew your thinking, but you must be willing. Choose purity over evil - truth over a lie.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul addresses believers from diverse backgrounds. Many had been involved in pagan cults. While they had accepted Christ as their Savior, they still fought intense battles within their minds.
Satan’s number one target is our minds. He wants us to think negatively, feel insecure, and run from where God has placed us.
Studies show morality and hope are at an all-time low in our age. But it should be just the opposite for believers. We have everything to live for, not because of who we are, but because of whom we contain - Jesus Christ.
The way you renew your mind is by committing yourself to thinking and viewing life from God’s perspective. More than likely, you will have to ask God to help you make this change. It may also mean cutting off Satan’s access to certain areas of your life. Run a check on all that you read, listen to, and watch on television.
Ask God to show you what needs to go. Anything that conflicts with His truth is Satan’s ploy to side track you. However, the real battle for the mind is fought in the will. God will renew your thinking, but you must be willing. Choose purity over evil - truth over a lie.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations.”
- Psalm 100
May you and yours have a wonderful day, and may His grace and love be yours to share.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations.”
- Psalm 100
May you and yours have a wonderful day, and may His grace and love be yours to share.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Gift of God
“Even when we were dead in our transgressions, [God] made us alive together with Christ...” Eph 2:5
When Jesus called Levi to join the disciples, He gave him a new name, Matthew, which means “a gift of God.” Not only did Jesus save Matthew’s soul, He gave him a new beginning. He also opened a door of ministry to the former tax collector’s friends and peers.
Matthew immediately threw a gigantic party and invited “a great crowd of tax-gatherers and other people” Luke 5:29. The Pharisees were furious! How dare Jesus associate with such spiritually unclean people? But Jesus answered, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” Luke 5:31-32.
However, the icing on the cake was Matthew’s new name. Can you imagine the temple leaders’ frustration? Each time they saw Jesus and the disciples, “gift of God” was right up front with the rest of the group. Once Matthew was a sinner - but now he is a gift dedicated to God.
You too were once dead in your trespasses and sins, but now you are alive in Christ. And just like Matthew, you are a gift of God, a new creation.
Remember that Christ’s love is as strong for you as it was for Matthew.
When Jesus called Levi to join the disciples, He gave him a new name, Matthew, which means “a gift of God.” Not only did Jesus save Matthew’s soul, He gave him a new beginning. He also opened a door of ministry to the former tax collector’s friends and peers.
Matthew immediately threw a gigantic party and invited “a great crowd of tax-gatherers and other people” Luke 5:29. The Pharisees were furious! How dare Jesus associate with such spiritually unclean people? But Jesus answered, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” Luke 5:31-32.
However, the icing on the cake was Matthew’s new name. Can you imagine the temple leaders’ frustration? Each time they saw Jesus and the disciples, “gift of God” was right up front with the rest of the group. Once Matthew was a sinner - but now he is a gift dedicated to God.
You too were once dead in your trespasses and sins, but now you are alive in Christ. And just like Matthew, you are a gift of God, a new creation.
Remember that Christ’s love is as strong for you as it was for Matthew.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Keep Moving Forward
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” II Cor 4:16
In his biographical sketch of Abraham Lincoln, Willard Davis writes; “Lincoln had been elected president though not even appearing on the ballot in ten states!”
“Even before arriving in Washington, every mail delivery brought more death threats and ominous warnings. Close friends advised that he resign before taking the oath of office! A plot to assassinate the president elect had been uncovered forcing the last leg of his trip to Washington to be in the dead of night, without family, under heavy guard, and incognito....”
Lincoln refused to stop short of God’s plan. He wrote, “When I went to Gettysburg, and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.”
Don’t stop short of God’s plan for your life.
When temptation to quit comes, run to Him in prayer. Ask Him to encourage you as only He can. Then trust Him to lead you victoriously through the difficult times.
In his biographical sketch of Abraham Lincoln, Willard Davis writes; “Lincoln had been elected president though not even appearing on the ballot in ten states!”
“Even before arriving in Washington, every mail delivery brought more death threats and ominous warnings. Close friends advised that he resign before taking the oath of office! A plot to assassinate the president elect had been uncovered forcing the last leg of his trip to Washington to be in the dead of night, without family, under heavy guard, and incognito....”
Lincoln refused to stop short of God’s plan. He wrote, “When I went to Gettysburg, and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.”
Don’t stop short of God’s plan for your life.
When temptation to quit comes, run to Him in prayer. Ask Him to encourage you as only He can. Then trust Him to lead you victoriously through the difficult times.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Don’t Stop Short
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
A few years ago when the fires swept through the San Bernardino mountains, thirty two of our families lost their homes. It was a discouraging time to be sure and yet all seemed to have their eyes focused on what God would do.
In the days following the fire when the families were allowed to go through their homes to see if there was anything they could salvage, one of our families, Mike and Florene Foscolos, in the ashes of what used to be their home found part of a page of scripture. It was from the Bible Mike had received when he was saved. On this singed page was this verse, “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
God was faithful, today, they have a new home and life is moving forward.
God is good. Don’t ever let circumstances get you down - keep moving forward, don’t stop short of God’s plan for you.
A few years ago when the fires swept through the San Bernardino mountains, thirty two of our families lost their homes. It was a discouraging time to be sure and yet all seemed to have their eyes focused on what God would do.
In the days following the fire when the families were allowed to go through their homes to see if there was anything they could salvage, one of our families, Mike and Florene Foscolos, in the ashes of what used to be their home found part of a page of scripture. It was from the Bible Mike had received when he was saved. On this singed page was this verse, “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
God was faithful, today, they have a new home and life is moving forward.
God is good. Don’t ever let circumstances get you down - keep moving forward, don’t stop short of God’s plan for you.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Don’t Worry...Be Confident
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6
I’m thinking this may be a verse we should all memorize and hold on to in the years ahead. In the midst of everything we could worry about, here is a promise from God.
The promise is simple - when it comes to your life, whatever God has started, He will finish!!!
Believe me when I tell you, that nothing that is going on right now has taken God by surprise. The election, the economy, the world situation, nothing has taken God by surprise.
He is still on His throne and as the Apostle Paul says, “I am confident in this very thing...” (the fact that God loves you and has saved you in His sovereign grace), “that He who began a good work in you,” will - not maybe or most likely, “will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Remember, one plus God is a majority. I have read the last page, we win!!! Now go out and have a great week in Christ.
I’m thinking this may be a verse we should all memorize and hold on to in the years ahead. In the midst of everything we could worry about, here is a promise from God.
The promise is simple - when it comes to your life, whatever God has started, He will finish!!!
Believe me when I tell you, that nothing that is going on right now has taken God by surprise. The election, the economy, the world situation, nothing has taken God by surprise.
He is still on His throne and as the Apostle Paul says, “I am confident in this very thing...” (the fact that God loves you and has saved you in His sovereign grace), “that He who began a good work in you,” will - not maybe or most likely, “will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Remember, one plus God is a majority. I have read the last page, we win!!! Now go out and have a great week in Christ.
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