Breaking Through

God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. 2 Samuel 22:33(KJV) 

To get beyond a problem in your life you have to press on to other things and not dwell on the bad stuff. Consciously make your thoughts focus "above", staying positive and thinking about how much God loves you. I had to do this as a very special friend shut me out of her life. I wanted to dwell on it and try to fix things but realized that was beyond my ability. Only God could set things straight. Sometimes those bad things help us "break through" to better things that lie beyond the hurt and the pain.  

God alone is your strength. He gives you the power and ability to get through every day no matter how tough it may seem. Our enemy Satan, is the character who wants people to continually dwell on hurts, rejection, and pain. God can and does set us free from all the junk swirling around us and provides hope for a brighter tomorrow. You only need to let Him into your life. 

PRAYER: You have great things in store for me Lord and I choose to think about your mighty power and wonders instead of letting issues in life get me down. I choose to look to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES

 

"I can't stand so and so". Has it ever shocked you to hear someone say this that maybe was in Bible study with you or a prayer group? Maybe it was you who uttered those words. Well sure we are not perfect but if we say we love Jesus we are not to be "willy nilly" going around hating people. I admit it is hard when someone has done something intentionally to hurt you.

Do you have enemies or people you just don't like? Did you know if you claim to love Jesus you are to not hate people even if they have done wrong or hurt you? You are to pray for them. This includes impossible bosses and co workers too by the way. 1 John 4:20(NIV) says ''If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.' Pretty straightforward wouldn't you say?

If you are having trouble loving evil people or those who hurt you, just try to pray for them instead. Keep praying and pray some more. Proverbs 24:17-18(NIV) is a great verse for those of us upset with many of the US elected officials who do not listen to the people and it says 'Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.' What to do then? Pray, God will take care of those hurting us on His own time table. Live your life in an attitude of prayer.
Keep shining the love of Jesus down on all those around you and make believe Jesus is right there beside you, because He is. 

PRAYER: Lord I choose this day to love like you love and to love when I would rather show hate. It glorifies you when I show love to my enemies. Help me today to shine your light for the world to see. In Jesus' name. Amen.

HIDDEN HURTS

As I sat in church one Sunday watching folks go to the altar for
prayer it struck me how so many people are walking around with hurts
and issues that we will never know about. The ache or wound is hidden
deep inside them. At times you can not tell this by looking at their
faces as some are rather good at concealing what they are going
through.

It may be easy to judge people who we think look or seem different

but then too we do not know their story and we are not to
be the judge. Many people outwardly react to things in different

ways. Judging someones appearance, heart, or actions is not right.

Who made us the judge anyway?

Pain sometimes is hidden deep inside and may even need a professional
Christian counselor to draw out.

I think of the street corner scenario or end of exit ramp where
typically, in most cities, there is someone with a sign that reads
'Will work for food' or something to that affect. Many feel these
people are all scamming us collecting tax free money and taking in
more than an ordinary person would make. If you feel led to give to
someone, that is their problem if they have lied and deceived you.They
will answer to God and your heart was right. Maybe some of them are
legitimate. Only God knows.

How about the young woman selling her body for prostitution. What
awful kind of life would lead a person to do this? We need to be in
prayer for these people and the business owners who misuse them. Maybe
the Hollywood celebrity that is in and out of court for drugs or DUI.
Instead of feeding your mind on it by indulging in gossip magazines,
have you ever considered praying for these people instead? When you
pray for someone you are much less likely to be judging and condemning
them.

Let me leave you with a couple verses from Matthew 22:26-40(NIV) which
says 'Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus
replied, love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the Second is like it, Love your neighbor as
yourself. All the Law and The Prophets hang on these two
commandments.'

PRAYER: Lord today I choose to pray instead of judge and condemn. All
people are deserving of love. Many wounded are wandering around
without hope. You Lord give that hope. Use me Lord to bring hope to a
hurting person. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a worshipful song:
http://youtu.be/jM8RN8RbZhE

LESS SAID THE BETTER

Have you ever heard the phrase 'the less said the better?' Many times
that is so very true. Also the phrase 'leave well enough alone' or
'don't add fuel to the fire' ? Very wise advice. The last few days we
have been dealing with words that wound or words that build up, or

spoken on impulse. Thinking before speaking is a very important thing

to do.

Words should build up not tear into someone. If you claim to be a
believer then it is critical you learn to gain control of the tongue.
Take a moment and review James chapter 3. In Matthew 12:36-37(NKJV) we
are warned about what happens if we say bad things. It says 'But I
tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give
an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you
will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.'

Do you have a problem with careless words? Don't you feel your speech
should bring glory to the Lord? The mouth can be deadly or it can be
life giving. It is how you choose to use it. Granted none of us are
perfect but if we strive to be holy in all areas of life and live like

Jesus then we need to get a grip on this.

'But what if someone says something ugly to me' you might proclaim.
That still gives you no right to be harsh back. Remember the verse

found in Romans 12:17(NIV) which says 'do not repay evil for evil. Be

careful to do right in the eyes of everybody.' If you are angry try
to make peace. There is a verse found in Ephesians 4:26( NLT) which

says 'And don’t sin by letting anger control you.Don’t let the sun go

down while you are still angry.'

'But wait' you might say. 'The person really hurt me so I feel I have

the right to get back.' So what, in fact ,would Jesus do? I think you
know the answer.

Your mission, and I hope you accept it wholeheartedly, is to seek to
only let kind, pure, edifying words come forth from your mouth. Stay
in the word of God and it makes it a bit easier.

PRAYER: Thank you for loving me Lord and for forgiving me when I say
things I should not. I choose to be holy in all areas of my life but I
need your help to do it. Thanks for putting loving friends and family
in my life. Help me be careful to never hurt them with words. In
Jesus' name. Amen.

DETOURS,DEAD ENDS, U TURNS, OBSTACLES AHEAD

 In life at times we face setbacks. Perhaps things are going well then
out of nowhere something happens to change everything. Maybe it is
being laid off, a job loss, an illness, or some tragedy. Regardless
there are things sometime in life that may seem initially bad and
disruptive on the surface but God can use all things for His purposes.

Life may throw you a series of tests and trials. It is through these
harder times that we grow the most if we do not cave in to the enemy
and allow him to make you overwhelmed and defeated. Even in death
there can be purposes achieved although we never want to tell someone
who is grieving that God can use this.

James 1:2-3(NIV) says 'Consider it all joy my brother, whenever you
face trials of many kinds for you know the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.' Often when traveling and encountering a
detour sign your initial reaction may be something like 'Just great.
Now I am going to be late!' That sign in fact is out there to warn
you and to guide you, to perhaps make you slow down. There is a reason
even though it may not seem so at the time. A barrier on a road under
construction may keep you from an unnecessary road hazard and thus a
possible accident.

The next time some apparent "test" comes into your life ask God what
He wants you to learn from it. He initially is equipping us to be
stronger for his heavenly kingdom. I think back on my military
training and even though we were yelled at, made to march a good deal,
and endure things like gas chambers, jumping walls, swinging on ropes
and a host of other things, it was to help shape us for our duties
ahead. It had a reason.

What are you facing today? Can you trust God to see you through it? I
will leave you with a final verse of hope found in Deuteronomy
31:6(NIV) which says 'Be strong and courageous, be not afraid or
terrified because of them for the Lord your God goes with you, he will
never leave you nor forsake you.'

PRAYER: Lord Jesus thank you for getting me through the rough road
bumps that occasionally happen in life. I know you can work through
all situations to bring good. Help me stay focus on you and not my
problems. In Jesus' name. Amen.

GET THEM BACK!! NOT!!

Has anyone ever hurt you so bad that it is all you can do humanly to
not keep the battle going? First of all we have to realize we can not
control people or their emotions or reactions. It hurts to be rejected
or made fun of by someone especially if we are close to them. Human
nature says 'Get them back' but God's nature says 'Not'.

This is a battle of the mind and it involves unconditional love to the
utmost. Since this is the month of love why not bring up letting hurts
go, not harboring resentment, and just moving on? It is very hard to
be betrayed by a friend for instance or to have co workers talk behind
your back. Maybe someone shared something personal you asked to be
held in confidence. Whatever the scenarios, you only give Satan more
ground and keep him happy when you choose to keep resentment over
something in your heart. Ponder that for a while.

Romans 12:17 (NIV) says 'to not repay evil for evil' so why do we
think we should? Some may say, 'I will never forgive them' but what
happened to kindness, grace, love, mercy, and being like Jesus? Jesus
of all people was scorned by many. He never uttered a harsh word and
wants us to pray. In Matthew 5:44(NIV) it says 'But I tell you, love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Proverbs
19:11(NIV) says ' A man's wisdom gives him patience. It is to a man's
glory to overlook an offense.' Get your mind on something else. Make

yourself pray for whoever it is that hurt you. Do not try to keep

reasoning things out and figuring them out, just move on and give it
to God.

PRAYER: Lord it hurts to be rejected. You know that feeling more than
anyone. Father give me your ability to focus on you and not past
hurts. In Jesus' name. Amem.

WHY BE OFFENDED?

Do you know Satan loves to get people offended? It ruins friendships. It starts fights in church meetings. Divides families. It separates us from God. This is one of Satan's specialties when people get mad and take offense and refuse to let things go. Obviously something has to give or the people involved will never speak again.

I know of two brothers that for over three years have not spoken even though living in the same town. Very sad indeed for the parents. And to think it was over something that could have been talked over, but unfortunately  these two men refuse to budge. Neither one wanted to humble himself and admit wrongdoing.

Being misunderstood causes offense. Politics often cause friends of opposite parties to be offended. I am sure you can think of many incidents of how people get offended or how you may  have even taken offense. Do you think Jesus likes this? Absolutely not. Misspoken words or something people do not often see eye to eye on, can cause a real breech in a relationship. To keep things peaceful,  talking is necessary as well as being willing to forgive and move on.

Several years ago I had a close friend who no longer wants to be my friend because of something I mistakenly did. She says she has forgiven me but apparently not enough to let me back into her circle of friends or to not be blocked on her Facebook page. I find this very sad. Two believers especially should be able to sit down and pray and resolve things. When self and pride get in the way it is a whole new ballgame so to speak. I had no choice but to let it go and move on.

Offense is really a tool the enemy can use to even have church members at odds with each other. When we forget Jesus and are so focused on ourselves it is a recipe for trouble. Stop an offense before it springs up.

Be willing to forgive, forget, and move on instead of getting your way. In Ecclesiastes 7:9 says "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit for anger resides in the bosom of fools." Proverbs 18:19 says " A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle."
Do you need to forgive someone today who has hurt you or offended you? Why not give it to the Lord and just let it go.

PRAYER: Lord God it is easy to be offended when we are hurt by someone. Help me learn to overlook things that could escalate into a bitter, revengeful spirit. You want us to be loving and kind and  not someone wanting to get back at people. Help me show love and learn to forgive. In Jesus Name. Amen.

STAY JOYFUL ALWAYS

There is enough going on in our world today to cause us despair and even in your own circle of life there may be things causing you grief and pain. For instance, a wayward child. Let's say you had trained your child to follow the Lord and he or she goes their own way. Bible teacher and author Joyce Meyer says "Do not let others wrong choices steal your joy." You are not responsible for someone's wrong choices so do not beat yourself up. Do not allow others to be 'joy robbers' in your life.

Satan especially is the chief joy robber. He does not want you happy and at peace. Satan would love it if you would just cave in to your emotions and not ever to be able to be at peace. You perhaps compare your life to others and that too can rob you of joy and keep you from attaining a peaceful spirit. Satan is the 'accuser of the brethren' it says in Revelation 12:10. Satan may make you feel if you had not done 'such and such' then 'so and so' would not be living a certain way or doing a certain thing.

 You can not and should not condemn yourself. You are not responsible for the choices others make.
If you have a child you raised for the Lord but they have made wrong choices all you can do is keeping praying for them but do not allow their bad choices to make you not live your life to the fullest. Just keep praying. Keep believing. Remember the promise in Proverbs 22:6 which says " train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it?" God hears your prayers.  3 John 1:4 says " I have no greater joy to know that my children are walking in the truth." I say a hearty "Amen" to that!

God is your source of peace and joy no matter what life throws at you. Things happen and sometimes they happen in order to make someone stronger. Just believe God can see you through and help the other person as well.

Let's say you are living with an unbelieving spouse and you are 'on fire' for the Lord. Then what do you do? 1 Peter 3:1-2 says "wives, in the same way, submit yourselves therefore unto your own husbands, that if any of them do not believe the word they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives." 

What if I friend or colleague has hurt you? Say you did nothing and you are getting pushed aside and treated poorly.Do not allow these things to rob you of your ultimate joy in Jesus Christ!

John 14:27 says " My peace I leave you, my peace I give you, not as the world gives you. Do not let your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid."

PRAYER: Lord it is my desire to not let others rob me of my peace and joy. I have no control of others lives and I can only pray and trust you for the answers. Help me Lord to always have your joy in my life to share with those around me. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below to worship the Lord in song! Be blessed now go be a blessing!
http://youtu.be/NLhb3qUA3uc