Been Pruned Lately?

 

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2

 

When you have a garden or bushes and trees you need to prune them occasionally to help them grow better fruit. At times when you chop the branches off it can look pretty ugly like there is no hope but then after waiting, voila, the flowers and fruit are blooming all over the place!

 

Do you feel in life that you are in the process of being pruned? Things hurt, you feel lost and alone, you cry out to God to please please help! 

The things you endure that you may not be able to understand now will be clearly understood when you keep running the spiritual race to win and see what the Holy Spirit is doing to shape you into the vessel most useful for the kingdom. So friend know trials will end and hang on to God, stay in the word, and on your knees. Life is going to be just fine! 

PRAYER:  I am thankful sometimes after the fact when I see how you used junk in my life to help produce a better vessel for the kingdom. Help anyone I know who is being pruned right now to hang on to the truth and keep running the race to win. I pray for Satan to be gone. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Put Sin In The Junk Folder

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Recently I spent about an hour purging old  email and things I had let clutter my life electronically and what a good feeling it was to be free of junk not needed. 

Similarly to when you clean your garage or attic and force yourself to part with things you know the surviving relatives are not going to want when you leave this Earth. Your spiritual life could use some dusting up and tossing out as well. 

Do you cling to things you know you have been forgiven of or get stuck on some thought you have no business thinking? Today’s verse says to get rid of sin that so easily entangles. The enemy knows your weak points and will continue to dangle the ‘sin carrot’ in front of you hoping you will go for it. Continue to run your race tossing off old sin and accepting God’s forgiveness. 

PRAYER: Sin is a part of every human’s life ever since creation, but I don’t have to continue sinning when I know the right path to take. Make things crystal clear and I know the Holy Spirit guides me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Stream Of Living Water

7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

What is bothering you? What are you pro actively doing to not allow the enemy to torture you?

One of the best ways to regain peace is to go where you can watch a stream of water flowing be it a river, creek, or stream. Flowing water seems to have a way of calming the soul.

Today’s verse says to “cast” meaning to toss or throw. Time alone with God by a stream is a good remedy especially if not a bunch of people are around and you can speak out loud.

Whatever wrong thinking you have get it out of your head and replace it with positive thoughts and God’s word and positive confessions. Give your cares to the Lord then be at peace.

PRAYER: Lord I will stand strong as I realize the enemy likes to torment me with wrong thinking and the solution is to read the word of God and tell the enemy you are a child of God and to go away. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Beyond Your Selfies

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

Social media can be used for good or for narcissism and can be a great way to stay in touch with relatives or friends.

Why not step back and take inventory of your life and how you are using it to bring glory to God. Are there any areas of your life that probably displease or break God’s heart? Are there better ways to use social media other than being into self? 

Here we are in the middle of 2021. Has social media caused issues in your life that Satan exploited? Have you spent more time staring at your I phone than opening the paper Bible you may own? What have you done to help build up another person? Just some thoughts to ponder today. 

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for your blessings and for hearing and answering prayers. I thank you for suddenly moments when an answer to a long standing prayer comes. Help me Lord look for a need and meet it. Give me control of self worship. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

You Need Godly Friends

 

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”1 Corinthians 15:33 Bible Gateway

Followers of Christ are supposed to be salt and light in a secular world BUT you are also not supposed to be a Lone Ranger doing life totally alone. You NEED good trusted Christian friends. Don’t leave home without them!

When you go through storms of life you need a circle of Christ centered friends to listen to you and pray for you but if you spend all your leisure time in a worldly atmosphere those friends may never be made.

To develop those trusted Christ following friends in your life you need to be involved and immersed in Christian things such as small group, Sunday school, good church, Bible studies and so forth. To be a friend show yourself friendly.

PRAYER: I pray for those I know who may have no Christian friends they are close to that they can lean on when life gets rough and there are bumps in the road. Guide those people to a spirit filled church and help them know what should be their priorities in life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

It's All Good And Not That Deep

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Romans 12:17-21 NIV Bible Gateway

What is going on in your life right now? Any little petty irritations? Minor issues can get your ‘feathers ruffled’ but press on. 

Slow line when you are in a hurry. Long time friends that decide they no longer like you because of politics. Delayed flight. Two hour wait at a favorite restaurant. Water pipe bursts flooding your living room. Unexpected bill. So many things can shatter your peaceful world so how do you react? 

The younger generations in the past couple years would say chill, it’s not that deep, it’s all good meaning basically in a nutshell, simmer down God has this. When you steam and stew over something your enemy Satan rejoices. Stand your ground. Be at peace. Breathe in and give thanks! 

PRAYER: Father I love you and thank you for being with me every day in every way. I pray to stay cool in situations I have no control over. Guard my heart to stay pure and holy. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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‘Pray-Er’

 



If I had cherished sin in my heart, the LORD would not have listened; Psalms 66:18

Are you the person who is dedicated to intercession or perhaps you are a praying person and people know it so ask you to pray like you have a better connection to the Almighty?

I have to admit there have been time’s someone asks for prayer and I kind of forget, shame on me, so decided the best remedy is to pray on the spot whether over the phone, in an airport terminal, at a coffee shop, wherever. 

Prayer is a direct hotline to the Almighty. Sometimes prayers aren’t answered like you think but they have still gone up to Him. If you don’t already try to make prayer a habit a routine. If you can go somewhere special like a park bench or rock by a stream and spend uninterrupted time alone. Don’t let prayer be an after thought but incorporate it into each day.

PRAYER: I rejoice that I know my faith in you comforts me and sustains me and help me Lord help others in this area if they feel they somehow are not qualified a lie from the enemy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.