HOW IS YOUR HEALTH?

Are you as healthy person? When you go to your doctor and the person screening you asks what type physical condition  you consider yourself in how do you answer? Are you excellent, good, fair, or poor?

One other type  of health we should be more concerned about more than anything else is our spiritual health. How would you say yours is on a scale of one to ten, one being the worst? Ponder that for a moment or two. Do you read your Bible daily? Do you truly love the Lord? Is prayer second nature to you? Are you able to maintain peace or are you consistently worried about  something? Do you talk about church but not Jesus? Do you follow the Ten Commandments or at least try to? Are you irritated by some people or ever make the statement you hate someone? Do you have a heart for others or mainly think about yourself? If you were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you? If you dropped over dead right now do you know for a FACT that you would be instantly in the arms of our Lord in heaven?

Philippians 1:27-30(NIV) says the following 'Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,  striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.' 


Are you more conformed to this world or do you realize you're on a temporary journey down here and if a believer, then serving in the capacity of an ambassador for Him? You represent  the kingdom of God here on Earth. How are you doing with that position?

So how is your spiritual health? Do you need to work on it to improve it and become closer to God? A great place to start in scripture is to read the book of John in the New Testament. Through making a regular habit of getting into the word and studying scriptures as well as prayer and fellowship with others in the body of Christ you are on your way to improving your spiritual health, so run the race to win with your eyes on Jesus! 

John 3:30(ESV) says 'He must increase but I must decrease.' 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I do love you and I want to more like you and less into worldly things or my own self. Direct my paths and help me resist the attempts of Satan to throw me off track. In Jesus' name. Amen.

JUST LISTEN, WOULD YOU?

How many of you are perfect listeners? I know there are some people and they truly can tune into you and hear what you are saying. I have to admit, I need to be a better listener and some of my friends and family can attest to that. It is not that I do not want to listen but I get distracted at times, by what, I do not know.  This is frustrating not only to me but to the person who is talking. It comes off like you do not care or you would listen. Sometimes I truly do not hear. This from a lady who studied to be a professional listener as a counselor. 

Guess who is a good listener? Jesus is! He never spaces out, butts in, forgets what you just said or has to ask you to repeat yourself. Nor does He have to apologize to you for seeming uninterested. As a Christian we should be striving to be conformed to Christ's image in all the areas of our life. If you are weak in this area why not humble yourself and ask God to intervene and help you. 

The Lord is good and merciful, full of compassion. He loves you with an everlasting love. He does not like you to be hurt or sad. He wants you to experience the joy only he can give. He wants to "talk" to you daily through His words in the Bible if only you would make time for Him and pick up our Bibles each day. We need to listen to what He is telling us in the word.

Also He is standing by at any time waiting to hear from you in prayer. The Bible says in Jeremiah 33:3(NIV) 'Call unto me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' Psalm 91:15(NIV) says 'He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.' Jesus does hear us, truly hear us, when we call out to Him. He listens. He knows your pain. He cares for you. If a friend means well but does not really "hear" what you are saying go to Jesus. He is really ready "at all times" and will take your call.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I love you. I want to try to be more like you and one of the areas I need help in is to be a better listener. Help me Lord when a friend needs help to listen to them and show support. Father I thank you that you are the best example to me for how I should listen. Father God help me not be distracted by things that do not matter but help me as I seek to show your love and mercy to others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

STOP!! WAIT!! THINK!! PRAY!!CALM DOWN!! SHHH!!

Oh my goodness, the area of speaking before thinking is one area I could write oodles on. I am the queen of jumping to conclusions and making assumptions. This is a trait I do not like and am constantly working on. It is so critical in life to not be hasty especially in important decisions. In relationships with friends it is also important to think sometimes before speaking or answering email or texts. For those married, it is essential to be kind with your mouth to your spouse and try to keep being like you were when you were dating. 

Proverbs 29:20 (NIV) says 'Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for  him.'  That sort of summarizes it I would say. If you do not want to be classified as a fool then do not be blurting things out of your mouth without thinking first. Once those words go forth they can not be taken back. Sometimes a good rule of thumb, especially if you are angry or confused, is to wait 24 hours. I even wrote a devotion with that title a few weeks ago. 

Our words can sort of define us. Are you known for saying the wrong things, starting quarrels, lying, gossiping, hurting people or are you known as spreading cheer, giving praise and compliments, and being truthful and kind?  

1 Thessalonians 4:11(NIV) says 'Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you.'  Try to be known as the loving peacemaker and someone who is there to unite and encourage. I know encouragers are much more pleasant to be around than a griper or complainer. 

So there you have it. Stop,wait, think, pray, and calm down. It will improve your life dramatically.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I need your help to be careful what I say. Help me learn to slow down in all areas of life and to think before speaking. Thank you for loving me despite my faults. In Jesus' name. Amen.

DEBRIS IN THE ROAD

When we are driving on the streets and highways and byways it is critical to be paying close attention to the road ahead of us. We have to avoid potholes, roadkill, and debris that may be in the middle of the road. If we do not and are unfortunate hitting it, then we could do serious damage to our vehicle or worse yet, wreck and become injured.

Sin is like that foreign object or dead animal in the road. Somehow it is out there and gets into our path and we get injured. The injury could be devastating and life changing to take us off God's path and make us believe the enemies lies. The sin could be little and hardly noticeable such as a tissue on the highway. We do not see it and it will not really hurt us but it is still litter and should not be there. 

Satan sends powerful delusional spirits at times and tricks those who sometimes are even believers. That is why it is so critical to stay in an attitude of prayer and do not entertain things you know are against God's word. 2 Thessalonians 2:10(NLT)  says 'He will send us every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.'  Satan is real. He is tricky. He lies and is the father of lies. His task is to destroy the believer. Maybe he makes loving Jesus and serving Him seem crazy to you by putting wrong thoughts in your head. Remember what he did in the Garden of Eden? Maybe he deceives you into thinking going to church is all you need to do. 

John 10:10(NIV) says '

'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' Have you hit some "debris" in the pathway of your life that has taken you away from the things you know to be right? Has your love for Jesus grown cold? Do things of the world that you know separate you from still captive you? Do you feel the Bible is boring? Friend now is the time to remove the "debris" and make your life right with the Lord. You want to keep running but kick that debris out of the way. Philippians3:14(NIV) says 'I press onto receive the prize to which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' Colossians 2:8(NIV) is a good verse to pray for a family member you may know that is caught up n believing a lie from the enemy or if it is you then pray it for yourself. It says ' See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.' Now go out and take notice of the "sinful debris" and  purge it from your road of life. PRAYER: Lord Guide my steps each and every day. Help me never be ashamed of you. Teach me your truth. Your word is truth. Help me to not listen to false teaching or the lures of this world. In Jesus' name. Amen.

JUST SAYING: NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!

Do faith words or fear words come out of your mouth? Do you pray to God then in the next breath start to fret? Why even bother praying then? Remember worrying does not help get an answer to your pray any quicker. You offer your prayer up to the Lord and let Him take it  from there. Do you believe the scripture in Luke 1:37( NIV) which says 'Nothing is impossible with God.'  

        Why do you worry? Do you think God does not care?  God is bigger than our puny little problems. He has a plan for your life and it is not necessarily always about you. You need to trust Him for the outcome. Stop complaining to Him and be patient. Maybe that is half the battle training you in patience.  Don't pray then turn around and doubt him. What kind of prayer is that? 

Are you believing for something that seems impossible? Give your concern to God then let it go. Keep praising Him even when you do not see the answer. Even when things do not look good He has not left His throne. Have faith. 

There is a verse in Romans 4:17(NKJV) which says 'as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”  in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.'  For instance I would pray, 'Lord I thank you for giving me victory in this area.'  You pray this even before it has happened. Hebrews 11:8(ESV) says 'By faith Abraham believed when He was called to go out to a place that He was to receive an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going.' 

Can you believe that God is the God of the impossible? Then let go and let Him work.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I believe so help my unbelief. I know you have great plans for me and for my family. I need only be still and trust. Give me power from on high to do just that. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SPRING IS NOT TOO FAR OFF

What do you think of when you think of spring? Perhaps flowers,sunshine, new life as baby chicks hatch, Easter, March Madness NCAA basketball, and putting away winter clothes. Do not be too hasty on that last one as snow is in abundance still in many parts of the country. I for one am blessed to be enjoying the beautiful Northeast snow at a ski resort in Maine. In spring normally we  look forward to all things new such as the sight of a daffodil popping through the ground or in the nations Capitol, the infamous cherry  blossom trees.

Many times in March we are surprised with a sudden winter storm evenin places that do not expect it. Things that a new are nice. The freshness of green grass and blooms and a garden. Even a fresh new snow is very nice.

Spring could be a time to re order your life once again if you failed

at the task after the New Years resolutions were forgotten.

Being new means to also have a new attitude, new outlook, new

plan to get closer to God. Is spending time with God and getting to

know Him really important to you? If it is then why aren't you making

it happen? Sunday is nice but you need more to grow and be Christlike. Usually where you spend your time is the person you become.

What kind of person do you want to be? Do you want to be able to be peaceful and have joy in your heart? You can if you take time to get into the word of God. Why not start anew and let Christ rule your day?

2 Timothy 2:15(NIV) says 'Do your best to present yourself as one approved,a workmen who need not be ashamed, and who correctly handles the word of truth.'  One final verse I would like to leave you with is 2 Corinthians 5:17(NIV) and it says 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away,behold all things become new.' Are you a new creature in Christ? If not why not ask Him into your heart today?

PRAYER: Lord You are good and your mercies endure forever. I want to be able to have you truly first place. I want to be prepared when hard times come and I know I can not do it without knowing you and reading your word. Forgive me for listening to the world too much and not you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

CHANGE YOUR WORLD

Look around you. Are you happy with the way things are going in our world? Do you realize you can complain about things or you can be instrumental in trying to change things?

 First of all pray and ask God what He would have you do to impact your world in a positive way. For instance, if things are happening in our government that are against the word of God, and there are many, then take a stand for what is true and right or suffer the consequences. One example is the marriage battle raging now. Marriage is between one man and one woman.  God designed men and women to help each other and also reproduce to keep life going. No way can two men produce a baby. Satan has deceived many into believing the world's lies but it is crystal clear in the Bible what marriage is. Many Christians have bought into this lie and there are some caught in the trap of same sex attraction. When we disagree we are told we "hate them". That is pretty strong language for simply following the word of God. No one hates anyone.

There are many other examples of how you can positively change your world. Do not always wait for someone else to do something. Pray and get going. Above all, do things in the spirit of love and be kind and compassionate in whatever you do. Be Christlike in other words.Colossians 3:17(NIV) says '

Wherever we go try to be at peace. Praise  God regardless of what is happening. Keep praying and never give up as it says in Luke 18:1.
 Romans 12:12(NIV) says 'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.' Often times the road is long and time consuming trying to bring about changes. Think of the battle to end abortion which has been going on for 40 years.  Don't give up. Keep running your race to win. 

 You indeed can have a positive impact on your world. Never think you do not matter. Above all show kindness, trust not fear, keep running and looking ahead. Always remember what it says in Romans 8:31(NIV) and that is 'what shall we say in response to these things? If God is for me who can be against me.'

PRAYER:Lord I want to impact my world for Christ. Whether it is on the mission field in a far off land or the mission field in my own back yard. Convict my heart of how I can serve you and make a change in my world. In Jesus' name. Amen.