What Do You Need To Leave Behind To Follow God?

 

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:23-25

Have you ever taken stock of your life when you call yourself a Christian to see what you would say to someone to ‘prove’ it? It’s not about good works or going to church or even being baptized but is a heart condition.

When you love someone you want to to do great things for them and can’t get enough of being with them. If you are a true follower of the Lord you want to shine for Him and know more about Him not just say you are a Christian giving no thought about what it entails. Is there any thing you need to do or not do to draw closer to God? 

PRAYER: I yearn to be closer Father and would rather be a doorkeeper in your house than a King elsewhere. I want to press in and stop making excuses for why I only give you five minutes, if that, a day. I will not allow the enemy to distract me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Are You Consumed By Fear?

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10

Many things can scare you? A dark room, flying, people who drive too fast, death, mountain lions, bears,  disease, pandemic, bankruptcy, and on it goes add to the list. Fear is a lack of trust and peace. 

Today there are fears of a pandemic, fear of vaccinations, fear of government overreach, fear of death, fear of tyranny, fear of job loss.Do you believe God is truly your Father and cares for you similar to an earthly father who takes care of His children? God has things under control so why can’t you give it up and trust Him? He will not leave you and He is way bigger than any dreaded fear Satan tries to plant in your head. 

Are you able to surrender your fears to Him and then leave them at the ‘foot of the cross’ so to speak? The enemy wants you to continue pacing the floor and imagining doomsday scenarios but refuse those thoughts in Jesus name and tell the little weasel who is protecting you. 

PRAYER: I think about things I have been worried about or feared and I trust you fir divine protection and deliverance out of the enemies hand. Your love for me is so great and I thank you for your protection and peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Good Samaritan? Who Me?

Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So, too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 

—Luke 10:30-34

Pretty much everyone knows the story of the Good Samaritan from the Bible but did you know Samaritan didn’t mean ‘helper’ but were people despised by most. 

The verse above indicates that so called ‘church people’ passed by the person who needed help but the one man everyone avoided and stayed away from was the one to offer help. 

How about you? Do you pass by opportunities to legitimately give help if you can? Safety of course in our day is an issue but when you pass a homeless man on the curb bundled up or a person asleep on a park bench that looks down and out what is your first response? Search your heart and be kind of the Holy Spirit is speaking to you. You never know who might really be an angel from God. 

PRAYER: Jesus I thank you for goodness and grace and prosperity more than most of the world. Thank you for opportunities to help someone worse off than me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

There Are Still Good Things

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.Philippians 4:8 HCSB Bible Gateway

You may have been in a rut lately over world news or the state of our nation and can not bring yourself to feel good about anything. Or you may have family issues that you are saddened about and a sense of hopelessness washes over you. 

Take heart my friend, you prayed right? Then don’t let Satan make you start doubting and second guessing things. Trust and obey. Of course if you get away from reading the word and spend too much time in ‘the world’ your faith may take a nose dive and the enemy rejoices. 

Dwell on things that are uplifting and edifying and keep rejoicing in the Lord no matter what and give thanks! Keep bad news off, who needs it? 

PRAYER: Many time’s Lord I have heard a news headline and my spirit just sinks as I start wondering where God is or pray and pray and nothing changes. Help me not stop trusting and believing kind of like Noah waiting for the rain. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

#Biblegatewayblogger

Click link for a beautiful old hymn:

https://youtu.be/KB4KcleYiWM

Chill Pill

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."Psalm 46:10

 

Ever start to fret over stuff that hasn’t even occurred yet? Well it won’t do anything other than turning  you into an angry nervous wreck. As you may have heard, try taking a chill pill or in other words, relax. 

How much does worry, being upset, trying to manipulate a situation really help?Much is said about worry in scripture and it may do lots of good to do a word study and commit a few of the verses to memory. 

What in your life has you upset right now? Have you tried to pray and give it to God and leave it at the foot of the cross? Truly it is time to be still and trust God. 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for helping me be still when Satan is taunting me to get frazzled and agitated. I seek your perfect peace no matter what is going on. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

On A Mission

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”Mark 8:38 Bible Gateway

Do you realize if you call yourself a follower of Jesus then each and every day you are on a mission, in other words you are a missionary wherever God has you planted.

What kind of enthusiasm do you have for that role? Would you rather not have to ‘preach’ to people and just go on about life? Your life is supposed to be like preaching wherever you are as you represent Christ.

Have you ever been timid about letting others know you are a believer and even more serious, a follower? Or have you met someone who had maybe a Christian bumper sticker or big cross around their neck and started to identify with Christ and how happy you were to see there was another believer and this person changed the subject? It is very weird and uncomfortable because maybe the person was just churched and didn’t want to get into ‘serious conversation’. Anyway today’s verse mentions not being ‘ashamed’ or you could say not be shy about talking about the Lord. Now go shine the light!

PRAYER: Lord I can remember in days past doing what I call the ‘headache’ prayer in a restaurant almost like being ashamed to let people see me pray. Forgive me. I want to go forth with courage to help make a difference in my world. In Jesus’ name. Amen. #Biblegatewayblogger

Think Better, Feel Better

 

 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11).

It matters what you think about and during the unusual lockdown circumstances of Covid and the isolation it is essential to train your mind to stay uplifted and not let it wander off somewhere on a tangent. 

Positive thinking uplifts the soul. Laughter is the best medicine it says in Proverbs 17:22. Putting on some praise and worship music is another good thing. You have to discipline yourself unto godliness. 

You are in a constant battle between good and evil right and wrong Jesus and the devil. Break out in prayer and just cry out to the Lord. Don't let the enemy defeat you and get you cowering in a fetal position. These troubles of today will not last forever. God is at work. Keep your mind out of the gutter and filled with praises to the most high God.

PRAYER: Jesus I thank you for your word the Bible and forgive me when I take it for granted and just go into my day without even opening it. Shame on me. Use me Lord to help others stay uplifted and encouraged. In Jesus' name. Amen.