Are You Walking With The Lord?

 

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NIV Bible Gateway

If someone were to ask you if you were walking with the Lord what would be your response? Maybe you may say you go to church or you aren’t a bad person. But that is not the answer. 

To walk with the Lord is to stay in step with Him. You try to abide in the Spirit so as to not gratify the desires of the flesh. This world throws many temptations at you through TV, movies, internet, magazines, and it is crucial to feed your spirit daily, throughout the day with scripture. 

Todays verse is an excellent one to memorize. Tell God you are His. Ask Him to use you as you go about your day. Satan will try to throw wrong thinking at you to get you to cave to doubt and fear in attempts of getting you to play God and not wait on God. Trust in God and be patient. Tell Satan to get behind you. 

PRAYER: Father thank you for setting me free from doubts and fears. When I start to overthink things and cave to worry help me say out loud, “Satan be gone” and let it go. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Don’t Worry-Just Pray

 

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

You say you don’t worry and perhaps that is true but are you ever concerned over an issue? Isn’t that sort of the same thing as worry, maybe not totally but just a smidgen? 

Your worry doesn’t change one single thing so what you have to learn to do is trust that you prayed and God heard you and don’t allow Satan to pull you into a pit of fret and despair. Instead beat him at his game and show him who is boss. 

You gave it to God so purpose in your heart to throw off the anxiety and enjoy your life. Be intentional about telling Satan to leave you alone and then put on some praise music. I have included one at end for you. 

PRAYER: I thank you that I can choose peace over anxiety. Help me Lord as I seek to be intentional in giving you praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm (Official Lyric Video) youtu.be

What Do You Need Freedom From?

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.1John 3:8 ESV

Do you need freedom  from fear, anxiety, jealousy, bitterness, anger, rejection, tormented soul, hurt, broken heart, revengeful spirit, or feeling God couldn’t possibly love you or forgive you. 

Jesus died for us to be free and forgiven of our sins past, present, and future and also for you to be free to be all God wanted you to be. Your past mistakes can be redeemed. 

Make it a point to live for Christ daily, warts and all. He loves you and cherishes you. Even if your father and mother forsake you God does not. With God there is no record of wrongs just freedom. Cry out to Him today as He wants to help you. 

PRAYER: My life is precious in your sight. Even when I messed up you were there to redeem me and set me back on track. I am not a failure in your eyes and have a distinct purpose. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Keep Your Head On Straight

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (NLT).Psalm 139:23-24

Have you had a day when you overthink things or have expectations that are not realistic? Probably we all have. You need to tell Satan to flee and leave you alone. This can wreak havoc when your overthinking involves others. 

Stinking thinking is what author and Bible teacher Joyce Meyer talks about. Keep your mind on things above and not entertain trying to handle things. Stay away from negative voices who think some stuff will never change. God is on the throne and all things are possible. 

So take a deep breath. Give God your concerns. Don’t skip your time alone with God each morning. Recognize wrong thinking and don’t go there. Be at peace. When your mind starts to race recognize you are in spiritual warfare and need to tell Satan to shut up and leave you alone. Give everything and everyone to the Lord. Let Him fight your battles. 

PRAYER: I am so grateful to be able to own a Bible and use it daily. I pray for anyone I know who may not be familiar with the Bible being our roadmap of life and are not ever using it cause they don’t know how. Help me to be gentle when I have opportunity to encourage people to daily study scripture. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Let's Go Fishing!

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”Matthew 4:19

When you think of going fishing you more than likely imagine sitting in a boat or on a dock somewhere with a fishing pole trying to reel in the ‘catch of the day’. 

In scripture Jesus refers to us being fishers of men meaning to fish for souls of those who are lost floundering (no pun intended) around in a confusing hurtful world.

The lures you use would be kindness, joy, encouragement, prayer, patience, self control.No real fisherman smacks the unsuspecting fish in the head with a paddle but is patient waiting for the right time. Are you prepared to ‘fish’ for men?

PRAYER:This is another day you have blessed me with to make a difference in this world. Show me who you want me to be kind and reach out to. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Never Too Late-Keep Dreaming

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Acts 2:17

I will tell you what, I certainly do not feel like an ‘old person’ although the young lady I recently had the pleasure of sharing an exit row with born in 2002 would beg to differ. 

Start a new hobby. Take a trip. Make new friends. Help out at church. Be kind when you don’t feel like it. Show Grace to those undeserving in human eyes. Be silly. 

Don’t get all depressed or compare yourself to others. Invent something. Get on Shark Tank. Make it a goal to qualify for a TV game show. Stop saying but I am too old for that. Says who?  

PRAYER: Father thank you for the gift of wonder and also good health. Help me never say ‘I’m too old for that’ but to press on to instill hope in others and keep dreams alive. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Is The Current Flowing?

 

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.John 15:5

When you hear the word current what comes to mind? Perhaps the current of a river but for purposes of this writing I am referring to electric current. It is so essential to modern life. Without it everything would come to a standstill. 

Think about your spiritual life as being similar to an electric current. You must stay connected to the source of power which is Jesus, in order to have peace, joy, hope and more importantly to walk a life pleasing to him and helping to draw others to Him. 

If you shut off the ‘current’ meaning don’t read your Bible, don’t connect with others in Christian fellowship, and become lethargic in your faith walk before you know it your current will be cut off and be prey for Satan to deceive you. Stay connected to the ‘current’. 

PRAYER: Lord I need you in my life. Help me recognize false teaching and run far from it. Guide my steps and help me to guide others to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.