Be Vigilant

 

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith.” 

1Peter 5:8

What does it mean to be vigilant? Well I would suggest it means to be constantly on guard because Satan lives for tripping up believers. As this verse says he is like a roaring lion looking to devour someone. 

Have you opened the door to Satan in your life by your thoughts, words, or actions? Have you put God on the back burner? 

There is a real Satan. There is good and evil. Temptation is real. If you have strayed from the path of righteousness and fallen prey to the enemy you can come back and God wants you to. Where are you at today? Is it time to cry out to God for a rescue? 

PRAYER: Lord temptation to do wrong is all around me. Help me look straight ahead to the cross. I pray for those who know they need to turn around their lives but are caught in web of Satan to be loosed. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Friend Of This World?

 

You adulterous people,don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.James 4:14 NIV Bible Gateway 

Would you consider yourself a ‘friend’ of the world meaning this world has captivated you to the point it appears you are more in love with the world than with God?

Romans 12:2 tells us to not conform to the pattern of this world. Do you find yourself conforming more than transforming yourself to be more Christlike? 

Sometimes you may want to enjoy things if the world and then they overtake the things of the Spirit. You have to say no to ungodliness or things that you know will take you far from God. Satan tries to lie and get you to compromise. If you have done this it is not too late to do a U Turn back your savior. 

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for your unconditional love. Help me be discerning that I can recognize the tricks and lies of Satan. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Are You Entangled?

 

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons. 1 Peter 4:1

Do you feel like you are tangled up and need set free? Like an animal trapped in barbed wire are there things in your life holding you back from enjoying being with people who love you and love the Lord?

Sometimes a person may be entangled with wrong friends, wrong activities, wrong thinking to name a few. The devil is a snare who indeed tries to trap you when you let down your spiritual armor. 

To get untangled first you need to be aware that you are tangled up. Next you cry out to God for His help.  Ask God to direct your steps and to dismantle any strongholds that have gotten you on the wrong path. Most importantly get into the Word and keep your focus on things above. (Philippians 4:8). 

PRAYER: I long for your fellowship with you Lord. Forgive me when I have turned my back on you and been enamored with things of the world that tangled me up. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Choose To Be A Light

 

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8 NIV Bible Gateway

Even when you don’t feel cheerful or joyful due to whatever circumstances you can still choose to be a light in the world around you. You are where you are for a reason for such a time as this. Keep that in mind. 

You may be feeling bad but there are probably lots of people who are going through lots of stuff you have no clue about and being a light in a dark world will cheer them up. 

I remember a song as a child called ‘A Sunbeam’. It went something like ‘a sun beam a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam. A sunbeam a sunbeam. I’ll be a sunbeam for Him.’ Do you think you can shine Jesus’ light in the midst of however you feel? Try it today and see if you don’t experience joy. 

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for using me to brighten another’s day. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Love Is Not Self Centered

 

For God SO loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16 NIV Bible Gateway

Don’t let your love for others be self centered thinking only of yourself. Gods love is ultimate as when He gave His Only son Jesus to die for you. That is not self centered. His focus was you.

His sacrifice was the one total love. Do you have that kind of love? God’s love is TRUE and complete.

Have you said yes to Jesus and accept his unconditional love for you and his forgiveness?

Have you received His gift of salvation by asking Him to be Lord of your life? You can gain the whole world but without Jesus what does it matter? (See Mark 8:36). Surrender yourself today.

PRAYER: Lord I need you in my life and I pray for those who don’t know if they have been saved. I pray for millions to repent and turn to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Saul Became Paul

 

“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.Acts 26:9-11 NIV Bible Gateway

Most believers are familiar with the miraculous conversion of Saul to Paul on the Damascus Road proving God can, did, and does still use unlikely people for his purposes in the kingdom.

There is hope for everyone to turn away from wickedness and embrace the kingdom of God and no one is beyond hope. Who are we to decide who gets saved?

Beware of judging and condemning those you deem as lost and beyond hope. Every person has value in God’s eyes and He wants all men to know Him it says in 1 Timothy 2:4. Kindness leads to repentance. (Roman’s 2:4).

PRAYER: My hope is in Jesus. All those that come across my path daily have a story of sorts. I pray for Satan to be bound and anyone to be set free who has fallen in his trap. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For more on the life of Paul click link below and read Acts 22 in the New Testament.

GOTQUESTIONS.ORG

Lay It On The Altar

 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Matthew 11:28

An altar is a place of sacrifice and worship where you approach the ‘throne of God’ in a symbolic way giving up something to him and letting him take control.

What in your life do you need to lay on the altar and give control to God? When you give it you don’t take it back but let God work.

Is there something or someone who needs a miraculous touch only God can provide? Has your human striving worn you out as you realize only the Holy Spirit can convict and help turn a heart to the Lord? Today give your problem or issue or person entirely to Him and let the human efforts cease.

PRAYER: Today I look to you Lord as my source not to human striving or manipulation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.