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Think About What You're Thinking About Jan 20, 2008 5:38 am
Mood: Thinking HIS thoughts!, 359 Views
The battlefield is in our minds!


Now that we know about our enemy, Who Is Satan, and What Does He Want From You? I want to talk about how he comes against us. When we are born again, our spirit is renewed, we become new creatures. Unfortunately, our minds don't follow suit, lol.

I used to think I was doomed to contemplate every thought that came into my mind, until I learned that's where my enemy comes against me the most. I then realized that many of the thoughts I had were just subtle attacks from the devil. You know the ones, "you're no good, you'll never amount to anything, God could never use you, no one will ever want you", blah, blah, blah.

What I learned is that my mind needed to be renewed also. Consider this:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed, by the ENTIRE RENEWAL of your mind, by it's new ideals and it's new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves, what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect, in His sight for you."
Romans 12:2

If we allow satan to defeat us in our minds, he can defeat us in our lives. I began to think about what I was thinking about, only to discover that not every thought comes from God, my mind is where the battles are won and lost.

Refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing, that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God; and we lead EVERY THOUGHT and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ.
II Corinthians 10:5

How profound it was, when I discovered that my mind was where my enemy attacks me the most. What a revelation it was to find out that I did not have to accept the fiery darts of the devil. Yes, he may also attack my body, but it's how I perceived it in my mind that determined my victory. Yes, he may attack my finances or my loved ones, but it was how I viewed these attacks that determined the level of success I had against them.
The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness, for a journey that should have only taken 11 days, but because of their "mindset", their wilderness mentality, most did not make it into the promised land.

So, being the zealous, analytical person that I am, lol, I began to do an extensive study. First, I found the scripture in Proverbs 23: verse 7, that says, "As a man thinks, so is he, so does he become."So, how I think, establishes how I become. I can "think" myself right into a rotton mood, by contemplating the thoughts that satan puts in my mind, or I can "think" myself into a joyful mood, by contemplating the words that God gave me in His Word.

I learned that God wants us to have a new way of thinking.
And be CONSTANTLY RENEWED in the spirit of your mind, having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.
Ephesians 4:23

And, we have to do it "DAILY" and "CONSTANTLY". This is not something that is just going to fall on us, we have a part to do. We are told to:
Set your minds, and keep them set, on what is above, and not on the things that are on the earth."
Colossians 3:2

If you feel depressed and sad, think about what you're thinking about, and change your focus to the things that God teaches, and "think" your way into victory.
If you feel defeated and hopeless, think about what you're thinking about, and refuse to think about past failures and the lies that satan is telling you. This is what Jesus instructs us to do:
And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of THOUGHT AND STUDY you give to the truth you hear, will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you-and more besides, will be given to you who hear.
Mark 4:24

I don't know about you, but His words excite me!
We don't HAVE to think on the thoughts that satan puts into our minds to defeat us. We can CHOOSE to think on the things of God, the promises of God, and the awesome priniciples He has given us to win the battle. Remember this:

Stinkin thinkin will produce a stinkin life. Where the mind goes, the man will follow.


Think about what you're thinking about!
6 Comments
Who Is Satan, and What Does He Want From You? Jan 19, 2008 4:30 am
Mood: Victorious!!!, 467 Views
We all have an enemy, who's main objective is to steal from you, deceive you, and destroy you.


Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

As people who have been born again of God's Spirit, we have been delivered from the power of darkness. There was a time when all of us were under the influence and the jurisdiction of Satan's kingdom and domain. Now that we have been born again and translated into the kingdom of God, we should not take lightly that we still have an enemy who wants to bring harm to us and render us ineffective as ambassadors of God's kingdom.

It is important for us to understand the tactics and cunning devices of God's arch enemy.

2 Corinthians 2:11 ...lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Many Christians are walking around in defeat and even in backslidden conditions, simply because they have not been aware of the enemy's cunning devices in their lives. We need to understand that Satan is the arch enemy of God and the church. That means he is your arch enemy as well, if you belong to God. His intent is to destroy the work of God in your life by any means possible. Therefore we should understand just who this enemy is and how he works.

In warfare many victories are won by those who understand and know the moves of their enemy. In spiritual warfare it is much the same way, the more we know and understand the tactics of our enemy the more on guard we will be, as well as being able to thwart his attacks.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Who is Satan and where did he come from?
This is a question of great importance. The answer to this question gives us insight into his characteristics and how he tries to operate in our lives.

1. He Was One Of God's Created Beings – An Archangel.

Before his fall he was one of the most powerful angelic beings in the universe, being of great beauty. His name was Lucifer and he had a high position in heaven before he became Satan. Lucifer used his position and brought destruction upon himself. He was perfect in every way.

Ezekiel 28:15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.

2. He Was Cast Out Of Heaven Because Of Sin.

Ezekiel 28:16 "By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones.

3. Lucifer's Five "I Wills" Cause His Fall.

Pride enters into the heart of one of God's mightiest creatures and causes his destruction and made Lucifer into the devil.

Isaiah 14:13-14 For you have said in your heart: `I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.

Lucifer wanted to sit where God is and wanted his throne to be in heaven, not on earth. The name "Most High" in the Bible is the word "El Eloim" which not only means "most high," but also means "the possessor of heaven and earth." Imagine, that a creature, a created angel, wanted to be possessor of heaven and earth. This is why he failed and became the devil.

Lucifer did not want to get closer to God because of love. He wanted to get closer because of jealousy. He was not satisfied with just getting closer, he wanted to sit on the throne.

When Lucifer fell and was cast out of heaven, he was thrown out of the third heaven. The Lord Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening.

Luke 10:18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Who Is Satan Today?

1. He Is A Powerful Angelic Being With Power To Deceive.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, trans-forming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Matthew 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive if possible, even the elect.

2. He is the god or the Prince of this World.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the [sway] of the wicked one.

Satan's Major Tactics and Works.

1. He Works through Deception and Subtlety.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

His deception often times comes through the word of God itself. He will take God's word and either question it, take away or add to it. He will try to wrest the scriptures to our destruction as well as his. This is how he was able to deceive Eve.

He caused Eve to question God's Word.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"

He Quoted Half Truths to Jesus.

Matthew 4:6 ...and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: `He shall give His angels charge concerning you,' and, `In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' "

He twists or Wrests the Scriptures.

2 Peter 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a [liar] and the father of it.

Our victory over this kind of an attack is by knowing and understanding the Word of God, being like David who said, "I have hid the word in my heart that I might not sin against You."

He Transforms Himself into an Angel of Light

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

2. He Purposes to Stumble Us and Lay Snares In our Paths.

He waits for those vulnerable times in our lives when we are most susceptible to temptation and then springs the trap. This was exactly how he worked in the life of Jesus.

Luke 4:13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Our victory over this Satan in this area is to continually keep our eyes on Jesus, because when our eyes are on Jesus, He will steer us around the traps and help us to strengthen those areas of vulnerability. He will be our guard.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

3. He Opposes And Exalts Himself Above All That Is God.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Other Tactics and Devices.

1. He afflicts the righteous.
2. Claims authority over the world.
3. Blinds the minds of unbelievers.
4. Slanders and accuses saints.
5. He opposes the righteous - tries to keep us in our place.
6. Instigates us to sin or tempts us.
7. Contends with us in heavenly realms.
8. He places his people in the church to defraud it.
9. He steals, kills and destroys.

It is important for us to understand that our enemy is already defeated in every sense of the word. Jesus defeated Him once and for all at the cross. All we have to do is call on Jesus and defeat him by the blood of His testimony.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Be wise to the strategies of your enemy, for then you can recognize when he comes against you.
Be knowledgeable in the Word of God, for just like Jesus in the wilderness, we can defeat him with the Word.
Test the spirits, refuse to accept just any thought into your mind, that's where he likes to attack us the most.
17 Comments
What Factors Determine How You Will Cast Your Vote? Jan 18, 2008 7:12 am
Mood: Voting For God!, 382 Views
I am often shocked and amazed how people, professing to be Christians, cast their vote in ignorance.


How do YOU decide who to vote for?


My first, and most important consideration, in deciding who to vote for is God. I ask myself, "What is their character and beliefs?" Well, we know that most candidates profess a belief in God, it would be political suicide to say otherwise. So, how do we really know? Well, it's a matter of public record how each candidate has voted on the issues. Do they endorse and support abortion issues, which God hates? Do they endorse and support gay rights and marriage, which is an abomination to God? What do they say, publicly about their faith, and it's importance to them?

I had a good friend, my best friend for several years, that is blind. She is a Christian and her faith is very important to her. However, because of her blindness, she participated in social programs that provided her benefits, due to being blind. So, she voted Democrat, because they were for these programs and Republicans were trying to cut some of the fat in these entitlements. Never mind that those she voted for believed in and endorsed abortion and gay rights, which is against the principles in God's Word, her vote was based on other factors. It led to the end of our friendship, how can two walk together, unless they are in agreement?

What factors determine who YOU will vote for? Many that vote in ignorance, vote according to the party their parents are registered as. "Well, I was raised as a Democrat, so that's how I vote".
How ludicrous! How many even know what their party stands for. Do you know?

As Christians, we are obligated to vote for the candidate that God would approve of. It is our duty to put His teachings before our own agendas and issues. Before you cast your vote, pray, and consider being led by the Holy Spirit. Then, do your homework, find out how the candidates voted on particular issues. Listen to them talk about their belief systems, you will know them by their fruit.

Voting is an important responsibility. Who you vote for can determine how our great country will be led in the future. Please, please consider spiritual things when casting your vote. God would approve.
11 Comments
Come On, Laugh a Little, It's Good Medicine! Jan 18, 2008 4:18 am
Mood: Full of Joy!, 350 Views
"Laughter does a heart good, like a medicine."


Church

One Sunday morning, a mother went in to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready for church, to which he replied, "I'm not going." "Why not?" she asked. I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "(1), they don't
like me, and (2), I don't like them." His mother replied, "I'll give YOU two good reasons why YOU SHOULD go to church. (1) You're 59 years old, and (2) you're the pastor!"

The Picnic

A Jewish Rabbi and a Catholic Priest met at the town's annual 4th of July
picnic Old friends, they began their usual banter. "This baked ham is really delicious," the priest teased the rabbi. "You really ought to try it.
I know it's against your religion, but I can't understand why such a wonderful food should be forbidden! You don't know what you're missing. You just haven't lived until you've tried Mrs. Hall's prized Virginia Baked Ham.
Tell me, Rabbi, when are you going to break down and try it?" The rabbi looked at the priest with a big grin, and said, "At your wedding."

The USHER

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher
greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps, "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely. "The front row please," she answered.
"You really don't want to do that," the usher said "The pastor is really boring." "Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman quired. "No." he said. "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly. "Do you know who I am?" he asked. "No." she said. "Good," he answered.

Show and Tell

A kindergarten teacher gave her class a "show and tell" assignment. Each
student was instructed to bring in an object to share with the class that represented their religion. The first student got up in front of the class and said, "My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish and this is a Star of David."
The second student got up in front of the class and said, "My name is Mary. I'm a Catholic and this is a Rosary." The third student got in up front of the class and said, "My name is Tommy. I am Methodist, and this is a casserole."

The Best Way To Pray

A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby. "Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray," the priest said. "No," said the minister. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven." "You're both
wrong," the guru said. "The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor." The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas," he interrupted. "The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

The Twenty and the One

A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty-dollar bill
arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The
twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country. "I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "Why I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City , the finest restaurants in New York , performances on
Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean " "Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!" "So tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?" The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church." The twenty-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"

Goat for Dinner

The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While they
were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having. "Goat," the little boy replied. "Goat?" replied the startled man of the cloth, "Are you sure about that?" "Yep," said the youngster. "I heard Dad say to Mom, 'Today is just as good as any to have the old goat for dinner."

Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder, Your hand over my mouth, and your Word in my heart.
10 Comments
What Happens After Death? Jan 17, 2008 6:03 am
Mood: Living for Jesus, 309 Views
We are ALL appointed to die.


The Bible Tells Us What Follows Death,
Hebrews 9:27 - It is appointed to man once to die, then comes the judgment. Jesus may come before we die; but if we die first, we will be raised from the dead when He returns. Either way, we will face God and be judged for our lives, good or bad.

Someday, God will hold every one of us accountable for whether or not we have accomplished the purpose for which He created us. [John 5:28,29; Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10]

Matthew 25:31-46 - At judgment, the righteous will inherit the kingdom prepared for them by God (v34). This is eternal life (v46). The wicked will go into eternal fire (v41). This is eternal punishment (v46).

Romans 2:6-11 - What determines the reward we receive? Our works. We receive wrath if we work evil and do not obey truth. We receive eternal life if we continue to work good and believe on Him. Our eternal destiny depends on whether or not we accomplish our Maker's purpose!

You may ask, "How do you know we don't cease to exist after death? How do you know we won't be reincarnated? How do you know we will be raised and judged?"

Acts 17:30,31 - We can know what comes after death because Someone has already died and come back to tell us what comes after death. In fact, He will be the One to judge our lives! [1 Cor. chap. 15]

Are you fulfilling the purpose He has for your life?

What rewards will be awaiting you in eternity?

Jesus has laid out His perfect will, are you walking in it?

What are YOU doing for the Kingdom?
5 Comments
Hear My Cry! Jan 17, 2008 5:10 am
Mood: Abiding, 263 Views
Hear my cry, Oh God!
Listen to my prayer!
From the end of the earth will I cry to you!
When my heart is overwhelmed and fainting,
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been a shelter and a refuge for me;
A strong tower against the adversary.
I will dwell in your tabernacle forever!
Let me find refuge and trust in the shelter of your wings.
Selah (Pause and calmly think of that!)


Psalms 61:1-4

It doesn't get any better than that! How I love reading the Psalms.
1 comment
The Sunday School Teacher's Dilemma Jan 16, 2008 3:32 pm
Mood: Laughing, 314 Views
After teaching her elementary-age class the lesson of Jesus and salvation for many weeks, the Sunday school teacher decided to quiz the class.

OK class, if I am a good person and do my work well, will that get me to heaven?

Almost in unison, the entire class shouted, "No!"
So far, so good, thought the teacher. She went on.

If I go to church every Sunday, will that get me to heaven?

Again, the class immediately shouted, "No!"

Very good, they must have been paying attention these past weeks. She continued.

If I give to the poor, will that get me to heaven?

The class responded as she expected, with a resounding, "No!"

At this point, the teacher was feeling smug and quite proud that the class had learned the lesson well. She finally asked,

Then, what do we have to do to get to heaven?

After a brief moment of silence, little Johnny stood up and shouted, "You have to die!"

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

The moral of the story? When asking a child a question, always expect them to tell you the truth.
8 Comments
Breaking Free From Past Wounds Jan 16, 2008 6:19 am
Mood: Free at last!, 619 Views
Are you tired of being chained to your past... emotional wounds, broken relationships, addictions and other areas of your life that keep you in bondage? I want you to know that there IS hope. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and the oppressed.


Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed...

What about the emotional wounds that we all receive along life's pathway? None of us are exempt from being emotionally hurt. God desires for you to be healed of these wounds. Even King David had wounds that needed to be healed.

Psalms 109:22 For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.

Life can be very cruel and hard, giving us emotional wounds and scars that affect our lives in a very negative way. On the outside, we may look good, but on the inside many of us are hurting from the emotional wounds we've picked up along life's journey.

The implications of this are far reaching, because "HURTING PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE." It's an unbroken chain reaction. We must begin to break the chains in our own lives and stop this endless cycle of hurting and wounding one another. Our wounds may have produced major strongholds in our lives that render us ineffective and unproductive, in our Christian walk. This is why many people are unhappy with the way their lives are turning out. This is also why future relationships are subject to failure. We go from one to another, without allowing healing from the past. We have failed to deal with these important issues and as a result, we become impaired from having a life filled with God's riches and abundance.

As individuals it is important for us to break free from the bondage of the past if we are to be successful in the present and the future. Your life DOES NOT have to remain as it is. Too often the bondage of the past impairs us to the present and the future. We are looking through the present and future through the glasses of the past.

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in abundance, to the full, until it overflows."

HOW DOES HEALING COME?


1. We Must believe that Jesus really wants and desires to heal us. - Mark 2:17 & Hebrews 4:14-16.
2. We must come out of denial and openly acknowledge and confess our wound - Psalm 62:5-8, Psalm 118:5-6 and John 8:31.
3. We must have the courage to face the pain and the ugliness of the wound.
4. We must deal with the root and not just the symptom - Amos 2:9.
5. We must forgive and let go - Colossians 3:12-15.
6. We must love our enemies - Matthew 5:44.
7. We must find a safe environment to take off our mask - James 5:16.
8. We must take comfort and strength in God's word - Psalm 119:50, 92-93.
9. We must engage in Spiritual warfare - Ephesians 6:10-14.
10. We must repent in areas where our own sin has caused the damage - Acts 3:19

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider the illustration about a sports car trying to pull a trailer. It wasn't designed to do so, therefore it hindered its ability to function and maneuver according to its design. The same is true about us. God did not design us to dwell in the wounds from the past. And, He has provided ways for us to break free. The only problem is that we get stuck in that place, our focus is on the pain, and we're not willing to do our part to move past the pain. Sometimes, we want God to perform magic, and just whisk it all away, supernaturally. But, that's not how God operates. He has a part, and I promise you, He is willing to do His part. But, then there's a part that we must do also. First, we must be willing to experience the pain, in order to learn and grow. Second, we must be willing to put into practice, the applications He has provided for us to gain the victory.

"Do you really want to get well?" Those words that Jesus asked the man who was afflicted over 30 years, contain an important lesson. If you "really want to get well", you can. I challenge you today, to look up each one of these scriptures and meditate on them for yourself. Then, pray and ask for His help and guidance, you will be asking, according to His will. And, finally, be willing to "Let go of what lies behind, and press on to the GOOD things that are ahead."

I pray that you are willing, because, unconsciously, even if you don't realize it, your wounds will eventually manifest themselves, and end up hurting someone else. And, they will keep you from going forward and receiving God's very best.
24 Comments
Is Your Time Valuable? Jan 15, 2008 2:37 pm
398 Views
Time is something most of us take for granted. We're so busy, so much to accomplish each day, so little time left for things that you didn't make a priority. Rarely do we consider that this day could be our last. What eternal things do we have to show for our time spent each day?


Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.
It carries over no balance from day to day.
Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use
during the day.
What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!
Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed
to invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".
You must live in the present on today's deposits.
Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in things that have eternal value.
The clock is running. What will you do with what you have?

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a
pre-mature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage laborer with kids to feed.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND, ask the person who won a
silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because God gave it to you. Every second, comes from Him.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history, let it go.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift, from God to you.
That's why it's called the present!

Compared to eternity, our time here is so miniscule, yet we waste it on things that really don't have a great deal of significance, in the grand scheme of things. Pretend for a moment, please, just for one moment, that tomorrow is your last day on earth. How would you spend it?
Selah (Pause and think about that)
16 Comments
Grace! Grace! I Need More Grace! Jan 14, 2008 2:43 pm
Mood: Humble, 379 Views
Grace Defined:

We all know that grace is God's unmerited favor toward us. The dictionary says: The unmerited love and favor of God toward man; Divine influence acting in man to make him pure and morally strong.
But, actually, it's also God's Divine enabling, through His Spirit. Through His grace, we are enabled to cope with whatever adversity, trial, or dilemma we face, in a godly manner. We are also equipped by His grace to perform the spiritual tasks He gives us to do.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency, in all things, have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

This is a powerful promise to us concerning His grace. It means that no matter what the situation we are going through, no matter what the problem we are dealing with, and no matter what the task we are involved in, God's grace and sufficiency will be there to sustain us and help us in all that we put our hand to.

These last few days, while sick with the flu, I had the opportunity to experience God's wonderful grace. I couldn't take care of myself, my blood sugar levels dropped dangerously low, but God's grace sustained me. But, it didn't just fall on me, automatically, I went to the throne and asked for it.

...Let us therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

God's grace will not be released in our lives until we learn how to come to Him. We must simply come to Him in prayer, asking Him to pour out His grace into our lives. As we approach the throne of grace, we find that Jesus, our Great High Priest, has gone before us and is, even as we come, already interceding for us.

Another way to receive God's grace is through His Word. He will bring to mind some scripture(s) that are appropriate to our situation.

And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
Acts 20:32

The Word, stored in our heart, provides a mental depository for the Holy Spirit to use, to mediate His grace to us, whatever our need for grace might be.
Another key to obtaining God's grace is clothing ourselves in submission and humility:

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble, therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
1 Peter 5:6
Even if we don't understand why things happen as they do, we must recognize that God, in His sovereignty, ultimately rules in all circumstances in our lives.

What are you going through today? What kind of trouble, anxiety, sickness, heartbreak, or persecution have you come up against recently? Whatever your need is, you need the Divine ability of God's grace working in your life.

Maintain a spirit of humility, not only toward God, but toward all men, meditate on these scriptures, and go to the throne of grace with your petition, and you will find enough grace to see you through. I know, I'm living proof, many times over. And, it's new every day, which blesses me so, because I need it every day. Yesterday's grace is used up, and tomorrow's grace won't be available until tomorrow, but today, you can find all the grace you need.

One last note, if God has called you to a certain task, there's no need to question your ability to perform it. You don't need to wonder how, you don't need to be anxious or worried. He wouldn't call you, without providing you with the grace you need, to accomplish it.
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