Going Through Tough Times? (Romans 8:28-39)

Blessings sometimes come from a bad situation. It's often possible to make something better out of something bad. That's the way God works with us. We don't often do right the first time, but He's always ready to salvage the situation no matter how bad we make it. It is a truth of certainty for everyone who loves God.

Pastor R.A. Torrey said, "This verse is a soft pillow for a tired heart." All things…good or bad; sweet or bitter; victory or defeat; happy or sad; health or sickness; prosperity or poverty; calm or storm; comfort or suffering; life or death...all things work together for good. This doesn't mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our world, but God is able to turn the bad around for our good and for His sovereign purpose in our lives.

Some people do not know why bad things happen to good people. We know all things work together somehow, for good or our best. Bad events and circumstances work together for good. Notice the words of Paul.

I. There is a Purpose for our Problems Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Whatever happens, I can trust God, realizing He is using life's circumstances to conform me into Christlikeness:

II. There is a Process for our Problems Romans 8:29-30
Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:30, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

III. There is a Promise Concerning our Problems (Romans 8:31-39)
Romans 8:31, What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
The fact that people are against me fades in light of the fact that He will furnish all that I need in life, including Christ Himself:

Romans 8:32, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:33, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Accusations against me are meaningless in view of the fact that Christ is in constant communication with the Father on my behalf:

Romans 8:34, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Romans 8:35-37, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. I can rest in the assurance of Christ's love as He promises me complete victory in every situation.

Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. No controlling factors in life can separate me from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus:

Prayer, Father, Since I know You love me, and I know Your plans for me will come to pass, I faithfully discharge the duties I have been given. I perform everything I am expected to do in excellence, whether others are watching or not. I will never give up, cave in or quit! I declare this by faith. In Jesus' name, Amen!

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Persecution, Perseverance, and Payday (Revelation 2:10)

Revelation 2:10, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

1. Persecution.
In 1995, Damare was captured by Islamic soldiers when his Sudanese village was attacked. Only 7 years old at the time, he was sold as a slave to a Muslim family. He became a camel boy even though he knew nothing about caring for them. His master enforced his learning with beatings. One day a camel got away. The master threatened to kill Damare for this mistake, but something restrained him. The next day when he found out that Damare had sneaked away to attend a Christian church in the village he became determined to punish this boy. The master found a large board, several rusty spikes and a hammer and dragged Damare out to the edge of his compound. He forced Damare's legs over the board and drove the long nails through his knees and feet. Then he turned and walked away, leaving the boy laying in the field screaming from pain.

A man passing that way heard Damare's screams and sneaked into the compound and carried this boy to the local hospital where the nails and board were removed. A year-and-a-half later, Damare and the man who saved him were in a village that came under attack, and they were separated. After the defense forces managed to drive away the Islamic soldiers, Damare was left standing alone. When the commander heard him speak, he realized that he was from the Dinka Tribe and took him back to their camp. After hearing his tragic story he tried to locate some of Damare's relatives. When none could be found, the commander adopted the former camel boy and took him to his home.

2. Perseverance.
At age 16 years old, Damare began life again in Mario Kong, Sudan. He cannot run fast like the other boys, but he said he has forgiven the man who nailed his legs to the board. He knows that Jesus was nailed to a cross so all our sins could be forgiven. He has asked the Christian children in America to remember to pray for the children of Sudan.

3. Payday.
We are living in an age of drop outs, and many professing Christians have lost their enthusiasm and stopped serving Christ. Persecution, indifference, and other temptations caused this breakdown, and ultimately John was commissioned to send messages to the churches in Asia. It was significant that at the conclusion of each of the seven letters, Christ urged His readers to persevere to the end, to resist becoming a drop out! That message is relevant today. Christ predicted the suffering that was ahead for believers. However, we are not to fear because we are partakers of Christ. Peter understood and wrote about such suffering. The believer is to rejoice for the privilege of being counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake (I Peter 4:13). The sufferings of this present time cannot be compared with the glory about to be revealed to us. It will be a wonderful day for those who have overcome fear and faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ. There are five crowns mentioned as rewards to the believer for faithful service. These crowns will be given at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Points to Ponder:

• Be faithful and stand firm even in the midst of persecution.
• When your being persecuted, rather than being fearful; be faithful.
• When unbelievers see believers suffer for Christ, the Holy Spirit is be able to use their suffering to speak to them.

Questions to Consider:

• How much are you willing to pay for your faith in Christ?
• Will you gladly suffer reproach from friends, neighbors, family members, and co-workers for His sake?
• Are we willing to pledge life and loyalty to our Saviour?

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I pray for the strength of all believers who are facing some form of persecution to remain firm in the faith that they may endure the sufferings for Your sake. May Your peace and love reign in their hearts and the seed of Your Word be planted in the hearts of those persecutors. I know Jesus is coming soon for His Church, help me to remain faithful and fruitful until He comes. In Jesus name Amen.

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The Exhausted Christian (Ephesians 5:18)

Ephesians 5:18, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

A lumberjack who still used an axe to chop down trees was able to take down four to five trees a day. But then one day, he found out about performance chain saws. The salesman told the guy, "Well look, with this power saw you can chop down fifty more trees than you can chop now with using your own efforts”. The guy was quickly sold and purchased the power saw. He went and immediately tried the saw out. The next day, he came back to the store and plopped it down on the counter. He said, "Man, this is a piece of junk." "What do you mean, piece of junk?" the salesman replied, "I used this thing. I would normally chop down four to five trees a day. I used this thing, and I didn't even get one finished. This thing is junk." The salesman, looking puzzled, asked to take a look at the chainsaw. The guy handed it to him and the salesman took it and pulled the cord……"VROOOM!" The guy who purchased the saw looked surprised and said, "What's wrong with that thing…..why is it making that loud noise?" He had purchased that chainsaw and taken it to the woods, not understanding what he had. Similarly, most Christians don't understand what they have in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

When Lehman Strauss spoke concerning the Holy Spirit, He said, “The Holy Spirit is the The greatest unused power in the world”. Until a person allows to Jesus reign in them through His Spirit, they'll be exhausted. Rather than trying to live in your own strength let Christ live His life through you. When D.L. Moody was asked, “Why do you focus so much attention in your sermons on being filled with the Holy Spirit of God?” His reply was, “Because I leak!” Bar and chain oil is something all chainsaws need, whether it’s gas, electric, or battery. Without it, chainsaws are harder to use, can easily overheat, and get damaged. So, what is bar and chain oil? Bar and chain oil is a lubricant used to reduce friction caused by the metal-on-metal contact between a chainsaw’s bar and chain. How do you know you need bar and chain oil? The chain saw becomes less effective and it begins to make an awful noise! Failure to use bar and chain oil results in a burned-up gear box. Any bar and chain oil will do, but some believers need synthetic oil.

The Bible commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is a command for every believer, not just those who are in full time ministry. We need God’s power for every aspect of life. God does not want control of our lives only for a while on Sundays, but everyday and in every situation. His plan is for His Spirit to control our steps every day in every area of life. Allowing the Holy Spirit to control your life today prepares you to display His power in whatever you do. Surrender your will to His, and you will find yourself walking in the Spirit. To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

When a Believer is filled with the Holy Spirit of God it will affect their:

1. Witnessing (Acts 1:8)
2. Worship (John 4:23-24)
3. Walk (Galatians 5:16-17)
4. Work (Colossians 3:23)
5. Ways (Proverbs 16:7)

Dr. Curtis Hutson said, “Every Christian is as full of the Holy Spirit as he or she has decided to be.” We are filled with the Spirit as we are emptied of ourselves. It is said that when a group of churches met to consider inviting the evangelist D. L. Moody to come to England for a crusade, a young, prideful pastor protested, "Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody'? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" An older, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."

Prayer, My Father, forgive me for trying to live the Christian life in my own strength. No matter how hard I try, I come away feeling exhausted and defeated. Lord, forgive me for thinking I need You to save me, but don’t need You to empower me. I can’t live in my own strength. Will You please live Your life through me? Will You gently show me the ways I rely on my own resources and teach me to live for and by and through You? In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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SPIRITUAL GRAPPLING – THE FLESH VS. THE SPIRIT (GALATIANS 5:16-18)

Galatians 5:16-18, This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

To walk in the Spirit means to be occupied more with Christ. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to make us more Christ-like. It is impossible to be fully occupied with Christ and commit sin at the same time. This is the key to a godly life and sanctification; to be more and more occupied with Christ. When we are led by the Spirit we will be doing God’s will. The flesh is the sinful nature that we are born with and it has its pull in our lives. Believers who walk in the Spirit will not commit the deeds of the flesh.

1. The flesh is very strong and difficult to control.
Every person knows what it is to have their flesh lusting after something, to have it yearning and yearning to lay hold of something. This is the first reason why a believer's only hope to control the flesh is the Spirit of God.

2. The flesh is contrary to the Spirit.
The flesh has within itself unregulated urges and passions. A person senses the desire to do what he or she likes, to lift the restraints and follow their own inclinations, desires, passions, and emotions. This is what the Bible means when it speaks of the "lust of the flesh." However, the genuine believer has another power within their life—the power of the Holy Spirit. When the believer feels the constraint and the pressure between the flesh and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is giving the power to overcome the flesh. The believer who listens to the constraint and walks away from the object of the pressure and calls upon God for the courage to stay away is the believer who walks in the Spirit.

3. The flesh keeps a person from doing what he would.
Every person has experienced the power of the flesh; everyone has caved into the flesh and done something that they did not want to do. They fought against doing it—knew it was harmful or hurtful—yet they did not resist the flesh. They gave into the power of the flesh and did it. The point is this: the flesh is so strong that it often keeps us from doing what we would. The only hope of ever controlling the flesh is to walk in the Spirit of God—in His presence and power.

4. The answer to conquering the lusts of the flesh is the Holy Spirit of God.
The believer is to walk in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It is the only conceivable way one can keep from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. No person has the power to control the lusts of his flesh—not within themself. Bathe yourself in Scripture, that is where your strength will be.

A preacher was speaking to a new convert who had just recently trusted Christ as their Saviour. The new convert told the preacher that there was a struggle inside them to live for Christ. The new convert explained it like a fight within them between two dogs. “Which one wins?” asked the preacher. “The one I feed the most”, said the young convert. Feed your spirit with Scripture.

The reason that we are truly free isn't that our past has been changed, or our present feelings have changed. We may still feel inadequate, unsure, hesitant, afraid. We are free because God has given us His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God within enables us. Freedom doesn't mean life without conflict. It does mean the possibility of life without defeat! Our weaknesses need not drag us down, our past no longer cripples us. The Holy Spirit is on our side in the war against the desires of our sinful nature. We no longer look to the Law and struggle. We look to the Holy Spirit, trust in Him, and do what is right.

PRAYER: Father, I am so thankful for Your forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I long to live a life that reflects You, but I feel powerless to do it. This process of transformation is difficult for me. I seem to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. I want to change, but I need Your help to transform me. Help me to resist responding to how I feel and help me respond in a manner that glorifies You. My greatest desire is to please You. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Finding Purpose (Psalm 32:8)

Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

One of the most common questions people ask me is, “How do I know God’s will for my life?” God has a plan and design for your life. You are not a leaf that fell by chance to be scattered by the wind. Scripture says the steps of a good man are “ordered” by the Lord. (Psalm 37:23).

What a blessed promise from God. God has promised to instruct us and guide us in the way we should go. Notice: This guidance is by His omniscient eye. Psalm 73:24 and Proverbs 3:5-6 points to the same promise. God who knows all and sees all knows far better than we and He is pleading with us to follow His instructions. Unfortunately, every day many reject His guidance.

Joy and fulfillment are ultimately only found in that one goal. Everything good comes from knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. The starting place for that kind of joy begins with kneeling before Him as Lord of your life. God’s will is for you to be a Christian. I Timothy 2:3–4, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God’s will for you to be Spirit-filled. Ephesians 5:17–18, Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. Being Spirit-filled is not an emotional experience or high. It is not fasting and praying. Being Spirit-filled means to be completely submitted to the authority of Scripture in your life.

Everyone searches for meaning and fullness in life. The Bible teaches that the purpose of life is to know Christ and to make Christ known. Daily seek to fulfill God's purpose for your life. Every day ask God to help you accomplish your life's mission. Pray for opportunities to fulfill that purpose by asking for boldness to tell others of God's love. God has a unique plan and purpose for your life. Seek to fulfill God's purpose for your life every day.

People need a plan in their life. God has a plan for your life and He is pleading with us to find, to follow, and to fulfill this purpose. How do we receive this direction from the Lord? Here are at least three ways the Lord instructs us in the way that He is leading us.

1. His Scriptures: God uses His Word to instruct us. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) In the darkness of our uncertainty, God uses the light of His Word to direct our steps.

2. His Spirit: God uses His Spirit to instruct us. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (I Corinthians 2:12) There are some things in life that we will not discover any other way than the Holy Spirit teaching them to us through personal study of and the preaching of God’s Word.

3. His Servants: God also uses godly counsel to instruct us. “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.” (Proverbs 19:20–21)
​
Prayer, Father, I am deeply grateful today that You are willing and ready to assume Your rightful place in my life. As my Creator, only You understand the detail and destination of my life in such a way that I can trust You completely. Teach me to do that in a big way and then renew it each day as I live for You. Thank You for making all this possible through Your Son Jesus who saved me and in whose footsteps I can follow. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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The Darker the Night…The Greater the Light (Matthew 5:14-16)

Matthew 5:14-16, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The island of Fiji is known for more than its drinking water. The island has thousands of species of plant and animal life which make it a fascinating place to visit. One of the most captivating things in Fiji is a dark, branch-like coral which grows 1,000 feet below the surface of the water. At this depth, very little sunlight reaches the ocean floor. Somehow the coral is able to sense this light, and as the sun follows its daily East-to-West circuit, the coral’s branches follow it. Even a dry piece of this coral will follow the light of a candle. This is nothing short of astonishing.

Like light-hungry corals in a sea of darkness, people are desperate for truth. If the church was not in the earth, the whole world would be in a state of corruption and utter darkness. If we bring the Gospel, they will follow the light. God may bring a seeking lost person to the light you bear, but He often acts in reverse by bringing the light to the lost. In other words, He sends light-bearers like you and me to people in need of salvation. As long as there are feet to carry it and lips to proclaim it, the Gospel will continue to enlighten the world. The light is to be placed where its influence can be best used and felt. The question is, are you willing to carry the light as the Holy Spirit bids you?

C. H. Spurgeon says, “True shining is silent, but yet it is so useful, that men ... are forced to bless God for the good which they receive ... when they mark the good works of His saints.” It ought to be our constant prayer and desire before God that He would give us grace to be useful to others, to improve the lives of those whose paths we cross, to make them happier and better for having come into contact with us. Christianity is not a show of religion, but a life of devotion to Christ. It is our responsibility to give out the Light of the Gospel, that we may glorify God, our Father. Every day the Lord allows us opportunities for reaching the lost. The reality is that we don’t even have to go out of our way to find them. Unsaved people are at the coffee shop, department store check-out lines, bank windows, automobile dealerships, telemarketers, grocery stores, your doctor’s office, and even a few doors down the street.

Questions to Consider:
Can they sense the light in my life?
What is preventing me from bringing the light to them?
Who can I share the Gospel message with today?

Points to Ponder:
They will follow if I will only lead the way.
Help me to cast my fears aside, that I may boldly proclaim Your name today.
Every community, city, state, and nation are to be illuminated by the light of believers.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for bringing me to a saving faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. That is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I confess there have been times that I have been silenced by my fear of rejection. I have wanted it both ways; to be an effective preacher without facing rejection. Bring people into my life that I can talk about Your amazing love. Help me to reflect Your light and love to those You allow me to encounter. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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KING JESUS WINS! (Matthew 25:31-33)

Matthew 25:31-33, When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

If you are listening to the media, it appears that Satan is winning this war and that we are without hope. However, I have great news…the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is true, infallible, flawless, never outdated because its prophetic pages are happening even as you read this devotion. The events happening around us today have already been spoken of within the pages of the Scriptures. God is over the affairs of men. It is He who puts rulers on their throne and removes them at His will. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Saviour and those who will repent of their sin and put their trust in Him will have everlasting life with Him in Heaven.

The Son of Man is coming to judge. John 5:22, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: When Jesus comes, He is coming in glory, as the Son of Man and as the King of the universe. When Jesus comes, He is coming with ten thousands of his saints (Jude 14). An innumerable number will accompany Him, demonstrating the glory and honor rightly due Him (Daniel 7:10). The holy angels will be the attendants and ministers of His justice. When Jesus comes, He is coming to be enthroned. When He sits upon "the throne of His glory," He sits in judgment. He will become the Judge of the whole universe, the Judge who is exalted above all. Revelation 20:11-12, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. When Jesus comes, He is coming to gather all nations. All men will be gathered by the angels and brought before Him. Everyone will be gathered before Him in judgment. Judgment is coming. It is inevitable. It cannot be avoided nor evaded. No person can escape the coming judgment. The day is coming when everyone on earth will stand before Christ at the judgment.

Like me, you will one day stand before the LORD and give an account of your life. Because God is perfect and just, He is going to judge us according to His Law. We have all broken God’s Moral Law (lying, stealing, hate, lust. selfishness, blasphemy, etc.) and we are going to be found guilty. He will have to punish us for our sins; the consequence being an eternity in Hell. But there is good news! God provided an escape. Jesus Christ, the Messiah and God manifest in the flesh, took the punishment that we, as guilty sinners, deserve when He suffered under God the Father’s wrath and died on the cross. He then defeated death by rising from the dead. God commands us to repent (to turn away from our sins) and trust in Jesus alone to save us, because no amount of good works will ever be enough to get us into Heaven. Jesus said, “ye must be born again” (John 3:7).

Christ is now sitting on the throne at the right hand of God. There is a difference between the throne of grace and the throne of judgment pictured in this passage. We can now come to the throne of grace for help (Hebrews 4:16). But one day it will be too late to receive help. At this time, His throne will be a throne of judgment to which there will be no approach apart from judgment. Please consider this message. You may not have tomorrow. Revelation 22:20b, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. People get ready….Jesus is coming!

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Spiritual FitBit (Psalm 37:23)

Psalm 37:23, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

The FitBit was launched to the market in 2008 and has done very well. The FitBit monitors your heart rate, counts calories burned, records distance, counts steps, and other features. What’s impressive is that it motivates people to actively work out and become a healthier person. And yes, we all want to be healthier. The Lord wants us to be healthier both physically and spiritually. How can we become more spiritually fit?

Psalm 37:23, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. The thought then is how the path of a good man is established by the Lord. The word ordered has the basic idea of being ‘prepared’ or ‘established.’ God will guide and direct our steps. Walking in the Spirit involves at least three key characteristics. They are direction, dependency, and dedication and are just as necessary in our spiritual walk.

1. Direction – (Psalm 32:8)
Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.
When we walk, we do so because we are headed somewhere. That is direction. God has promised to instruct us and guide us in the way we should go. That guidance is by His very omniscient eye. He who knows all and sees all knows far better than we the path to take.

2. Dependency – (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.
When we walk, we put one foot in front of another, leaning all of our weight on one leg for each step. That is dependency. How often are we tempted to rely upon our own understanding of the issues of life. God’s advice is to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. In every decision and juncture of life, God’s wisdom is to trust Him or look to Him. Life is full of forks in the road. An individual who continually seeks God’s direction for each decision will never go wrong. We often get into trouble because we rely upon our own understanding for decisions which must be made. How can we go wrong when His guidance is so readily available?

3. Dedication - (Matthew 16:24)
Matthew 16:24, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me".
That is the way it should be for all of us if we want to live a victorious Christian life. When we walk and are attempting to go somewhere, we take continuous steps. One step is not walking. Continuous steps are. You have to keep taking steps in order to get someplace. That is dedication. True disciples are few in number. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, there must be denial of self as well as a willingness to suffer even unto death. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ requires total dedication and self-denial. The word deny means to lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests.

III John 4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. God delights in the path of the righteous. Even as a parent delights in the steps of an obedient child, so does our Heavenly Father. In the Bible, God gives us specific instructions on what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go. Psalm 23:3b, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Holy Spirit will lead you in your daily walk with the Lord. Galatians 5:25, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Obeying and following His leading will help you immensely in living a victorious Christian life.

PRAYER, Father in Heaven, thank You that You can be counted on to guide me through my day. Today I need to walk in the hope that only You can give. My way is unclear, my path sometimes feels like it twists and turns in confusing and busy ways as I wind my way along my journey. Show me Your ways, Lord. Show me how You would walk in these places. Remind me by Your Holy Spirit to look to You to guide me. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Spiritual Melatonin (Psalm 3:1-8)

Psalm 3:4-5, I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

David sensed the degree of the trouble that was brewing and he was fearful. As storm clouds were gathering around his life, David’s only resort was to turn to the Lord. In today’s world with all of the pressures of life, often we find it hard to have peace that we may find rest. Too often, believers are worn down spiritually due to the lack of rest in the Lord. A lesson remains for us to this day. When troubles mount, we can always turn to God for help. In Psalm 3, we find truths that act as spiritual sleep aids when we focus our attention on the Lord.

1. God Surrounds You like a Shield (Psalm 3:1-3).
Psalm 3:1-2 sets the stage of David’s trial. Absalom’s deception amongst the kingdom through his smooth speech turned David’s peaceful reign into wartime terror (II Samuel 15). As a result, terror overtook David’s heart as the insurgents mocked him and God’s so-called protection.

When the circumstances of life become fertile ground for anxiety and fear to grow in your heart, make a pivotal change in your focus. Turn from the allegations of the wicked to unshakable truth about God. Say to God, “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Fight fear with the greater fear of fearing God above. Know that, in Christ, God is not against you, but He is for you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. The Lord has proven Himself faithful to me more times than I can count. He will do the same for you. Trust Him.

2. God Sustains You by Your Sleep (Psalm 3:4-6).
David, in child-like trust in God as his protector, led to constant prayer in Psalm 3:4. Cry out to God. Tell Him all your fears. Hide nothing from Him. He knows it all already. When the trials of life threaten to overtake your faith, run to the Lord. Do not cease to cry out to Him for help regardless of the insults of the ungodly people who surround you. He will answer you, as He answered David, and will sustain you with peaceful sleep.

God was the source of David's peace. God can give peace regardless of circumstances. God kept David from going to pieces. God was David's tranquility. Sometimes we wonder how some can carry their trials so well. The answer is that the Lord sustains them in their trials. This kind of rest in the Lord produces confidence. Let Psalm 3:5-6 become your personal testimony.

3. God Secures You with His Salvation (Psalm 3:7-8).
David reveals his confidence in Lord for salvation. He knew that no matter what his enemies attempted to do to him that God always gets the final word. It is the Lord who would strike down David’s enemies. Salvation belongs to the Lord. God cares for those who belong to Him. Though He often leads us through deep waters and dark valleys, His blessing is on His people. There is no reason to fear. Look to Him. Go back to bed. My soul, lay down and sleep.

PRAYER: Lord, the times I rest in Your care, I find labor in Your service is easy. Help me refuse to resist when I get exhausted. Rather, help me to draw closer to Christ by taking His yoke and centering my service on Him alone. May I learn of Him and to study His ways and rest in His fullness. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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Oh, How He Loves You and Me! (John 11:36)

John 11:36, Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

Oh, how He loves you and me, Oh how He loves you and me. He gave His life, what more could He give? Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me; Oh, how He loves you and me. Jesus to Calvary did go, His love for sinners to show. What He did there brought hope from despair. Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me; Oh, how He loves you and me.

It is said that one of the most distinguished statesmen of the times of the American Revolution was once a hopeless drunkard. He had been engaged to a beautiful girl, but his debauchery had compelled her to break the engagement and sever herself from his influence, which was dragging her down. She had not ceased to love him, or to pray for him. One day she was passing along a road. She saw him lying intoxicated by the sidewalk, his face exposed to the blistering sun, and swollen with drink and exposure. Her tender heart was moved, and, as she passed by, she took her handkerchief and gently spread it over his face. An few hours later he awoke and saw the handkerchief and her name stiched on the corner of it. He arose to his feet, and a cheerful thrill of hope and courage came to his heart. "She loves me still," he said, "all is not yet lost. For her sake I will redeem my life." And he did. Oh how much more power there is in the love of Christ to save lost men from despair, if they can only believe that He loves them! He left us the Bible, His love letter to us.

1. Jesus Loves You Eternally. There never was a time when He did not love you. His love for His own is without beginning and without end. It is eternal.

2. Jesus Loves You Perseveringly. Though we sinned in Adam, were born in sin and lived in sin by deliberate choice, His love for us was never broken. Though we sin still, after experiencing His grace, His love does not cease or grow cold. His love is patient, longsuffering, lasting and enduring. God will never cease to love those whom He has always loved. His love is immutable.

3. Jesus Loves You Sacrificially. ‘Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.’ I know that God is good and kind to all men. His compassion reaches to all people. He will not stand idly by and allow one soul whom He loves to perish when He has the power to save that soul! He so loved us that He voluntarily laid down His life in our place! So mighty is His love that, when He knew the price of our souls was His own precious blood, He willingly poured out His life’s blood to redeem us!

4. Jesus Loves You Satisfyingly. His love will be satisfied. He will never lose the object of His love. He will give us all that we can need or desire for all of eternity. He will withhold no good thing from His own. In that great day which is yet to come, God’s creation will stand back in awe and wonder and say, concerning His redeemed people, ‘Behold how he loved them!'

PRAYER: Lord thank You for loving me unconditionally with a supernatural love. May my love for You be shown in my love for those You have given me. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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