Thoughts#2391

Unique Designer’s Clothes

Do you know that is a special set of clothing that is always in style. It is the clothing of character and is best worn in the company of your friends and acquaintances. It requires good qualities to wear this special clothing and it is always a blessing to those who meet us.

Colossians 3 : 12

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

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Thoughts#2390

Use simple message   

Let us ask God to help us in the following areas :

to spread the Good News about Jesus and help us to speak simple terms about God

to understand that it is alright for us to show our own weakness, fear, and trembling.

to speak with words that demonstrate God’s Spirit and power,

to base our faith on God’s power

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

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Thoughts#2389

Trust HIM

God will faithfully meet the needs of those who seek Him. In whatever He leads us to do, He will enable us to do by supplying us with the necessary needs as we continue to trust and obey Him. We must bear in mind that we do not receive when our motives are not pure and not according to His will. Most important of all, we do not receive and do not have God’s help because we do not ask. (James 4 : 2)

Let us examine our motives and relate our needs to God’s commands.

Philippians 4 : 19

And it is He who will supply all your needs from His riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us

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Thoughts#2388

Barren or fruitful

Have you been to the desert?  One moment you can only see desolation, dry sand, and large rocks . The next moment when you come to civilization, you find lush, green grass, colourful flowers of all sorts  blooming profusely.

What a difference - the desolate and the vibrant growth were both in desert climate. The verdant growth was carefully tended, watered, pruned and fertilized. The desolate desert was not.

How do you keep our soul from becoming barren and lean ?

How do we make our lives fruitful and alive ?

Just mediate on the Bible all the time !!

Psalm 1 : 3

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

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Thoughts#2387

HE keeps His promises

Are you in a situation where you are torn  between the desire to surrender your life to the Lord and the desire to be your own person. You may have great plans for your life and you are afraid of God and what HE might do to change your plans.

Do you really love God ?

Do you trust God to give you a full and abundant life here on earth and for all eternity ?

Say yes to both questions and let God take command of your life at this very moment.

Pray to God that you will surrender your will to do the will of God in all things. Acknowledge that HE is a God of love, wisdom, compassion and concern who wants the very best for you.

Deuteronomy 7 : 9

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is the faithful God who for a thousand generations keeps His promises and constantly loves those who love Him and who obey His commands

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Thoughts#2386

HE fills an empty heart

You may have a  good job, a nice house, great friends, and money but still felt empty inside. You could not figure out what was missing.  Have you heard about a "relationship" with Jesus Christ

Participate in small groups where people gather to share their problems.  Here you can talk about your sense of emptiness. Let  the members of the small group pray for you.

The love of Jesus can fill the emptiness in your heart. You will find purpose for your life in the Bible.

Ephesians 6 : 18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

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Thoughts#2385

Do not be discouraged !!

 Today you may be facing trouble that has being caused by people who have wilfully plotted to do you harm.  Do not be discouraged !!

When you make God your stronghold in the time of trouble, no one can defeat you. No matter how powerful they are  in the natural, the odds are in your favour because you trust in the Lord. They may think they have got an edge over you, but God is on  your side and that gives you the advantage!

Psalm 33:10

The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

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Thoughts#2384

Do not be discouraged.

You may have stumbled your way through much of life and tripped at some of the most embarrassing moments. Be confident that in your spiritual life, God has not let you completely fall. His love, care, concern, Scriptures, servants and helpers are all there to keep you from destruction. His hands uphold you. He is there in times of trial

Let us thank God for his steadying influence in our lives. Let us thank Him for lifting us when we have been down, protecting us when we have been vulnerable and comforting us when we have been broken.

Let us praise God for His grace, His glory and His closeness.

Psalm 37 : 23-24   

If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

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Thoughts#2383

Be persistent

What do you do when you become exhausted in prayer, desperate of ever seeing God answer?

Do you give up?

Write God off as being deaf, uncaring, or not true to His Word?

Do not quit. Do not lose hope. In Luke 11:1 - 13 Jesus tells us to persist until we see the answer. We are to keep on asking until it's given to us. We're to keep on seeking until we find it. We are to keep on knocking until the door is opened. Ask, seek, and knock are all present tense verbs here in the original Greek, which means that they speak of continuous or habitual action. Therefore, if we believe Jesus means what He says, we'll do what He tells us to do.

One of the major keys to answered prayer is persistence. . . .

Bear in mind that God’s ways is not our ways. If there is a delay in the answer, you can be sure it is because God has a purpose.

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Thoughts#2382

Mercy and grace

Prayer is a  vital, integral part of my  life.

One of the most powerful, exciting and fulfilling privileges God has given to me is  that of prayer based on the authority of God's Word.

Man instinctively prays in any sticky or happy situation. Whenever we are faced with tragedy, heartache, sorrow or danger, we pray.

I realize that I can come boldly to the throne of grace and receive mercy, cleansing, forgiveness and help for my every need, challenge and opportunity - from  Jesus Himself. I will spend more time in His presence and not be satisfied with an impotent, fruitless life.

Hebrews 4 : 16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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Thoughts#2381

God is good

God is always good. HE is filled with goodness and HE will never run out of goodness.

HE gave us ears to hear - the birds singing, children laughing, and choirs singing. "The earth is full of the goodness of God." (Psalm 33:5)

He has given us the ability to taste and enjoy food - fruit, vegetables, meat, bread etc. "The tender mercies of the Lord are over all His works." (Psalm 145:9)

Let us thank Him for His goodness

Psalm 119 : 68

You are good and what you do is good.

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Thoughts#2380

The power of prayer

We must understand the power of prayer. We must know the great privilege and responsibility we have, in the family of God, to do this for one another. We need God’s intervention in our hearts and our lives !! Prayers invite God to be at work for His purposes in our live. There is power in prayer !

Philippians 4:5, 6.

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

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Thoughts#2379

We are always victorious !!

We will always be victorious with God’s grace and power.

This is the final message of Revelation. It is the song that is sung throughout the Scriptures. This is the assurance that we have from God himself. Our lives will not be lived in vain. Those who criticize, despise, and beat God's people will be exposed and his beloved children will receive justification and salvation from the Father they love.

Isaiah 54:17          

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.

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Thoughts#2378

Always give thanks for everything

We must all learn

how to appropriate the supernatural resources of God by faith

that the Holy Spirit produces the supernatural, spiritual fruit of love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

that the Holy Spirit is ready and eager to lift your load, fill your heart with peace and enable you to demonstrate a thankful attitude, even in times of heartache, sorrow and disappointment

1 Thessalonians 5 : 18

…..give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

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Thoughts#2377

Last ditch effort

Friend, do not give up on any difficult situations. There is hope.

God, through His Spirit and His word, can powerfully change your lives.

Proverbs 3 : 5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

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Thoughts#2376

HE orders your steps

Are you looking for direction, for purpose, for meaning to your life?

Finding the will of God has been difficult for many people. But the truth remains that He promises to give wisdom to any who ask, and we have that privilege when we belong to Him by virtue of having received the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

If you are facing a difficult situation in your life, wait on Him and avoid the usual rush to a decision that might be disastrous. "He is faithful who promised." Depend upon Him to make the way clear as you lay the decision prayerfully before Him.

Psalm 37 : 23

If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;

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Thoughts#2375

Trust is tough

The tough test of trust comes during the moments when we are most afraid. Trust must be purified through the process of trial and tests. When we are in the company of our Saviour, in peaceful times,  His presence will then be sure and constant when we are most afraid.

Psalm 56 : 3

When I am most afraid, I put my trust in you.

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Thoughts#2374

God is timeless

It is amazing that God knows and hears our prayers even before we think about them or open our mouths.

God examines our hearts and knows everything about us. He knows when we sit or stand.  He knows our every thought. He charts our path ahead of us, and tells us where to stop and rest. Every moment, He knows where we are. He knows what I am going to say before we even say it.

Matthew 6 : 8

Your Father knows what you need before you ask

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Thoughts#2373

HE is my attorney

Jesus’ disciples were so convinced of the urgency of passing on to others the message of God's love and forgiveness through Christ that they, and many thousands like them - though they died as martyrs - did not give up their efforts to get the message to us.

When Christ said, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel,' He did not mean only preachers but everyone who believed in Him  Let us publicly acknowledge our love for Christ, and through the enabling of the Holy Spirit we will live  #so that others will want what we have, and we will speak so that they will know what we have.

Matthew 10 : 32-33

If anyone publicly acknowledges Me as his friend, I will openly acknowledge him as My friend before My Father in heaven. But if anyone publicly denies Me, I will openly deny him before My Father in heaven

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Thoughts#2372

Remove that mountain

We all have mountains in our lives from time to time. Just like there are mountains of rock and mountains of ice, our mountains consist of different things – our problems, our attitudes, our stubbornness,………

Sometimes God responds to our faith and He removes our mountain immediately. But other times it is like the iceberg. It seems to cast a shadow on our lives for too long and we fear it may never go.

We must have faith in God, believing in God's power. He will do the casting into the sea in His time. He is the mountain mover and as we ask Him for a tenacity of faith to believe, He will work! Trust God and His power.

Let us ask God to give us a tenacity of faith to believe. Ask God to give us  confidence in His power to work in His time.

Mark 11 : 22-23

Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him"

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Thoughts#2371

HE never fails nor forsakes

Men’s love for money can be compared to  a pan of frogs in cold water placed over a low flame. As the flame warms the water, the frogs relax. And by the time the water is boiling, it is too late for them to jump out of the pan. They are boiled alive. In contrast, if the frogs were placed in a pan of boiling water, they would leap out instantly.

Men’s love for money is being ruined by materialism, the love of money and the love of things. Men are greedy and are grasping for more than they have. Their appetites  become insatiable.

Stay away from the love of money. There is nothing wrong with money.

Hebrews 13 :5

Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never, never fail you nor forsake you'

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Thoughts#2370

How do you pray ??

Some begin prayer times by reading God’s Word. It is best to have a daily quiet time that includes prayer. It may be hours, but start somewhere with a regular time. You cannot expect God's blessing if you fail to spend time with Him.

Frankly, the benefits of time spent in prayer are so great; at times I wonder why we do not pray more! God will bless you as you devote more time to prayer.

Luke 11 : 2-4

He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'

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Thoughts#2369

Stand firm

Let us ask God for help for our friends, neighhours and those around us

to stand firm in Him

to draw them to His heart of love.

to walk in His way.

to reach out to others to call them to follow the example of Christ.

to love those around them dearly and to long for their salvation.

Philippians 4:1

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

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Thoughts#2368

Suffering

Suffering is not a privilege unless it is done for Jesus. The early apostles were counted as worthy to suffer to Jesus (Acts 5 : 41) Jesus suffered so that we could be saved.

As we suffered for the cause of Christ and His works, we help to inspire others to live faithfully in adversity. At the same time we show to others our genuine faith.       

Let us ask God to  make us courageous. Ask God to help us to be faithful in times of trouble and strong in times of persecution, hardship, and suffering.

Most important of all, always share our experience and testimony so that God can be glorified.

Philippians 1:29   

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him

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Thoughts#2367

Be an example

The world needs to see  good examples. They need to see believers walk in love and purity and faith in their homes, in their schools and in their businesses.

In your daily contact with people, they might reject or argue with the words you say. But they will never refute or forget your acts of love. Do not let petty sins and spiritual compromises cast a shadow over your example. Live above reproach and let the light of Jesus shine brightly through you.

Always remember to share your experience and testimony so that God may be glorified.

1 Timothy 4:12

Be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

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Thoughts#2366

HE is near

   

God is with us! God is among us. He is mighty to save. He loves us. He delights in us. He calms the storms of our hearts with his loving touch. He sings us songs of joy. God longs to be close to us and invites us to draw near. What will your response be?

Let us ask God to strengthen our resolve as we turn away from evil and seek to draw near to Him. We want to know Him. We want to experience His presence and to be used as His tool of grace in the lives of others. We need His presence to settle the uneasiness of our soul. Let us thank God for being near.

Zephaniah 3:17  

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

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Thoughts#2365

Fasting

Fasting really has more to do with humility than it does with food "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)  So while the world often stands in fear of the proud, we need to remember that God favors the humble.  The problem is that while humility is a godly quality, it does not come supernaturally like meekness.  It only comes through practice.

When we fast, we are putting the act of humility into practice. We deny ourselves something as basic as food.  We deny ourselves much more than food.  Fasting is a spiritual acknowledgment that it is God who sustains life, not food.  And only through a deep and obedient relationship with God, through prayer and fasting, can we ever fully understand His purpose for our lives.

 Isaiah 58:4

You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high.

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Thoughts#2362

Forgive and forget

Grudge is, "a deep-seated feeling of resentment or rancor." ( feeling of ill-will)

rancor is "bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will." and,

resentment is "indignation or ill will felt as a result of a real or imagined grievance."

If you hold your grudge out at arms length and try to take an honest appraisal of it, you will see that it surely is not the most important thing in your life. Try to put your grudge into its proper perspective. What are some of the truly important things in your life? In fact, your grudge is a little thing that you should put behind you and forget about.

If you do not forgive and forget those injustices, they will take root in bitterness and poison the rest of your life.

Do not let grudge ruin your life.

Forgive and forget it and then move on to the really important things in life.

Mark11:25.

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive

him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. –

Ephesians 4:32.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as

God in Christ forgave you.-

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Thoughts#2364

Nothing is Impossible

Very often we stand face-to-face with situations in our daily lives that need to be changed. Some of those situations look totally impossible. But they  are not.

The next time you are tempted to look at situations as impossible, remember GOD

Luke 18:27

The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

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Thoughts#2363

True freedom

Our personality always wants more and more. We are designed with a great capacity for God; and sin and our individuality are the things that keep us from getting at God. We have to deliver our selves from individuality. We have to present our natural life to God and sacrifice it until it is transformed into a spiritual life by obedience.

John 8:36     

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

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