Thoughts#2422

Being singled out

When you are being discriminated, do not just sit around whining about it. You have been persecuted because you have become a threat to the devil. Under such circumstances, trust the Lord knowing that He is there to help and protect you.

Matthew 5:11-12

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2422

Thoughts#2421

Wait on HIM

When we have committed ourselves to wait on the Lord, there are several things that we have to observe.

Being impatient and decide to follow our own plans apart from God’s leads us directly outside of HIS will.

Ignore pressure from outside sources. Remember that only God’s viewpoint alone is relevant to you.

Do not fear that you will not succeed. Trust God and wait patiently on HIM is your only solution.

Psalm 25:1 - 5

I lift up my soul;  in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No-one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.

2421

Thoughts#2420

Direct access

We do not need to have another being, no matter how strong, holy or special, to mediate for us before God. We can go to God directly, freely, knowing that God has provided us with Jesus Christ, who is our saviour.

1 Timothy 2 : 5 - 6

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time.

2420

Thoughts#2419

Empowered by His Spirit

Have you experience the reality, power, control and fruit of God’s Holy Spirit ?

We have been given strength, through the Holy Spirit to meet our daily needs. We must not let sin hinder us from developing this potential within us. We must confess our known sin and with faith, making use of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, we can be filled with the power of the Spirit. The Spirit will minister to our every need.

1 Corinthians 2:9,10

That is what is meant by the Scriptures which say that no mere man has ever seen, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. But we know about these things because God has sent His Spirit to tell us, and His Spirit searches out and shows us all of God's deepest secrets

2419

Thoughts#2418

Are you happy with what you are doing ?

You may be successful in your profession, having taken steps to advance in your fields, and had found your work gratifying.  There may be times when you become frustrated and angry and complained of doing work that does not bring you any satisfaction.

Spend some time each day with God and ask Him to look into every aspect of the job adds new life and meaning to what you are doing. Very often we seek satisfaction in the wrong places.

Isaiah 55

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?

2418

Thoughts#2417

My vision

When you go up higher, the temptation is greater. When the devil puts in on a higher place, the lure of the worldly things and comfort render you poised and you dare not move. When God puts you on a higher place, you sit comfortably on a stable plane without fear of falling.

Growth in grace is measured not by the fact that you have not regressed, but that you have an in sight into where you are spiritually

Revelation 4:1

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.

2417

Thoughts#2416

Free from sins

   

We can be forgiven of our sins and can be purified of any stains of sin!! We can be made clean and new again. That is God’s grace and perfect sacrifice for our sins

Let us now ask God to forgive us of any lack of passion to love and to forgive others. Ask God to teach us how to forgive others in the same way He has so graciously forgiven us. 

1 John 1 : 9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

2416

Thoughts#2415

What is faith ?

You have faith in your friends or colleagues because they have demonstrated themselves to be trustworthy. How much more should you have faith in God  who has demonstrated His faithfulness and trustworthiness many times over ??

However, God promises can only become a reality only when we act upon them and claim them in faith. Be assured that God’s promises are faithful and true.

Hebrews 11 : 1

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead

2415

Thoughts#2414

Facing uncertain times

Everyday we try hard to maintain some degree of control in our day and in our plans. This measure of control can be shaken at times. God knows we will face uncertainty in our lives. HE offers encouragement and instruction. In order not to be shaken, we have to bring God into focus daily as we begin each day. Walk with Him step by step through whatever our day holds. His presence will not only enrich our ordinary steps today, but will also hold us steady through the uncertain steps of the days ahead.

Psalm 16 : 7 - 8

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken

2414

Thoughts#2413

The tests

   

Many of the struggles in our lives are not simple accidents! Many of them are not put there by God. Our challenges often come from Satan. He always stalks about looking for the best scheme to knock us out of our commitment to and relationship with God . Placing ourselves firmly in the hands of the Lord and using his tools of warfare will help us defeat our enemy who has already been humiliated by Jesus and the cross.

Let us ask God to strengthen us and help us to stand against our foe

Ephesians 6 : 10 - 11   

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

2413

Thoughts#2412

HE is my source

I can not do anything without God.

HE offers me peace in the midst of chaos.

HE offers me strength when it feels like I have nothing left to offer.

HE offers grace beyond what I deserve.

HE offers everything I need for every situation I may encounter.

HE feeds my soul.

John 15 : 5

I am the vine; you are the branches ... apart from me you can do nothing.

2412

Thoughts#2411

Everything is OK

You can find peace, joy and contentment when you focus on God instead of your circumstances. Believe in God's sovereignty.  It enables you to view life differently, because no matter what happens around you... everything is well.

Galatians 5 : 22 - 23

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

2411

Thoughts#2410

Trust.

Yes  we can trust in God. The Lord is really faithful.

As we look at history and we know God to be intensely faithful to His people. We are now assured and can launch out into the future with confidence because God is always there !

Jeremiah 17 : 7 - 8   

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought.

2410

Thoughts#2409

Recipe for success

Be encouraged and never give up!

Proverbs 3 : 5 - 6

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. But in all your ways acknowledge Him

2409

Thoughts#2408

Do not judge others    

   

Very often we allow our personal preference, peer pressure and concerns affect our relationship with our family members and friends. We should not let our personal opinion or position to influence them. Most important of all, we must not judge others. We should always bear in mind to always please God and honour Him in ways we feel are appropriate.

Let us ask God to guide us and help us not to judge others based on human observations and our preference about those conclusions. Ask God to help  give us courage to honor Christ according to our convictions, but also to give us the wisdom to do so in ways that bless God’s  people.

Romans 14 : 5

One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

2408

Thoughts#2407

Be obedient

Whenever things become difficult, who do you blame ?

The right attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. When once we get there, there is nothing easier than living the saintly life; difficulty comes in when we want to take over the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own ends.

Whenever you obey God, you will enjoy peace.  Whenever the peace does not come, tarry till it does or find out the reason why it does not.

You have doubts whenever you cease to obey. When you have obeyed God, the problems never come between you and God. Any problem that comes between God and yourself springs out of disobedience.

John 14 : 27     

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: . . Let not your heart be troubled.

2407

Thoughts#2406

Continue to grow   

   

We know something is horribly wrong when a child is not making progress in his or her growth and maturation. Arrested development is a cause of great concern. The same is true of our spiritual lives. God wants us to progress and mature spiritually. HE wants us to continue to grow.

Let us thank God for loving us and saving us. Ask God to help us to mature, as we seek to follow HIS habits and fill ourselves spiritually with the things that will help us to grow. Let us acknowledge that true growth can only come from God.

1 Peter 2 : 2 - 3   

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

2406

Thoughts#2405

Turning our weakness into strengths

We have the power of the Holy Spirit to fight against our sense of inadequacy. We can turn our weaknesses into victories!!

We have to acknowledge our weaknesses. We have to acknowledge our fears.

We need to pray for strength. Ask God to teach you , to give you knowledge and wisdom

We need to act in faith.

Colossians 1:9 - 12

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

2405

Thoughts#2404

Our real needs

To receive God’s promises we must trust Him and seek His wisdom. To achieve this obedience is important. This shows that we know God cares about us and we care about Him

“Every need Adam had was attended to, but he disobeyed God by falling to a temptation he was warned to avoid.”

Man has continued to seek other pleasures and ignored what God offers freely – His love and devotion. The same love He gave to Abraham, Isaac, David, Mary and the disciples.

God provides all your needs !!

Lamentations 3:22 - 26

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

2404

Thoughts#2403

HE will be there to help me

Imagine you a little fish swimming in a huge river. Are you apprehensive of drinking the whole river dry ?

Imagine you are stranded in a cave high up in the mountain and there is no hope that help will come to you. Are you afraid you might exhaust all the oxygen in the atmosphere ?

"My grace is sufficient for thee."

On many occasions, under all kinds of circumstances, God’s promise always comes true. It has happened in your lives as well as those of many others.

What kinds of needs do you have today?

Are they needs for which God is not able to provide ?

Do you trust Him?

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2403

Thoughts#2402

Do you have the Holy Spirit ?

You may have been given all sorts of ways to know whether or not you have the Holy Spirit. There is only one simple answer : by their fruit you will know them.

What is the definition of fruit ?

Paul gives us the definition of holy fruit 

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL.

Galatians 5:22-23   

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

2402

Thoughts#2401

A life of faith

     

Do you live a life of faith ?

Or do you live a life based on intellect and reason ?

The root of faith is the knowledge of the Person leading you, the assurance that you are safe with Him. A life of faith changes your character. There are many stages in the change of your character, as each time you pray you experience the blessing of God and change takes place in you. A life of faith is a life of experiencing the love of God and His blessings. You will experience many situations where your faith will be tried and proved and it will stand the test. You will live a life of tried faith built on a real God.

Hebrews 11:8

He went out, not knowing whither he went.

2401

Thoughts#2400

Tithing.

Christians should be excited about tithing if only we understand how to do it properly.

Scriptural tithing rouses our faith. It activates the power of God in our lives when we do it in appreciation and joy.

Deuteronomy 26:1-2

When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it,  take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name

2400

Thoughts#2399

Look ahead

   

Life can be very tough.

In the process of living, we face some very difficult circumstances and  experience some awful pain.. The  pain and inconvenience are only temporary. The things that cause our pain are temporary. All these things that we have seen and experienced are passing.

Our eternal glory, our indescribable bliss, that wonderful future that we cannot yet see, is eternal ... forever ... incorruptible ... and reserved for us

Let us ask God to be with us during the painful and difficult passages of our life.  Ask God to help keep our hearts fixed on what is unseen.

2 Corinthians 4 : 17

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2399

Thoughts#2398

Always give thanks    

Prayer is more than making requests to God.

Remember the Bible story of the ten lepers Jesus healed. Those outcasts were miserable, falling apart and isolated. They were hated, feared and despised. Then Jesus healed them.

Nine of them ran towards town anxious for others to see them... to receive their approval and acceptance. Only one returned to Jesus. He fell at His feet, thanking God for the incredible gift of a new life.

1 Thessalonians 5 : 18

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

2398

Thoughts#2397

Be loyal

Do you believe that God engineers circumstances ??

Most of the time we treat the things that happen as if they were engineered by men.

To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, and that is to our Lord. If we learn to worship God in the difficult circumstances, He will alter them in our favour when He chooses.

The idea is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us

Romans 8 : 28     

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.

2397

Thoughts#2396

HE is my attorney

Are you going through some kind of trial right now?

Are you having a difficult marriage or a problem child ?

Whatever you are going through right now, do not give up. Ask God to help you.

Jesus intercedes on our behalf! An intercessor is one who pleads the case of another in prayer. Jesus goes to God in prayer for us.

1 John 2 : 1

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

2396

Thoughts#2395

Step out in faith

There are times when you know what God has called you to do, but  you just do not feel you have the inner resources you need to do it.

Everything you will ever need to accomplish what God has called you to do has been placed inside you by God.

Faith is in there.

Power is in there.

Love is in there.

Believe that. Speak it out.

Step out in faith

2 Timothy 1:4,6-7

Greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears.... I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you.... For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2395

Thoughts#2394

HE is always there

I have encountered difficulties, opposition, problems and challenges. In such times as these, I have needed and claimed the promises of God.

Not only can we be free from fear, but He will strengthen and help and uphold us.

Isaiah 41 : 10

Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand

2394

Thoughts#2393

Be contented

We must learn not to  complain of want, for we have learned in whatever condition we are to be content. We must know how to be abased, and how to abound. In any and all circumstances we must learn  to face plenty and hunger, abundance and want. We can do all things through God

Philippians 4:11-13

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

2393

Thoughts#2392

Change of attitude

God wants us to treat each other as He has treated us, thinking of others' needs and God's will before our own.

Let us ask God to transform our heart and mind by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to take control of our thoughts  and make our heart’s desire to reflect the passion of Jesus Christ. Ask God to forgive our tendency to think of our own importance, our own will and our own self-justification.

Philippians 2 : 5 - 6

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped…

2392