Strengthen Yourself

Answers for Each Day

For today's devotional, I would like you to read 1 Samuel 30:6 again as it contains another truth I want you to see,

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Notice that this verse begins by saying, David was greatly distressed, but it ends this way, but David strengthened himself in the Lord.

It is all right to weep, but when you are done, you need to strengthen yourself. It is all right to grieve, it is all right to express those emotions, but when you are done, you need to strengthen yourself in the Lord.

You need to connect with God in whatever way you find is best for you. If it is lifting your hands and worshiping Him, then that is what you should do.

If it is getting into His Word (which I would suggest for everyone) and spending time feeding your spirit, then do that. If it is reminding yourself about how God has helped you in the past, you need to do that.

Personally I believe that is what David was doing when the Bible says he "strengthened himself in the Lord." I think David was reminding himself about:

· How God delivered him from the lion and the bear;

· How God delivered Goliath into his hands; and

· How God delivered him when Saul tried to kill him.

I am confident David was thinking, "You know, God hasn't delivered me so miraculously in my past to get to this point and to let go of my hand and abandon me. I know He is going to help me now." 

David was strengthening himself in the Lord, and you need to learn to do the same thing.

Prayer

He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint – Luke 18:1

Some of the parables of Jesus Christ are difficult to fully understand or perfectly apply. However the parable of "the unjust judge" is interpreted and applied for us, by the Holy Spirit himself. The point of the parable, Luke tells us in his divinely inspired narrative, is to teach us to never quit praying.

The parable involves a widow who has been wronged. Although the judge she appeals to is corrupt, uncaring, and godless, he eventually hears the widow's case—not because he changes his mind or character, but because she is so persistent with her request.

Jesus then instructs, "Hear what the unjust judge says" (18:6). If even a wicked, unfair judge would hear a case simply because of the perpetual applications of a citizen, then how much more will the loving God of heaven, who delights to care for the needs of His children, hear and answer prayers? He may delay, for His own good purposes, but He will certainly be sensitive to their cries.

There are many temptations to faint in our prayers to God — our own sense of unworthiness, no apparent or immediate answer, the temptation to take matters into our own hands. But Jesus says always, always pray. Do not faint. You are being heard by your just and caring and tender Father, even as you speak.

Through Kindness and Love

Answers for Each Day

In Romans 12:20 we read a startling truth,

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

Our natural inclination is to hate our enemies, isn't it? But the Bible gives us a very different perspective and direction. We are to care for and love our enemies. In fact, some of the greatest antagonists to the gospel have been won through love.

We once had a neighbor next to our church building who was very set against us and very vocal against the church. He would voice his opinion in meetings at the city hall and, on occasion, he would even accost people as they were walking to church. He would shout things at them and harass them a bit from his front yard.

Well, we had one of our pastors go out of his way to show this guy love. He would compliment this man on how well he took care of his lawn, and he began to build a relationship with him. Then one day he actually led the man to Christ!

That same man who would yell at the church members as they walked by his house came into our auditorium and repented before me with tears in his eyes and apologized. He said he had lashed out because he was afraid. But now he had come to Christ, and he had been saved.

It is a glorious thing. He was won to the Lord through kindness and through love.

Think about God. I am so glad that He did not judge us and let the hammer fall on us because of our sins. Instead He extended kindness and mercy to us.

Win your enemy to Christ by showing him kindness and loving him today!

The Results of Insecurity

by Dr. Charles Stanley
Psalms 143:8

We've already seen some of the areas where insecurity shows up. Now we need to turn our attention to its effects.

To start, insecure people have difficulty establishing good, lasting relationships. They simply cannot see how they could add value to anyone else's life. This is a tragic loss, because every single one of us needs deep and meaningful friendships to help us grow.

Also, men and women with insecurity are often seen as prideful or snobbish. Lack of confidence can cause them to withdraw from others, which can easily be mistaken for an act of arrogance. They can thereby give the impression that they simply don't want to be around others.

What's more, insecurity frequently leads to indecisiveness and fear. People can be so consumed with self-doubt that they can't make any decision at all. They wonder, What if I make a mistake? Well, so what if they do? Making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn how to do something correctly. Don't be afraid to try. Even if you don't succeed, you can at least rest in the fact that you did your best.

After a while, insecure people typically get angry. When they go so long feeling so poorly about themselves, they start to resent the success and happiness of others.

Can you see how something as subtle as a lack of confidence can have a debilitating effect on one's life? Don't allow such devastation to affect your relationships. Pray for the ability to recognize areas of self-doubt. And then start to take control today by asking the Lord to heal your insecurities.

THE HIDDEN AGENDA – 2 Samuel 2:1-4; 5:1-3

  by Bonnie Ricks

    In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah ?" he asked.
    The LORD said, "Go up."
    David asked, "Where shall I go?"
    "To Hebron ," the LORD answered.

    So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel .  David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.  Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah . 2 Samuel 2:1-4 NIV

 

    All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood.  In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel , and you will become their ruler.' "

    When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron , the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel . 2 Samuel 5:1-3 NIV

 

Without confirmation of any sort, David followed what He thought God wanted him to do, packed up his entire nation and moved to Hebron . The events that followed were filled with intrigue, deceit, murder, and other acts of violence.  To put it mildly, the circumstances were less than ideal.  But God accomplished His purpose anyway. 

 

In our lives, it is rare that we function in what could be considered ideal circumstances.  As a matter of fact, there are times that we wish we could just get through one day without a problem of some sort.  We complain and fret, wishing we had things better.  We notice other people whose lives seem to run smoothly, and we envy them.  We argue with God that He should bless us more.  All the while, He is blessing us.  But we are so busy worrying about the circumstances that we fail to see His work. 

 

Through our adversity, He strengthens us.  Through our trials, our faith grows.  Even in the midst of impossible circumstances, He is there.  In the midst of all the mayhem of our lives, we can trust God to continue to work to bring about His will.

 

“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13 NIV

Sefless Love

by shani4jc

I read a story a few days ago about a couple who adopted two special needs children. One of the children was a cocaine baby.  She had been left unable to hear, see, speak, or move.  She was adopted by the couple at seven weeks and the doctors said she would live a year at the most.  She lived six.  The couple was responsible for meeting her every need.  They had to feed her, bathe her, dress her, and turn her.  They did all of this knowing that she would never be able to do anything for them in return.  They poured love into her knowing that she would never be able to express her love for them.  They sang to her, talked to her, and asked her questions knowing that they would never hear her voice in return.  They did all of these things for the second child they adopted as well.  Two children with no ability to do anything for themselves...two children who could never hug them or kiss them or call out their name...tow children who were totally dependent on their parents for everything...two children who could never express their appreciation or their love for what their parents did for them...yet this couple did it hour after hour, day after day, month after month, year after year.  We look at this and wonder why they did it.  What could they possibly get out of this type of relationship?  It' s hard to fathom or begin to understand why they did what they did.  It's even harder to fathom or begin to understand why God did the exact same thing for us.  He, too, adopted children who would be absolutely dependent on Him every single day of their lives.  He adopted children who He would have to be totally responsible for and who would be unable to take care of themselves apart from His help.  He adopted children to whom He would pour His love out, knowing full well they would never be able to return that love.  He knew His children would never be able to express their gratitude for what He had done for them.  Knowing all of this, He looked at us through eyes of the purest love known, and He chose us to be His own.  We have nothing to offer Him except ourselves with all of our weaknesses, frailties, problems, and needs.  And He still chooses us day after day after day.  This is the truest love the world will ever know.

"God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure."  Ephesians 1:5

Resist The Devil!!!

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

I have often heard, “What can I do to fight the devil?”, or, “ That devil just won't leave me alone!”, and, “How can I get rid of this evil spirit that follows me around”?

 

Our Bible verse today answer those questions in a two step phase. First we must “submit” then we must “resist”.

 

I believe the first step is harder than the second. People just don't want to submit to anyone. Folks tend to think they know what's best and go about trying to have their own way. Well, early on I found out I didn't know it all. On my job I realized others could do it better and faster. In my marriage I recognized my wife's gifts I didn't have. In ministry God let me know real quick I was not very smart concerning my Bible and spiritual matters. Yes!, Christian friends, we must “submit” ourselves to God in every way.

 

The second step is so simple we tend to overlook it during a crisis with the devil. Some people try to talk to and reason with the devil. Devil wins every time. Some shallow Christians try to ignore or pretend its not the devil that is bothering them. Devil wins again. Then there are a few folks who will turn to their Bible for help. They find Jesus rebuking the devil, turning his back to the devil, and, ordering the devils to be gone. Jesus resisted the devil!

 

When the devil comes at me with temptation, I remind him of how and where I got saved. I try to tell him of my salvation experience. Suddenly, I find my self talking to my self. The devil has left the scene!!

 

THANK GOD FOR THE BLOOD OF JESUS THAT CLEANSE US FROM ALL SIN!

 

God Bless;
Walter D. Hill D. Min.

Love Your Enemies

by Skip Heitzig
Getting even feels good! That’s why people do it—vengeance temporarily gives them a sense of satisfaction, though it quickly dissipates into regret. Have you ever read one of those invoking psalms? You know, the ones where David called down God’s wrath on someone? “Break their teeth in their mouth, O God!” (Psalm 58:6). While it’s not my life verse, I confess I’ve invoked a curse upon” another on the road or over parking spaces from time to time.

But I’ve learned something else: As I truly pray for people, my heart begins to change. As I start asking God to bless them, my heart begins to soften and becomes more Christlike.One of the greatest virtues that separates Christianity from other belief systems is that we are taught not to avenge ourselves nor ignore our dissenters.
We are commanded to love our enemies.

This kind of response was virtually unheard of in antiquity. Human nature—then and now—is best summed up in the Old Testament law known as the lex talionis, which prescribed a restricted vengeance of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (see Exodus 21). Vengeance limited to fair restitution is one thing, but to bless instead?

Remember, there was a time when you were unlovely, when you rejected Him, when you failed to love others the way He does, and yet Jesus loved and died for you (see Romans 5:8).

While we will feel upset—in the car or the grocery line or in conversation—we can choose to show His compassion, His patience, His humility and tender-heartedness. In this way, we avoid the vanity of vengeance—by the sweetness, the kindness, the respect and wonder of His love. 

Prayer
Dear Lord, I confess that I have often acted on my anger and tried to punish other people for hurting me. Please forgive me and help me to love my enemies, trusting that You are more than able to defend me. Please also use me to reach others, regardless of how they treat me, with the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God’s Vision in God’s Land

by Max Lucado

Joshua 21:45 says, “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”  Joshua and his men went from dry land to the Promised Land, from manna to feasts, from arid deserts to fertile fields. They inherited their inheritance: the glory days of Israel. This is God’s vision for your life. You, at full throttle. You, as victor over the Jerichos and giants.

Paul describes it as a life in which “Christ’s love has the first and last word in everything we do” (2 Corinthians 5:14).  A life in which Paul says, “we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:16). A life defined by grace, refined by challenge, and aligned with a heavenly call. In God’s plan, in God’s land…God’s promises outweigh personal problems. Victory becomes a way of life! Your glory days await you!

From Glory Days

Sand in the Snake Oil

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8 

Earlier this year you may have seen a Pew Research Center report that America is rapidly becoming less Christian and more atheistic. The number of adults claiming no religious affiliation increased to 56 million, an all-time high. Almost a third of those are self-described atheists.

Before you grow too discouraged over these trends, remember what the early church faced. The New Testament Christians were a small, despised minority, unpopular, opposed, and often persecuted. The government pressured them, and their culture looked down on them. They were reviled. But they were also resolved. These stalwarts held to their convictions and changed the world.

God’s people have always been yeast in the dough, salt in the wound, light in the darkness, and sand in the snake oil of secularism. There’s no silencing a Christian who, like Esther, is willing to speak the truth with the attitude, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). The apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
In Christ, we can uphold our convictions, whether in life or in death—whether anyone else does or not.

If I live, well, praise the Lord. If I die, well, praise the Lord. If I live or die, my only cry will be: Jesus in me, praise the Lord.
Ray Hildebrand

Editor's Note: Sorry about the past three days and no Devotionals... I got sidetracked with the October paper and my focus is now on printing two papers in October instead of one... Hope to get it all back together this weekend...
 

Reasons to Surrender

by Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As we learned yesterday, God tells us to surrender our lives to Him. This is no small task. All our plans, every desire we feel, each entitlement that once seemed our right—everything is put aside in order to make way for our King’s will. But perhaps you have wondered why God can ask this of us.

The Lord has every right to demand that we give Him our all. First, Scripture teaches us that He is sovereign—the King and Ruler over the entire universe. As a result, we are under His authority, whether we choose to submit or not. Next, through His death and resurrection, Jesus saved us from our sin and its consequences. Therefore, we are indebted to Him more than we could ever repay. And finally, He sustains us; we should consider each breath and heartbeat a gift from Him.

Undoubtedly, God is entitled to ask that we yield our life to Him. At the same time, surrender is in our best interest. The Father promises that following Him leads to hope and an established future. Psalm 31:19 states, “How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You . . .” So, while He is the Almighty One with all authority to demand our life, He promises to care for us and to do what will benefit us most.

Are you willing to put yourself aside in order to follow Jesus? His way is best, and it offers hope, joy, and peace. We will not always like everything He chooses at the moment, but He promises to work all things for good. Will you trust God enough to hand the reins over to Him?

Repentance in the Believer’s Life

by Charles Stanley

Proverbs 28:13
Is repentance necessary in the believer’s life? Yes, and we can see this critical truth in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” You may say, “The word repentance isn’t in that verse.” But let’s take a closer look.

Remember, “to repent” simply means to change your mind. For unbelievers, this refers to saving faith—that is, the decision to place trust in Jesus. But for Christians, repentance involves a change of heart with regard to behavior or attitude. We must make an ongoing decision to lead an obedient, Christlike life.

In 1 John, this choice is represented by the word confess, which originally had the sense of “agree with.” In other words, if you confess your wrongdoing to God, you are coming into agreement with Him about that sin and, in turn, disagreeing with your previous view. Here, confession isn’t a matter of salvation; rather, it means allowing the Father to continually reform your mind, molding you more and more into the image of His Son.

God absolutely hates sin. So if you agree with Him about sin, then you are changing your mind about the disobedience in your life. Thoughts, attitudes, and actions that once seemed perfectly natural will no longer fit with who you are. As God continues to work in your life, your mind will gradually reject old thought patterns, and you’ll more closely represent His way of thinking.

Is there sin in your life that has become too uncomfortable to bear? Confess the matter to God, and allow Him to change your mind about it today.

A Right View of Repentance

by Charles Stanley

Acts 2:37-39
Preaching the truth about Jesus Christ in Acts 2, Peter left thousands of listeners asking the same question: “What shall we do now?”

The apostle’s response is simple: “Repent, and . . . be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). As a result, 3,000 people were added to the new church that day (Acts 2:41).

Is this the message of most churches today? Does it seem strange that Peter said “repent” instead of “believe”? Actually, Scripture often uses these concepts interchangeably. You see, repentance and faith are really two sides of the same coin: Both are essential for salvation, and each is dependent upon the other.

In terms of salvation, you cannot separate faith and repentance—both happen simultaneously. In order to be saved, you must place faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and that faith decision requires a change of mind (repentance) about your way of life. Yet many people mistakenly believe they must change their way of living long before they can make a faith decision for the Savior. The truth is, repentance does not mean that we must completely change our ways and “clean ourselves up” so we can receive Christ as Lord.

If you’re holding off on a decision for Christ until you think you are “ready” or “worthy,” you’re waiting in vain. Jesus is ready to receive you right now. Only as a child of God will you find the power—His power—to truly become the person you were created to be.

Building Trust When Faith Wavers

by Charles Stanley

Mark 9:21-24

Since faith is the core of our Christian experience, the consequences of wavering faith are far-reaching. Vacillating trust can lead us to make wrong decisions. Sometimes, after praying for direction, we might receive an answer that leads us to think, I can’t do that. So, instead of asking God to strengthen our faith, we make excuses. We may choose to postpone our obedience—even indefinitely—in order to do something else we consider just as worthwhile. But partial obedience is still disobedience, and it leads to situations that can be dire.

When our faith falters, not only can it result in poor choices, but it also is costly. The Israelites wandered 40 years in the desert because the nation allowed unbelief to overtake their faith. Wavering trust can make us miss out on the blessings of God; it often proves detrimental to those we love as well.

Our confidence will also be affected by shifting faith. When we are spiritually unsteady, we can easily be shaken by little things—even insignificant matters. Instead of standing firm, we may find our confidence eroding. Then we become less willing to take the risks God is asking of us. Rather than acting with certainty, we question and doubt what we are hearing from the Lord. We may also find joy diminishing because our wavering faith has led us away from God’s will. The inner peace of God that we once enjoyed evaporates as our faith weakens.

No matter how unsteady our faith, God invites us to draw near so He can strengthen our trust in Him. When He does, accept His invitation and give Him the glory.

When Our Faith Wavers

by Charles Stanley

James 1:1-8
Faith is the heart of our Christian life. It is the means by which we are saved, receive forgiveness for our sins, enjoy a personal relationship with the Lord, and have the assurance of our salvation. By faith, we experience the peace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Bible also tells us that praying in confident trust “avails much” (James 5:16 NKJV). Yet our lives and especially our prayers tend to be characterized by doubts and wavering faith.

Our faith wavers when . . .

We apply human thinking to our circumstances. Sometimes God is going to require us to do something with which human reasoning disagrees (Isa. 55:9). 

We allow our feelings to overcome our faith. It could be a sense of unworthiness or inadequacy that trips us up. Fear of criticism or failure might cause us to doubt we can do what the Lord asks.

We fail to see God at work in our circumstances. Doubts creep in when we have asked Him to take action but nothing appears to be happening.

We have guilt over sin, past or present. We cannot operate with strong faith when we are under conviction of sin or dwelling on guilt over past wrongdoing.

We listen to the enemy’s lies. Satan is the father of lies, and his objective is to have us reject God’s truth and believe his deception instead.

Faith is defined as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). What is the condition of your faith? Do confidence and conviction describe you?

We Are All Sinners

It is important that we place ourselves in the same category as those we are witnessing. 

The Bible tells us clearly in Romans 3:10, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” In Romans 3:23, the Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Dr. Sumner Wemp used to say that, “We are all in the same boat. We’ve all done wrong.” 

When sharing the Gospel we do not want to be pointing our finger at those we are witnessing to, condemning them. It is important, however, that we make this point – that all of us are sinners. 

Your friend,
David Teis

God Is in Control

Proverbs 16:1, “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.”

Why do people worry? People worry and they freight because we forget the very simple truth that our God is in control of all things. We also forget that God cares about us and that His Word promises that He will work all things together for good.

It is very clear from this passage of Scripture that God knows what man is planning the preparations of the heart in man and the answer of his tongue. He not only knows what a man is planning to do, but He also knows what men are planning to say. We have no fears because God is in control. He even controls the wicked when it comes to their reaction to His righteous children.

Proverbs 16:2 tells us that man thinks he is clean. Man thinks that he is doing the right thing. “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;”However the Bible says God weighs His Spirit. All we can do is look at our actions. The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:8 that even deceive ourselves into thinking we are righteous. That is why it is so important that we lay our actions against the Word of God.

The Bible tells that God knows our true heart. Our heart is deceitful above all things. God knows that man is spiritually dead. Ephesians 2:1 is very clear. God also knows the intent of man’s heart. If man is left to himself, he will come to no good.

The awesome thing is that God loves us. He loved us so much that He became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. He suffered, died, and paid the penalty of our sin. He was buried and then three days later rose from the dead and was seen by hundreds of people. If we receive Him, we become children of God. Then we can be used by Him to advance His kingdom. This is the only way we can do anything for Him.

Proverbs 16:3, tells us to commit our way unto the Lord. We will examine that verse next time.

Your friend,
David Teis

The power of your testimony of faith

As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”  Mark 5:18-19

A defendant is sitting quietly in a courtroom as his life hangs in the balance. He knows he’s innocent, and only the testimony of the next witness can exonerate him. And if this witness testifies, he’ll no doubt be set free.

His lawyer stands up and tells the jury, “Ladies and gentlemen. I’m not going to call the next witness. Instead, I’m just going to tell you that what he has to say will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that my client is innocent of all charges.” The attorney sits down and rests his case.

That makes no sense at all, does it? Why wouldn’t he call his most powerful witness to give his testimony? Why would he simply trust the jury to believe his statement? A testimony is crucial here. You can state the truth, but an actual testimony is so much more powerful.

When it comes to sharing their testimonies of faith, many Christians are sinfully silent. But a testimony is the most powerful evangelism tool you have. Share your story of faith with others and let them know how God has changed your life… and can change theirs too!

MAKE YOUR TESTIMONY OF FAITH KNOWN TO THE LOST IN YOUR LIFE AND LET THEM KNOW HOW GOD CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES TOO!


by Dr. Jack Graham, please visit www.jackgraham.org

Bows and Arrows

“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Children …are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.” - (Psalm 127: 3 -4) In our culture today it is obvious that we do not have the values of God in many areas of the way we live. In this magnificent little psalm Solomon declares that children are a gift from God – we should be filled with joy when we realize we are going to be parents. Although millions of people do agree with God on this value, there are many millions who do not. That is painfully obvious as many, many millions of children are aborted every year simply because they are not wanted. In this beautiful psalm Solomon gives us an inspired metaphor. He writes that children are like arrows and their parents are like bows from which they are thrust out into life. This means that being parents is a solemn and serious responsibility. The way some young people are thrust into life makes me think of the poet who wrote: “I shot an arrow into the air; it fell to earth I know not where.” As David faced the giant Goliath, he said magnificent and wonderful things. The king was watching from the top of a hill. The king asked his general “Whose son is that young man?” When David reported to the king with Goliath’s head, the king asked the same question. It is as if he was saying to David “You are a beautiful arrow, but I want to meet the bow from which you were thrust into life.” If you are a parental ‘bow,’ rejoice and trust God to make you more than the best bow you can be.

How to Experience Christ's Peace

John 14:27-31

"My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). Jesus spoke these amazing words just hours before His crucifixion. His peace isn’t dependent upon external circumstances, but rather, it transcends them. Although He gives His peace to every believer as a gift, our experience of it is related to our faith in the following truths:

• God is in control of everything. Without this assurance, the world is a scary place.
• He loves me and will see me through every circumstance, no matter how difficult or painful it may be.
• To have Christ’s peace, I must surrender my life to Him. When I hold onto my ways and plans, I’ll experience turmoil.
• I have a limited perspective and understanding of my circumstances and God’s purposes for allowing them. His goals for me are greater than my immediate comfort.
• The Lord promises to work all things out for my good. He is continually working to transform my character into Christ’s image.
• I must live in sync with God, walking in the Spirit and promptly confessing and repenting of sin.
• Scripture is my foundation for peace. It increases my trust in the Lord’s goodness, assures me that He keeps His promises, and reminds me of His sovereignty over every situation.

Sadly, many Christians live their whole lives without consistently experiencing this incomprehensible peace. Perhaps faith and submission are the most challenging issues. But only as we surrender control of our lives to Christ and trust in His plans for us will we discover tranquil rest for our souls.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley

The Source of Confidence

Psalm 33:12-22 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you. In what or in whom do you put your confidence? What gives you hope? What causes you to breathe a sigh of certainty? Too many people look in the wrong place for confidence. Some find comfort in the right political party, military muscle or economic strength. Personally, we strive for the right job or financial security. Let’s face it. We like to place our bets on strong, charismatic people and money. God laughs at our misguided assurance. Human strength, no matter how convincing or clever, is no match for God. He keeps his eye on those “whose hope is in his unfailing love.” At the end of the day he alone is our only Deliverer, our only Helper, our only Shield. The wise person waits in hope for the Lord. Father, I confess I am tempted to look to military strength, political leaders and money as sources of confidence. Forgive me. May I always put my trust in you alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Join us on The Journey at www.oneplace.com to listen to today’s broadcast. For more resources from Ron Moore, visit www.ronmoore.org.

Faith Sets the Bow

"And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud"   (Genesis 9:14).

Just now clouds are plentiful enough, but we are not afraid that the world will be destroyed by a deluge. We see the rainbow often enough to pre- vent our having any such fears. The covenant which the LORD made with Noah stands fast, and we have no doubts about it. Why, then, should we think that the clouds of' trouble, which now darken our sky, will end in our destruction? Let us dismiss such groundless and dishonoring fears.

Faith always sees the bow of covenant promise whenever sense sees the cloud of affliction. God has a bow with which He might shoot out His arrows of destruction. But see, it is turned upward! It is a bow without an arrow or a string; it is a bow hung out for show, no longer used for war. It is a bow of many colors, expressing joy and delight, and not a bow blood-red with slaughter or black with anger. Let us be of good courage. Never does God so darken our sky as to leave His covenant without a witness, and even if He did, we would trust Him since He cannot change or lie or in any other way fail to keep His covenant of peace. Until the waters go over the earth again, we shall have no reason for doubting our God.

Godly Living in an Ungodly Age

Titus 1

Our Founding Fathers created a governing framework based upon biblical principles. Slowly, we have changed from “one nation under God” to a group of people who no longer want Him to be involved.

Tragically, we’ve become, in numerous ways, an ungodly nation: many are driven by materialism and power; immorality and rebellion are prevalent; empty philosophy and false doctrine are widely acceptable. Underlying it all is a vocal decision to take God out of the nation’s “official business.”

Yet even in an unbelieving society, people can, as individuals, follow Jesus. But the world will continually disseminate faulty teachings, so believers must be discerning. Otherwise, erroneous messages can lead Christians to compromise their convictions. Then affections and priorities may change. Don’t let the world’s clamor make the Spirit’s voice less audible. Without His guidance, our minds become vulnerable to lies.

The Word of God is a compass that keeps us headed in the right direction—even in the midst of confusing messages all around. We need to be consistently filled with truth by reading, believing, meditating upon, and applying Scripture. God also tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). If our minds are focused upon Him, unholy beliefs will not be able to take root.

The Word is our guidebook. We will still face difficulty as we live in this imperfect world—it is a confusing, dark place that entices us but never fulfills our true longings. Yet God’s truth will bring confidence and boldness, and His Spirit will direct and strengthen, enabling us to live victoriously.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

Unity, Liberty, and Charity

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” - (John 17:20–21)

Have you ever noticed there are some people who like to fight? They like to argue, and they are unhappy when they are happy. So they find something to get worked up about, something new to debate. They love conflict. It’s a sad way to live.

When I was a younger Christian, I felt that it was my job to set everyone straight. I had been a Christian for about a year and had been reading the Bible and going to church almost every night of the week. I thought, I’m going to set everyone straight. That was the way I was.

I knew everything. I had the answer to every question. And if you held a view different from mine, then I was going to talk you out of it and into mine.

I don’t feel that way anymore. Obviously, I want everyone to believe in Jesus. But if you have a slightly different take on a theological truth than I do, I don’t feel that it is my job to convince you. I like this statement regarding believers: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” The word essentials refers to the most important theological doctrines like that of the Bible being the Word of God, Jesus Christ being the only way to the Father, and salvation coming through Christ and Christ alone. Those are the essentials. In essentials, unity. We don’t ever flex on essentials.

But in nonessentials, liberty. What are nonessentials? Things like the style of music. Some people like it loud. Some people like it quiet. Some people like a certain style. Some people like another style. These are secondary issues. We should never divide over them. In nonessentials, liberty.

Finally, in all things, charity, which is another word for love. Be loving.

Do you love conflict and do you want to set others straight? How much is charity a part of your approach?

Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org

A New Struggle

by Colin Smith

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

Christ gives his people a new heart and a new Spirit, but then he also gives us a new struggle. Don’t expect the road ahead to be easy.

That’s what we learn from both the story of David and the story of Jesus. After David was anointed he had to put up with Saul. What happened after the Spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism?

The Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil. He launched out into public ministry where he faced intense opposition and the relentless demands of the crowds. Then he goes to a cross where he suffers and dies in agony—no crown yet.

There was a great struggle between the day of Christ’s anointing and the day when he rose from the dead and ascended in power and glory to take his seat on the throne. The pattern for David was the pattern for Jesus, and the pattern for Jesus will be the pattern for us!

Christ gives you a new heart. He fills you with his Spirit. Then it’s back into the world with all its pressures and relentless demands – back to that difficult marriage, that secular school, that hostile environment. Why? To honor Christ there!

So Christ offers us a new heart, a new spirit, and a new struggle. Saul had none of them. David had all of them. Saul lived with a crown, and in the end he lost it. David lived without a crown, but in the end he gained it.

Which of these two would you rather be?   

[Based on the sermon series "A Tale of Two Kings"] 
For more resources by Colin Smith visit Unlocking the Bible, where you can request a free sample of LifeKEYS Daily devotional, listen to the radio program, or browse other gospel-centered, Christ-exalting resources. You can also follow Colin on Twitter.

Do You Scare Yourself?

by Paul Tripp

Are you scared of you? Some mornings I look in the mirror and scare myself, but there’s something much less comical and much more destructive that I should be afraid of. It’s the dark condition of my heart.
In Psalm 51, we encounter a man terrified of himself. David, after being confronted by the prophet Nathan, pens this phrase: “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (Psalm 51:2-3, ESV) David doesn’t explicitly use the words, “I’m afraid of me,” but he employs a “trinitarian vocabulary” to express his fear.

1. Iniquity

Iniquity is moral uncleanness. We don’t become morally unclean because we commit acts of moral uncleanness. Rather, because we’re morally unclean from our beginning, we’re capable of committing morally unclean deeds.
The reason we think those vile thoughts and say those hurtful words and commit those violent actions is because we’re unclean in our soul. We ought to be terrified of our iniquity and the harm it can cause. It’s only when we recognize the depth of our uncleanness that we will reach out for purifying grace from the Divine Trinity and begin to experience personal change.

2. Sin

Sin means “missing the mark.” Select your most skilled archer, hand him the finest bow, and wait for the day with the most beneficial weather conditions. Even at the peak of human effort, the target is too far away for any archer to hit.
That’s our righteousness - on our best day, our deeds are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We ought to be terrified of our sin and the inability it causes. It’s only when we recognize the depth of our helplessness that we will reach out for empowering grace from the Divine Trinity and begin to experience personal change.

3. Transgression

Transgression is trespassing. It’s parking in the “No Parking” zone, even though you tell yourself you’re going to be in the store for just three minutes. You know the law has been established, but in that moment, you couldn’t care less.
When you yell at your spouse or child, when you browse the Internet for explicit content, or when you cheat someone, you’re not doing so out of ignorance. We ought to be afraid of our transgression and the boundaries it enables us to cross. It’s only when we recognize the depth of our rebellion that we will reach out for rescuing grace from the Divine Trinity and begin to experience personal change.

A Divine Trinity

This “terrible trinity” of words captures with power and clarity the dark and destructive nature of our hearts. Iniquity, sin, and transgression ought to produce fear in our soul and drive us to seek the help and hope that can only be found in the Divine Trinity.

We need a Father who will exercise sovereign power to establish a plan that will rescue us from us. We need a Son who will take our punishment and earn forgiveness on our behalf. We need a Spirit who will dwell within in us and empower us to do what we would not be otherwise able to do.

So yes, you should be scared of you, but you shouldn’t feel hopeless. You haven’t been left to the ravages of the “terrible trinity,” because you've been rescued by the power and love of a Divine Trinity.

Pray this with me: Thank you, Sovereign Father, for your unshakeable plan. Thank you, Sacrificial Son, for standing in our place. Thank you, Warrior Spirit, for your empowering presence. In you, Triune Lord, we really find help and hope for personal change.
God bless
Paul David Tripp

Step Toward Freedom

From Good Morning, Lord by Sheila Walsh

Today I will take a step toward freedom and away from the brokenness in my past. 

His father was a violent alcoholic who beat his family mem­bers every day. His mother’s paranoia made her no source of comfort. Furthermore, she tended to set the two brothers up in competition with each other. This young man realized that nothing he accomplished would ever be enough to please his parents. Even when he later gave his life to Christ, he still dealt with fear that was rooted in the pain of his childhood—but now he didn’t deal with it alone. Every time he sensed the beast of fear and shame approaching, he could invite the love of God into that dark place.

What kind of brokenness have you experienced? Whatever it is—how­ever irreparable the damage seems—you can do what my friend does and what I do: invite God’s light into that darkness. Ask God to flood every part of your wounded soul with his love and to shine his light into every dark corner. You can fall on your knees and take any crippling thoughts about your past or haunting fears for your future to God’s throne of grace. Although he does not guarantee us pain-free passage through this world, he does promise the companionship of Christ and a peace that passes understanding.

Light brings healing to wounds, comfort to fears, and guidance to confusion. In what specific ways has God—who is light—been any or all of those things to you?

Loneliness

by Max Lucado We’ll try anything to get rid of our loneliness. But should we? Should we be so quick to drop it? Could it be that loneliness is a gift? A gift from God? A friend turns away. The job goes bad. Your spouse didn’t understand. The church is dull. One by one he removes the options until all you have left is God. He would do that?  Hebrews 12:6 tells us, “The Lord disciplines those he loves.” If he must silence every voice, he will. He wants you to discover what David discovered and to be able to say what David said, “You are with me.” Loneliness. Could it be one of God’s finest gifts? Scripture says, “Perfect love casts out fear.” If a season of solitude is his way to teach you to hear his song, don’t you think it’s worth it? So do I. From Traveling Light