"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." 2 Peter 1:3
Yesterday we said that the "good" things that God blesses us with are not always material, or tangible. They are also such things as peace, joy, grace, strength and so forth. This morning I want to continue on that subject.
Some people only acknowledge God's goodness after He has blessed them with some material thing- to them that's how they define His goodness. God isn't good just because he gives me material blessings. He is good because He gives me all things that pertain to life and godliness... whatever those things are. He always meets and supplies my EVERY need.... spiritual as well as physical.
How awful it would be to go through life without the non-tangible blessings. I can make it without much of what I consider a "need". I don't have to have ten pairs of pants, a different dress for everyday of the month, three meals a day, but I do have to have peace, love, joy, strength and grace. I can go through this life homeless without a roof over my head, many people do and they make it, but I cannot go through this life without having those non material things, such as what we have mentioned already- love, etc.
How do you define God's goodness this morning? How do you define His blessings? Is He good only because He answers your prayer for material things? Or is He good because He gives us ALL things that we need-- physical and spiritual?
Have a great day. Define God's goodness.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
"Good Things"
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
When we think of "good" things, we often think of money, finances, material things. And they are "good" things when they meet the need that we have. But there are so many more "good" things that God gives us that are so much better than just the material blessings. They are often things we take for granted like mercy. Mercy is a good thing- without it none of us would have a chance for freedom from sin. Grace is a good thing- it empowers us to live what God's law requires. Peace is a good thing- how wonderful to have peace instead of chaos and confusion. Joy is a good thing- it's so much better than gloom, despair and depression. Other good things that we often take for granted are health, guidance in times of decision, strength in times of weakness, insight and understanding, discernment to see the truth of a matter, power to resist the temptations that come our way.
I am truly thankful for the material blessings that God sends my way, but I never want to put more emphasis on those and forget the other good things that aren't "tangible". Perhaps we need to look a little closer at how we define "good"? Many people are "rich" in material possessions, but "poor" in the things that are truly "priceless". Many people have large sums of wealth but have no peace. Many people have great possessions but have no joy. When I need money to pay my light bill, that money is a "good" thing. But when I need strength for the battles I face, that strength is a "good" thing too. And God gives to me the "good" thing that I need to meet whatever the need is as I walk uprightly before Him.
Have a great day. How do you define "good"? A good thing is anything that meets the need I have-- whether it's material or spiritual.
When we think of "good" things, we often think of money, finances, material things. And they are "good" things when they meet the need that we have. But there are so many more "good" things that God gives us that are so much better than just the material blessings. They are often things we take for granted like mercy. Mercy is a good thing- without it none of us would have a chance for freedom from sin. Grace is a good thing- it empowers us to live what God's law requires. Peace is a good thing- how wonderful to have peace instead of chaos and confusion. Joy is a good thing- it's so much better than gloom, despair and depression. Other good things that we often take for granted are health, guidance in times of decision, strength in times of weakness, insight and understanding, discernment to see the truth of a matter, power to resist the temptations that come our way.
I am truly thankful for the material blessings that God sends my way, but I never want to put more emphasis on those and forget the other good things that aren't "tangible". Perhaps we need to look a little closer at how we define "good"? Many people are "rich" in material possessions, but "poor" in the things that are truly "priceless". Many people have large sums of wealth but have no peace. Many people have great possessions but have no joy. When I need money to pay my light bill, that money is a "good" thing. But when I need strength for the battles I face, that strength is a "good" thing too. And God gives to me the "good" thing that I need to meet whatever the need is as I walk uprightly before Him.
Have a great day. How do you define "good"? A good thing is anything that meets the need I have-- whether it's material or spiritual.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
"Lay It All Down"
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
This morning I awoke with one line of a chorus repeating over and over in my thoughts-- "Lay it all down, lay it all down, lay it all down, at Your feet." I know this is a word for us today. What burden are you carrying? What load are you trying to bear? What are you worrying about? What are you fretting yourself over? What do you repeatedly give to God then take the concern of it back on your shoulders?
Whatever it is, it's time for you to "lay it down". You have carried it long enough. Has your carrying it solved it yet? Has your carrying it made it any lighter? Has your carrying it brought the answer? Has your carrying it changed it at all? I know, sometimes it's easier said than done. Sometimes we feel such an "attachment" to that thing because we have carried it for so long that we don't know how we'll function without it-- it has become a "crutch" of sorts. Sometimes we don't lay it down because we are afraid to. Sometimes we say we want to lay it down but we don't really want to. Sometimes we hold on to it because it gives us control in someone else's life. Sometimes it's because we don't have the faith we need to have to let it go. Sometimes it's because we don't think that it is something that the Lord wants us to give to Him. Then sometimes we just don't know how to lay it down. Whatever the reason is, again, it's time to lay it down. It's time to get release and freedom from that thing. It is a hindrance to you. It weighs you down. It stops you from going forward. It keeps you in the same spot or always looking back. At times it even comes between you and the Lord.
Lay it down. If you don't know how, if you are too weak to do it, if you have tried without success, I want to tell you this morning that the Lord says His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in your weakness. If you will make the step toward laying it down (giving it to Him), totally surrendering that thing... He will meet you with whatever you need to enable you to lay it down, and He'll take that thing and He'll make an exchange... His yoke that is easy and His burden that is light for your heavy one.
Have a great day. "I lay it all down, at Your feet".
This morning I awoke with one line of a chorus repeating over and over in my thoughts-- "Lay it all down, lay it all down, lay it all down, at Your feet." I know this is a word for us today. What burden are you carrying? What load are you trying to bear? What are you worrying about? What are you fretting yourself over? What do you repeatedly give to God then take the concern of it back on your shoulders?
Whatever it is, it's time for you to "lay it down". You have carried it long enough. Has your carrying it solved it yet? Has your carrying it made it any lighter? Has your carrying it brought the answer? Has your carrying it changed it at all? I know, sometimes it's easier said than done. Sometimes we feel such an "attachment" to that thing because we have carried it for so long that we don't know how we'll function without it-- it has become a "crutch" of sorts. Sometimes we don't lay it down because we are afraid to. Sometimes we say we want to lay it down but we don't really want to. Sometimes we hold on to it because it gives us control in someone else's life. Sometimes it's because we don't have the faith we need to have to let it go. Sometimes it's because we don't think that it is something that the Lord wants us to give to Him. Then sometimes we just don't know how to lay it down. Whatever the reason is, again, it's time to lay it down. It's time to get release and freedom from that thing. It is a hindrance to you. It weighs you down. It stops you from going forward. It keeps you in the same spot or always looking back. At times it even comes between you and the Lord.
Lay it down. If you don't know how, if you are too weak to do it, if you have tried without success, I want to tell you this morning that the Lord says His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in your weakness. If you will make the step toward laying it down (giving it to Him), totally surrendering that thing... He will meet you with whatever you need to enable you to lay it down, and He'll take that thing and He'll make an exchange... His yoke that is easy and His burden that is light for your heavy one.
Have a great day. "I lay it all down, at Your feet".
Monday, March 11, 2019
"My Redeemer Lives"
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." Job 19:25
This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. How is that possible? How can I rejoice? How can I have gladness when there is so much turmoil around me? How is it possible when the future is so uncertain, when evil is on the rise, when problems are plaguing the whole world, when there is lack, suffering, illness, etc?
It's possible because I know that my redeemer lives! He redeemed my life from destruction and crowned me with loving kindness once, He can do it again. He reached down into the pit of miry clay and brought me out and set my feet upon a rock and established my going once, He can certainly do it again. He delivered me in the past, He healed me in the past, He provided my daily bread in the past, He made a way when there seemed to be no way in the past, He met and supplied all my need in the past... He (my redeemer) lives today and does not change so I can trust Him to do the same for me in the present that He did in the past.
Just because the arm of flesh is weak and failing; just because men have no power to help me; just because the money is running short; just because the help is not available; just because the economy is sinking should not cause me to stop rejoicing and being glad today. Just because they are all failing doesn't mean that God is. My hope is in Him... not in "them"; not in "things"; not in "people". My hope is in the One who will not fail me, nor forsake me, nor leave me, but who will help me, will be with me, will love me always. That is why I can rejoice today and be glad!!! It's why you can too!
Have a great day. I know my redeemer lives and He will not fail me even if everyone or everything else does!
This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. How is that possible? How can I rejoice? How can I have gladness when there is so much turmoil around me? How is it possible when the future is so uncertain, when evil is on the rise, when problems are plaguing the whole world, when there is lack, suffering, illness, etc?
It's possible because I know that my redeemer lives! He redeemed my life from destruction and crowned me with loving kindness once, He can do it again. He reached down into the pit of miry clay and brought me out and set my feet upon a rock and established my going once, He can certainly do it again. He delivered me in the past, He healed me in the past, He provided my daily bread in the past, He made a way when there seemed to be no way in the past, He met and supplied all my need in the past... He (my redeemer) lives today and does not change so I can trust Him to do the same for me in the present that He did in the past.
Just because the arm of flesh is weak and failing; just because men have no power to help me; just because the money is running short; just because the help is not available; just because the economy is sinking should not cause me to stop rejoicing and being glad today. Just because they are all failing doesn't mean that God is. My hope is in Him... not in "them"; not in "things"; not in "people". My hope is in the One who will not fail me, nor forsake me, nor leave me, but who will help me, will be with me, will love me always. That is why I can rejoice today and be glad!!! It's why you can too!
Have a great day. I know my redeemer lives and He will not fail me even if everyone or everything else does!
Friday, March 8, 2019
"The Flow Of Feelings"
"...the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2:4b
How are you feeling today? Are you going to let your feelings dictate your day? If you are feeling pretty good that's one thing, but if you aren't that's another. When we aren't feeling "good", we have a tendency to get in the "flow" of our feelings. It's like a person in a boat letting the current take them in the direction that it is going. Our feelings are like the current.
If I get in the "flow" of my feelings this is what will happen: If I am feeling depressed, my feelings will take me back to bed to pull the covers over my head. If I am feeling like things are hopeless, I will despair of living. If I am feeling alone, I will become withdrawn. If I am feeling confused, I will throw my hands up or go aimlessly in circles. If I am feeling defeated, I'll stop trying and give up. Getting in the current's flow of your feelings is a dangerous thing-- at the end of the stream there is a waterfall and your "boat" is heading for it.
God gave us human beings emotions and feelings but never for them to be the leader of our lives. Our feelings are fickle, they are ever changing, they are deceptive, they are not a true indication of the way things are, they will hold you in bondage. God also gave us His word. That's what He intended to be the "current" to take us through life. We live by faith- by the promises of God- not by our feelings. God's word never changes, it is a constant, it is stable. It gives hope, peace, joy and strength. So don't go with the flow of your feelings, they lead to defeat and destruction. Go with the flow of God's word, it leads to victory and life.
Have a great day. Which current are you flowing in? The current of feelings or faith?
How are you feeling today? Are you going to let your feelings dictate your day? If you are feeling pretty good that's one thing, but if you aren't that's another. When we aren't feeling "good", we have a tendency to get in the "flow" of our feelings. It's like a person in a boat letting the current take them in the direction that it is going. Our feelings are like the current.
If I get in the "flow" of my feelings this is what will happen: If I am feeling depressed, my feelings will take me back to bed to pull the covers over my head. If I am feeling like things are hopeless, I will despair of living. If I am feeling alone, I will become withdrawn. If I am feeling confused, I will throw my hands up or go aimlessly in circles. If I am feeling defeated, I'll stop trying and give up. Getting in the current's flow of your feelings is a dangerous thing-- at the end of the stream there is a waterfall and your "boat" is heading for it.
God gave us human beings emotions and feelings but never for them to be the leader of our lives. Our feelings are fickle, they are ever changing, they are deceptive, they are not a true indication of the way things are, they will hold you in bondage. God also gave us His word. That's what He intended to be the "current" to take us through life. We live by faith- by the promises of God- not by our feelings. God's word never changes, it is a constant, it is stable. It gives hope, peace, joy and strength. So don't go with the flow of your feelings, they lead to defeat and destruction. Go with the flow of God's word, it leads to victory and life.
Have a great day. Which current are you flowing in? The current of feelings or faith?
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