A Brand New Nature

Father in Heaven, I understand that while I was given a brand new nature at the moment of my conversion, I still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced. Sometimes I am afraid to humbly face the truth about myself. My habits define my character and there is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: I must practice them-and that takes time! There are no instant habits. I am what I repeatedly do. Motivation is what gets me started. Habit is what keeps me going. I want to be more Like Jesus, but it is so hard sometimes to get rid of "Me" and "Be-Him." Help me to practice new disciplines so I will build new habits that please You. Change me enough so that all others witness the change in me. Shine through me, in Jesus Name and Power. Amen.

Reconciliation

"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on[a] we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  . . . Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."2 Corinthians 5:1-4, 17-19

God has created a specific place He has prepared especially for you. If you confess, you are given access to this place . . . and live this incredible life of reconciliation with Him. But remember, no one put your past upon you. It's yours and yours alone. So, there is some legwork you must do. Walk in repentance and be reconciled with Him. This is how you become an integral part of the ministry of reconciliation. Then you can intercede for others and assist in building others up! 

But first, understand your position. If any man be in Christ you are a"new creation." No matter what, do not let anyone take you off your game. Do not create confusion or allow it into your life. Know that the enemy has no power over you. He tries to make you mess up. But residing in Christ means you cannot lose. Believe - know with certainty - that you have power. God has given you all power in every situation. 

You loose when you allow doubt to creep in. Life is your training ground. When adversity comes, use the power of God for victory. 

Ultimately, there is no failure in Christ.

Thank you Rev. Fred Lawrence

Making It Through The Storm

"My Most Significant Opportunities Will Be Found In My Times Of Greatest Difficulty."

- Raymond Bechard

No one escapes trials in life. When pursuing your God-given dreams, you are on a collision course with challenges and disappointments. But, these don't have to derail your destiny! Please remember that God is in control. So don't demand to understand all the challenges in life. Just trust in God's specific, glorious plan for you. Take a deep breath (or two, or twenty) and remain faithful no matter what. Don't give up and quit on your dream no matter what you face. Boldly ask God to give you the strength to stay faithful to what He's called you to do.

Today's Prayer

Father in Heaven, Thank-You for reminding me today, that once the storm is over, I may not remember how I made it through, how I managed to survive. I won't even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When I come out of the storm, I won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm's all about. In Jesus name. Amen....

Sleep Well . . .

Never alone! NEVER ALONE! What a promise. God will go with us through all the seasons of life, through all our ups and downs, through trials, temptations and triumphs, even through death (Psalm 139). So we can take courage and feel His strength. We are not alone!

Father in heaven, who is and was and is to come, thank You for being there and staying there when all others forsake and leave. You are the one constant in my life so full of change. Help me become more steadfast and faithful in my commitments and relationships to honor You and to learn more about You. 

Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

Sleep Tight…

A Prayer for The Anxious

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come into your presence this morning Lord exercising the freedom that is mine as a blood washed, born again child of God. I thank you Jesus for purchasing my salvation at a tremendous and sacrificial cost. That you tore away the veil that separated me from God the Father and because of you I have access to the very throne of God today. Praise the name of the Lord.

I pray this morning for all of your children who are suffering from anxiety.

There are many with physical ailments that are visible for all to see, but there are those Lord you know, who are struggling with inner conflicts and they try to present an outward appearance of normalcy in front of others. It's as if they feel a sense of shame in admitting their problem and so they seek to hide it from their peers. I realize this puts great pressure on them and so compounds their problem. I pray today God that they would be released from their anxiety whatever it is. That they would be able to appropriate your power to heal the inner man as well as any physical debility. I pray you will introduce them to someone who is caring and sensitive to help them resolve this anxiety, and cause them to permanently rise above these feelings and to become the man or woman you desire them to be. To realize their potential in you.

In Jesus Name - Amen.

IT'S UP TO YOU

“Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

Have you ever felt like Martha? We all have. But, it’s important to take a close look at what she is really worried about. Martha is telling Jesus that she is not being treated fairly. She wants others to start acting differently so that she will feel better. Sound familiar?

Poor Martha wants everyone around her to change, but she is not willing to change at all.

That can be a familiar feeling. When things aren’t going our way, sometimes our first reaction is to think that we are being ignored or taken advantage of. “Why is everyone doing this to me?”

This is when you can turn to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and freedom. If you do you will find an opportunity for real peace in any tense situation. But, you must take responsibility for changing yourself before trying to change anyone else, especially if you are asking for divine grace to help you. You see, while the Lord will help you deal with you, He alone will deal with everyone else.

And when you allow the presence of Jesus to have absolute first place in your heart, I guarantee amazing things will happen in your life! That is because God is so creative He can lead you to life-changing thoughts, decisions, and actions. This will do far more than just resolve a particular situation; it will bring healing, freedom, and even deliverance.

Be assured that your love and compassion for others will always replace your fuming over be slighted by them. Yes, if you call upon Him, God’s own divine wisdom will lead you to make changes in you and how you deal with everyone else in your life. He may even reveal how you played a key role in creating whatever problems you face . . . along with a way out of the mess!

But, no matter what the Spirit reveals to you, you will find your faith and trust in Jesus deepening. And as you experience His power to change your heart, His grace will flow out of you, helping everyone around you to experience that very same healing, freedom, and lasting joy.   

Today’s Prayer

“Jesus, I  need you! I bring every troubled relationship and situation to you. I know if I don’t place these things  in your hands, they will spiral out of control until I give them to you. Please pour your peace and patience upon each person involved. Let your mercy triumph over every division. Holy Spirit, allow your grace to fill me right now. I want to turn from my anger. Show me how I can respond differently here. Amen.”

The Lord's Toolbox

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. - Psalms 107:2-6

That great theologian, Charles Spurgeon once wrote these wonderful words to his students, “Lectures to my Students”, “Fits of depression come over most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy. There may be here and there men of iron…but surely the rust frets even these.”

Spurgeon understood that not every day dawns brightly. Sometimes it rains. And sometimes, great storms come upon us. While dark days happen to us all, you must realize their inherent danger. I am reminded of a little story I heard recently about the pitfalls of feeling blue.

It seems the devil was upgrading the tools he uses to steal souls and ruin lives. So, he put all his old tools for sale on the internet. Each one of his tools had its own listing and was marked with a unique selling price. Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Doubt, Lying, Lust, Pride, etc. They were all there, but only one stood at the very top of the list, highlighted above all the rest. It was a harmless-looking tool, well-worn, but priced very high. Discouragement.

Someone emailed the devil, “why is that one priced so high?” the person asked. He replied, “That one is more useful to me than all the rest. With it I can pry open someone’s heart like a crow bar. Discouragement gets me in when other tools fail. And once inside, I can lead them any way I choose. The tool is very worn because I use it on almost everyone, especially since very few people know it belongs to me.”

is very important to realize the power of discouragement and what it can lead to. I have seen good lives destroyed because people left themselves open to all the troubles despair can cause: bad decisions in relationships, drug use, poor health, and even worse. It can send you into a downward spiral to a place you just don’t want to go.

Yes, the enemy loves to discourage us, but we have one of God’s tools which is much more powerful: Encouragement from the Holy Spirit! When the dark days come, remember the Holy Spirit is here to help you press through and lift you out from the quicksand of discouragement, while setting your feet upon the Rock of salvation.

The real challenge is to look past your own despair and find those around you who may be struggling in the swamp of despondency. Do not abandon them. Reach down and help them up and out. Because you are part of the Lord’s Toolbox; an essential tool He needs to build His Kingdom. That’s right, through what you do and what you say, you have the power to rekindle a discouraged soul and bring inspiration to them.

Now is the time to get out of the Lord’s toolbox and get to work!

Today's Prayer

Dear Jesus, please save me from discouragement. Sometimes, I am too weak to face despair on my own. I need your help all day and all night to shield my heart from the darkness. Open me to the power of Your Holy Spirit and let You encouragement shine within me. Allow me to be a strong tool for building Your Kingdom by lifting up those around me. Amen