Grace for your spirit 3-31-17

Grace for your spirit

Hate evil, you who love the Lord, who preserves the souls of His godly ones;  He delivers them from the hand of the wicked     Psalm 97:10

When we clearly define and choose the things we love and the things we hate, it will be the most important decision we will ever make.  Do we hate evil and love the Lord, or hate the Lord and love evil?  Do we know from one day to the next ?  Let's choose to love the Lord, our preserver, our deliverers, and the one who will give us victory.  We can depend on Him.  Can He depend on us ?

Grace for your spirit 3-30-17

Grace for your spirit

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.  Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand.  Proverbs 19:20-21

Scripture tells us that every promise and plan of God has come true. With His record, we have every reason to believe that the rest of  His plans will stand as well.  Think of all the plans and promises we have made that never made it.  It stands to reason that we need to accept His counsel, His discipline, and make His wisdom our wisdom.  Let's restore the phrase many used to say with every plan;  "Lord willing."

Grace for your spirit 3-29-17

Grace for your spirit

Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but  walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.  Jeremiah 7:24

God called out to His people to obey and walk in the way He commanded them.  He promised it would be well with them if and when they did.  They did not.  They went backwards and not toward God. The result was their destruction and captivity in a foreign land.  May we all resolve not to let our stubbornness lead us to evil and rejection of God's word in our life.  God is the path to blessings.  Which path will be choose?

Grace for your spirit 3-28-17

Grace for your spirit

Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who do iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.   Psalm 141:4

As followers of Christ, we need to make a firm stand against evil.  We must stay away from any inclination or practice of evil deeds.  We must stay out of association with anyone who would draw us to it.  The devil wants us to taste evil and sin just a little bit.  That little bit of worldly "sweetness", may be all it takes to draw us into his web completely.  Let's ask God to keep us far from it all. 

Grace for your spirit 3-27-17

Grace for your spirit

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.  Hebrews 10:35-36

This is God's way of saying, "Hang in there".  The Christian race is a race of endurance.  We must believe we can stay in the race, keep our eyes on Jesus, be renewed by His Spirit with every step, and insist our body will follow.  None of it is worth it if we quit before we receive the reward for which we run.  Do you hear His voice?  "Hang in there".

Grace for your spirit 3-24-17

Grace for your spirit

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit  Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  Romans 8:26

We see the mighty works of the Spirit in the book of Romans.  He binds us to our Father, regenerates us, and gives us hope for today and eternity.  The Spirit is also even helps us in prayer.  When we need to pray, but can't find the words to touch the throne of God, He intercedes and helps us without words.  We may be left with just a groan, but it is a great groan.

Grace for your spirit 3-23-17

Grace for your spirit

Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You."  All the disciples said the same thing too.  Matthew 26:35

It is great to be confident and committed, but beware of being conceited.  We would all like to think we are on the right path and in no danger of failing, but may we never be dishonest or careless in our walk with Christ.  Discipleship is an effort we must renew every day.  How can we say we would die for Him, when we really can't even live for Him?  Let's make every day, days of renewal, regeneration, and refreshing.  That will get us to the finish line.

Grace for your spirit 3-22-17

Grace for your spirit

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.  James3:16

With jealousy and selfish ambition, all the emphasis is on ourselves.  I Corinthians 3 tells us it is because we have decided to walk after the flesh and not be led by the Spirit.  Because we have not matured and cannot tolerate solid food, we will not walk as spiritual men.  That leaves the door open for disorder and every evil thing.  Let's resolve to walk after the Spirit, sweeping jealousy and selfish ambition out along with disorder and evil.  Now, close the door !

Grace for your spirit 3-21-17

Grace for your spirit

Cast  your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.  Psalm 55:22

Burdens and anxieties can bring us down.  If we decide to carry them ourselves, they will defeat us.  God has offered to bear those burdens. Jesus encouraged us to take His Yoke and let Him bear our burdens. Why would God wish to take our burdens, worries, and anxieties from us?  I Peter 5:7 tells us it is because He cares for us.  He can do it, and He wants to do it.  You can't beat that.

Grace for your spirit 3-20-17

Grace for your spirit

But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.  II Timothy 4:5

We are all encouraged to be ready to teach at all times.  People are likely to turn away from the truth, and they have need for sound teaching.  More than that, they need the encouragement of good news from above.  An evangelist is primarily a messenger of good news. When we do that, we are an evangelists. When we teach the truth as good news, we will fulfill the ministry God has for us.

Grace for your spirit 3-17-17

Grace for your spirit

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth. Favor is better than silver and gold.  Proverbs 22:1

We usually push to make money.  Lots of it.  Many people sacrifice everything, including their reputation and good name.  When the money goes away, we can be left with nothing. Better we should have a good name and receive the favor of those around us.  Ecclesiastes reminds us that the good name is better than good ointment too.  Good ointment and a good name will cure lots of ills.  Apply generously.

Grace for your spirit 3-16-17

Grace for your spirit

After the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.  And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here?"  I Kings 19:12-13

Elijah had many great victories, but now he had retreated to his "man cave."  A gentle breeze brought him out to hear the word of the Lord. Soon he was back in service for the Lord.  Have we retreated to our "man cave" due to disappointments?  Isn't time for us to get up, come out and hear the word the Lord has for us?  There is work to be done that can only be done by us.  Let's go.

Grace for your spirit 3-15-17

Grace for your spirit

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.  Proverbs 24:17

Are we happy when troubles come to our enemy?  Do we think they are getting what they deserve?  Our Christian walk calls us to love our enemies, to help those who persecute us, and seek the best for all men. There  is simply  no justification for us to be glad at the misery of others. If our bad attitudes are just beneath the surface, they will come to light in a most hurtful way.  True love for the unlovable is the cure.  Let's keep that in our heart instead of revenge.

Grace for your spirit 3-14-17

Grace for your spirit

The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.  All his thoughts are, "There is no God."  Psalm 10:4

In order for the wicked to live with themselves, it is a must that they have no higher authority in their lives.  Since they acknowledge no holy God to judge them, they make all judgments, and judge themselves as "all right".  If they would compare their lives to God, it would condemn them or draw them out of their lifestyle.  Since they want neither, it is easier for them to say, "There is no God".  One problem;  God is, and He is real !

Grace for your spirit 3-13-17

Grace for your spirit

From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  Does a fountain send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?  James 3:10-11

Can you imagine going to a water fountain with a warning that the water might be fresh or bitter ?  Fresh or bitter maybe, but it should be one or the other.  We would certainly question the source.  The same is true with our words.  We can claim our heart belongs to God, but our mouth can betray us.  We can turn our speech for good, when we turn our heart and spirit to good.  That change comes from the Lord.  May our speech give Him all the glory.

Grace for your spirit 3-10-17

Grace for your spirit

For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  Romans 10:3

Scripture teaches us that is none are righteous and we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The only true righteousness comes from God.  Isaiah wrote that all our righteousness is like filthy rags.  When we take our filthy rags and try to make something great on our own, we will surely fail.  The best way and the easiest way is yielding our lives to Jesus, and He will make us righteous.

Grace for your spirit 3-9-17

Grace for your spirit

This is the way of an adulterous woman; She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong."  Proverbs 30:20

Most people have a self justification element in their mind.  That is, nothing they do is really wrong.  After falling once again into the depth of sin, after a quick turnaround without consequences, we declare ourselves righteous.  It is wrong and ultimately devastating to us and all those around us.  When we compare our lives to a Holy God, we will start living the righteous life He has for us.  Come on.  Let's snap out of it before it is too late.

Grace for your spirit 3-8-17

Grace for your spirit

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

We are connected to the God of hope through the power of the Holy Spirit that we also might abound in hope.  When God fills us with joy and peace combined with hope and power, it will make a difference in our lives and the lives of everyone we touch.  We can all activate that power, hope, joy, and peace, by believing.  Our faith and trust are the activators.  Let's allow God to put us into service

Grace for your spirit 3-7-17

Grace for your spirit

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;  I will counsel you with My eye upon you.   Psalm 32:8

If we want to be successful in any pursuit, training and supervision is key to outstanding performance.  When it comes to our spiritual walk with eternity on the line, why would we insist on being left alone.  Let's all make in our priority to spend time in God's Word, welcoming his instruction.  May we also be glad He is watching, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting.  Thank you Lord for your guiding light.

Grace for your spirit 3-6-17

Grace for your spirit

Pleasant words are a honeycomb.  Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  Proverbs 16:24

The words we speak to others can hit like a fist, or can be soothing and soft as a feather. Lord help us to remember the impact of our words we speak to others.  When we allow the Lord to fill our spirit with his grace, we will find grace in our words for others.  If our lives are filled with strife and anger, it is likely that we will hit others like hammer.  Let's ask the Lord to give us more grace and words that build and heal

Grace for your spirit 3-3-17

Grace for your spirit

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.   Psalm 121:1-2

For the worshiper in Israel, everything was looking up.  The highest point from every direction was Jerusalem, and the highest point in Jerusalem was the temple of God.  Looking up to worship was a constant reminder that God was their constant helper.  Jesus descended from above to be our helper, and then ascended to be our mediator.  When we need help, remember to look up.  Tomorrow when someone asks us how we are doing, just say, "Looking Up."

Grace for your spirit 3-2-17

Grace for your spirit

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.  I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.  Psalm 119:18-19

We sing songs that remind us that this world is not our home.  That we are straying pilgrims, and in need of constant help.  We should be concerned when we close our eyes, and turn away from God.  May our continuing song and prayer be a special request to God to help us in our walk.  Help us Lord to see the wonderful help in your commands. You know the way.  Help us to follow our guide.

Grace for your spirit 3-1-17

Grace for your spirit

For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and hIs anger are against all those who forsake Him."  Ezra 8:22

When it was time to lead God's people back to the promised land, Ezra had a tremendous challenge.  Should he ask for help from the king, or ask God?  He had told the king God would help them, so at crunch time, he called for fasting and prayer for God to get them home.  When we have troubles and trials, what source to we go to for help?  When we claim God is with us, let's prove our testimony by always going to Him for help first.  May our faith be strong enough to trust and obey.