Genuine Help Oct.10

 

We are bombarded with advertisements and institutions that promise to offer some kind of relief. They ask: Can you be set free from the struggles and troubles? Do you wish for the prosperous conditions of those who do not follow Christ, who seem to have no problems? And yet, does not everyone eat, drink, and get hailed on? Is your constant goal to avoid discomfort or suffering? Psalm 121 points you to a magnificent truth: Believers and non-believers can have the same difficulties, but the heavenly Father will keep you from evil. Events that happen to you are neither good nor bad but have the potential seed for either one. God may allow you a hard, difficult, uncomfortable event, but His Spirit can keep you from doing evil. So it remains no accident in Christ’s model prayer that he prayed “. . . deliver us from evil.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray we pay attention when you deliver us from evil thoughts and ways.

 

Small Items Oct.9

 

Life twists and turns like a briar bush and interlays like a mosaic tile-floor as well. Jehovah is interested and just as concerned about the everyday little pieces of life as they fit together. Nothing exists too small or mundane, but what it may be a significant part of the mosaic of Christ. At the end of life you will see and understand, you will recall, piece by piece, the full mosaic that heavenly Father put together. Just lean on faith if you do not understand the pieces now!

Prayer: Oh Lord, help me pay attention to your doings of all the little facets of life.

Your Divided Self Oct.8

 

No ‘ifs ands or buts’. . . surrender your divided self into the realm of Jehovah God. And trust certain principles that what you give yourself to (Jesus the Son) can sustain you with heavenly principles. Any person or action that appeals for your energy needs to call out your best potential. If some issue only brings out the worst in you, it is not of heavenly Father. The Father’s concern and will promote the best  for you, though it may not happen when your self-will expects.

Prayer: Lord, help me know the difference between the selfish non-best and the legitimate your-best to grow self-interest.

 

 

What is most Important? Oct. 7

 

As you live in this world, what becomes the most important result of knowing the Savior, Jesus of Nazareth? Is it heaven? Is it peace? Is it abundance? Is it morality? Is it hope? Is it that you will have your own kingdom? All have merit and deciding one thing becomes difficult, but if you follow Proverbs 2 and gain its treasure, the Holy Spirit will grant a guide most precious: Wisdom.

Clearly there are two kinds of wisdom. One is fueled by ambition that leads to selfish motivation and stays earth bound, not of the heavenly Father. The other comes from heaven and upholds your Savior, while it feeds the fruit of the Spirit. How is the correct wisdom attained? Proverbs says start by accepting the entire word of heavenly Father. In that acceptance comes good sense and better insight into all life, relationships, and overall humanity.

Prayer: Lord, grant me the wisdom to choose and maintain the right wisdom for you.

Indecision Oct.6

 

Try not to hesitate too long. Make your decisions based upon biblical and kingdom principles; avoid predicting any results. Indecision tends to feed fear not faith. Don’t ask first: “How will this affect me?” Rather, ask: “What is the right thing to do? What will feed kingdom growth? How will what I do help someone else? God-directed, right quick decision can also keep you out of the dilemma of doubt.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to waver when it comes to behaving in your kingdom.

Love Maturity Oct.5

 

The Bible exists not just as a book of ideas or theories. It remains a book of historical fact; the things did happen. It has been said that things are not true because they are in the Bible, but they are in the Bible because they are true. You are not only to love scripture for its own sake but because the words bring you into the heavenly presence and Yahweh is all truth.

The magnificence of God’s love isn’t just found in a love object, but in the essence and act of loving. Scripture becomes food to help you stay and grow longer in God’s presence. Jehovah’s beingness is the energy of all life. Think of the newborn who results from a seed because the life force germinates growth. We are the seed; scripture becomes one of the enduring growth sources.  Savior Jesus becomes an enlarging power to produce maturity. A full-blown live-being stays a potential love expression from heavenly Father. A full-blown Christian is a love expression of the Son’s reality and beauty.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord. Just thank you.

A valuable Difference Oct.4

 

One difference in the Holy Spirit being able to work certain powers in your life has to do with recognition. Struggle to maintain conscious effort every day in remembering that, the Christ, can be honored by the little things as well as the large. Your views, attitudes,  abilities, eyes and ears can rest in Christ to make all the difference. Pay attention to everywhere and everywhen God’s Spirit keeps working. There the resurrected Jesus will be.

Prayer: Lord, open my physical and spiritual eyes to see you with me always.