Fear Not

There is healthy fear and unhealthy fear. Healthy fear helps us avoid dangerous or life threatening situations. God has given us the emotion of fear as protection from making risky decisions. As with anything in life, going to extremes leads to bondage. Unhealthy fear develops when our imagination takes us in the realm of negative and irrational possibilities. Sometimes the fear can be very vague. There is just a fear that something bad might happen. This type of unhealthy fear can develop into a stronghold in our minds. It may seem easier said than done to change our mindsets but God has made provision for us to renew our minds with the Truth of His Word. 

The same way that we ruminate and chew on negative thoughts is the same way that we renew our minds with God’s Truth. Joshua 1:8-9 says, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I love this passage of scripture. God never fails. He always keeps His promises. We just need to take Him at His Word. He will give us success and deliver us from fear as we meditate on His Word.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me a hunger and thirst for Your Word. Give me understanding as I read and meditate on Your Word. Let it be health and healing to my mind.

Walking in the Light

Proverbs 4:19 says, “The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.” Through Christ, we are made to be children of The Light. We have God’s divine Wisdom to guide us so we don’t stumble in this life. The world can’t understand the Wisdom of God because His Wisdom is discerned through the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 2:13-15 says, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.”

I’ve watched the news on TV and heard many stories of people committing horrific acts. I’ve thought to myself, “how can these people do these things, don’t they know better?.” But the truth is that they are walking in spiritual darkness and, in a way, they don’t know better. They are living out their sinful urges. Living a life of holiness does not make sense for someone who is separated from God. When Jesus was on the cross he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). We all were in that place of darkness before we came to Christ. We may not have been murderers, but we were enemies of God. It is only through Christ that we can know The Truth and walk in The Light.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to submit my heart to You always. Let Your Light come in and remove any darkness in my heart. I confess and release any sinful habits that have had a hold on me. You are The Light of my salvation.

Higher Ways

Living and walking in the Spirit requires a change in thinking. The ways of God are opposite of this worldly system. Romans 8:7-11 says, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” It can be so easy to fall into the flow of cultural norms and think certain thoughts and behaviors are ok. But God clearly tells us that our earthly and carnal mindsets oppose Him. There is no negotiating with the holiness of God. His standards are clear and unchanging. 

The only way that we can please God is through repentance and accepting the blood of Jesus to cleanse us of our carnal, earthly ways. The Holy Spirit can then help us by teaching and guiding us in the ways of God. This can take some time. It requires us to be humble and release the habits and mindsets that we hold so dear. However, the reward of letting go is greater than we can imagine.  Ephesians 3:19-20 says, “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” It may seem too hard to change but with God nothing is impossible. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want to walk in Your ways of holiness. I humble myself and repent of the ungodly mindsets and habits that I’ve been holding onto. I release them now and receive the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus. Thank You for renewing my mind by your Word of Truth.

The Pure In Heart

The intentions of our hearts are constantly being tested. In every situation we encounter, whether it be minor or major, we have an opportunity to think and act according to God’s heart. Some areas of testing are in forgiveness, confrontation (hard discussions), workplace issues, money, marriage and the list goes on. It can be so easy to slip into carnal reasoning and justify ungodly decisions and actions. God is challenging us to submit our hearts to him, to purify our motives and intentions. There are even times when we can “do the right thing” but the attitude of our hearts are not aligned with God. 

Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” We shall see God when we seek integrity, godly character and moral courage. When we desire to do what is right in the sight of the Lord, we will see Him so clearly in every situation and circumstance. In a world full of pretentiousness, God is calling His people to a place of humbleness. It is in that humble place, in Christ, where God can purify our hearts and show us His glory.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want to see You. I want to know Your heart. Purify my heart by the blood of Jesus and cleanse me of any ungodly motives or intentions that would hinder me from drawing close to You. Fill me with the refining fire of Your Holy Spirit and burn away all that is unholy.

The Blessing Of Work

Work is not a curse. God Himself worked for 6 days creating the earth and everything in it. On the 7th day, He rested. God enjoyed His work and He looked at His creation and said it was good. He created man in His image to take joy in work that brings glory to Him. God wanted mankind to be fruitful and multiply. This means that God expected mankind to work to further His Kingdom on earth. God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed to complete the task. 

After the fall of man, work became a heavy burden to bear. Genesis 3:17-19 says “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” 

The remedy for this curse is the redemptive power of the blood of Christ. Jesus broke the curse of sin off of our lives and now the work of our hands are blessed. Everything that we do according to the Lord’s will is blessed. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” The Lord will pour out His grace upon our work and give us all that we need to accomplish His purpose and bring glory to Him. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for redemption through the blood of Jesus. The curse of sin is broken and I live to bring glory to You in all that I do. Be glorified through the work of my hands. 

Discretion

Discretion is defined as: “the quality of having or showing discernment or good judgment; the quality of being discreet; circumspection especially; cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions” (Webster’s Dictionary). God wants us to use discretion, pull back and not run ahead of Him. I can remember so many times when I was impulsive in certain decisions and did not wait for the Word of the Lord. The outcome was not pretty. 

Proverbs 3:21-24 says, “My son, let them not depart from your eyes—Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet." There are times when God will give a directive and the process may be difficult but there is peace in the process. When we jump too quickly in our own understanding, there is no peace. The process is harder than it should be and we are trying to stay afloat in rough waters. God’s wisdom and discretion are our protection. We must be watchful, slow to speak and quick to listen to the Holy Spirit. We will sleep soundly even when the storm around us is raging. As long as we are walking in His plan and purpose, we are safe. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the security that I have in You. Your promises are sure. As I seek Your wisdom and guidance, I know You will lead me in peace. Though times may be difficult, I will not fear because my confidence is in You. 

Mercy and Truth

I was recently meditating on Proverbs 3:3-4, which says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” I kept thinking about mercy and truth being bound around my neck and how I can apply this scripture in a practical manner. Then the words of Jesus came to me so clearly, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). 

A yoke is a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals (such as oxen) are joined at the heads or necks for working together (Webster’s Dictionary). In this type of yoke, one animal is not bearing the full load of what they are pulling. When I take the yoke of Jesus, I am binding mercy and truth around my neck. I am joined to Him and He is the One that is working His mercy and truth in my life. Jesus is bearing the load. Binding mercy and truth around my neck is not something that I accomplish. It is the work of Christ, as I come to Him and take His yoke upon me and learn His ways. This revelation of truth is so freeing. I can rest in the grace of God, through Christ and His Holy Spirit, to accomplish His Word in my life.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in your great love for us You sent Jesus to pour out Your mercy and truth on the cross. Your redemptive power flows in every area of my life by the Holy Spirit. The integrity of the Lord in me causes me to walk in divine favor.