Month: January 2024

“Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.” Psalms 119:140

God is good on his word. When God spoke to Abraham about his future he spoke as if it had already happened because in his mind it was done. Abraham could only see the problems. He was childless, he was old, and his wife was too old to have a child. Nothing is impossible for God though. God knows the beginning and the end of our story. He knew everything happening in Abraham’s life because they were God’s plans and he would bring them to pass precisely as planned. David was anointed as king years before it came about and it looked hopeless with everyone trying to kill him. But when he was ready God came through. He may be working on getting us ready also. His plans are perfect and they sometimes take time. When we are in the middle of crisis and trials it is very hard to see how it will all work out. I have watched God working in my life for years and he has always come through. Maybe not as fast as I would like but he is right on time every time. I pray for needs at my church and so many times in the back of my mind I’m thinking man this is bad and seems hopeless but God proves me wrong every time. People die but I do know that for those that know God there is no better place to be than in paradise with Jesus. Life really begins at death. This is one promise we don’t really think about. The promise of eternal life is a game changer. Christ was the first to raise from the grave but everyone with eternal life is also going to raise to life ever after. The human body doesn’t want to give up. But God has told us he has overcome death, hell , and the grave. That is the past, Satan wants us to believe it’s over but he isn’t in charge. God has always proven faithful. Can you think of any promises he hasn’t kept? No! Look at all the prophecies ever told and they happen precisely. That should at least convince people there is a God. A God who is patiently waiting for us to one day come to live forever with him.

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

David knew one thing well. That praise and worship brought power. In front of his army he had worshipers. Because God is a Spirit we need to do things in his realm. We need that power 24/7 because we are dealing with principalities and powers that want bad things for us. They never sleep either. The more I have grown in my relationship with the Lord the more he has opened my eyes to the unseen world all around me. Life as a Christian can be very exciting as you see God working. He is always working and doing something good. First through prayer, we have so much power. He has said to ask what you will and not doubt and you can have what you are praying for. That does not make God a genie that answers all your wants but as we pray Gods will he will do what is best in every situation. I see so many miracles everyday and it just makes me pray more and about everything. Part of the power we seek is actually the armor he has given us to protect ourselves against the attacks of our enemy. The helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace, and the most important is the sword of the Spirit because again the spirit is our power. When Christ died on that cross he took power from Satan and gives it to us and that is because we need it in this world if we want to overcome. The next thing we need is to know his words because they are truth and the more we know the more we can follow them and be in God’s will for us. He speaks to you with wisdom when you are seeking to do all he asks. People just don’t know how much more that you can get out of this life when you know how to live abundantly. It’s not just weakness and a crutch but so much more.

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:18

Jesus is our King and our leader he has shown us how to live to make a difference in this lost world. After his death on the cross and his resurrection he overcame the powers of evil and took the keys back from Satan to death, hell and the grave. Because all things are possible for him we no longer need to fear because he is in control and he knows what is best, always. Whenever we fear we need to pray. Paul was in prison and death could come any time to a prisoner. But he wrote that we are to fear nothing and to pray always. He knew that they could take his life, but that would just send him home to live with Jesus forever in paradise. That sounds like a win to me. After the Holy Spirit fell upon the people at Pentecost the church began with boldness. He was the very first to rise from the grave but now we too will rise when we go to the grave. Life forever with them in perfection. God was so excited when his son offered to die for the dying world in our place. And he was so proud of his son when he went through everything without sinning. What parent wouldn’t be. He was so excited he gave all power and authority to him. Everything and everyone would praise him for all eternity. Everything he spoke into existence in the very beginning was now reconciled, it was made perfect again. The blood Christ shed on the cross bought back so many things for us. And the son of God became our Princess of Peace. Our leader and King purchased it all for us.

“Jesus said, Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing’.” John 23:34

Forgiveness is such an important thing for our own wellbeing. Holding onto unforgiveness doesn’t do anything to the other person. They probably have long ago forgotten about everything. They may not have even realized they hurt someone. It also gives yourself time to convince yourself that it might have been your fault and that you did play a part in it second guessing yourself. And holding on to hurt causes a chain to tighten around your neck becoming heavier and heavier Al the time. They say it is like drinking poison and hoping that it will eventually kill them. While the entire time you are dying a slow excruciating death. Jesus forgave everyone who ever treated him badly That is saying a lot because he was actually murdered for something he didn’t do in an extremely inhumane way. Roman crucifiction was designed to be the worst punishment you could experience, on purpose. He went through this of his own will. He could have bailed on us but he thought of each and everyone of creation and how much he loved us. He knew it was the only way that his Father could justify completely forgiving us. Something perfect had to die. Nobody is perfect! He has told us that if we forgive someone when we don’t want to then he can forgive us. His Father does. Do you want to risk not being forgiven by God. That penalty would be more than we could bear. And if Jesus hadn’t agreed to go through with it, where would we be? He even gives us the desire and strength to do the right thing. That doesn’t mean you will forget what was done to you but you will eventually not dwell on it constantly. It will no longer be able to torment you. And you can have peace about it. Do you want others to forgive you for your mistakes? Mistakes that may not have been intentional. God knows our thoughts and if we have forgiven or not. He doesn’t want us suffering needlessly so he tells us to forgive so we can be more like him and have peace. Peace with ourselves and with God.