Give Careful Thought

     Finding it tough to give careful thought to your ways, changing the paths for your feet, looking for God’s wisdom above your own wants and desires? Me too! I fail every day. But God not only can change us, He will change us! He even tells us we can capture every single thought in our heads to His very own thoughts. What? Yep, listen to this!

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

     Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. I want to try that. My thoughts take me away from Him quite often and not in a good way. Give careful thought to your ways this week and careful thought to your thoughts. Let Christ take us captive and mold us into His disciples. I’m game. How about you?

Father,

We need so much assistance to walk and think as Christ does, but You promise to change us more and more into His image over time. Work in us. Sometimes we don’t even realize what You are doing until much later. We long to change to be more like You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Give Careful Thought

     As we give careful thought to our ways, Jesus offers us some things to think about. Imagine the crazy world around us filled with sexual immorality, with drugs, with violence and hate. And think, instead on these things.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8

     Hard to move into the excellent from the mediocre, from small lies and deception into truth, from the unclean to the pure, from the ugliness around us to the lovely, but Christ offers just that. Think on those things. Focus on the lovely, the excellent, the admirable. Focus on what is right in God’s sight.

Father,

You turn the world upside down. Your truth undermines everything we see and hear. Take over our thoughts and actions until we shine with Your glory.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Give Careful Thought

     Are you willing to stand for Christ? More and more Christians are becoming the enemy. The truth in love can be painful. Listen to this verse as we continue to give careful thought to our ways this week.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4;26

     Where are your feet taking you these days? Do your pathways honor and please the Lord? Give careful thought to the path you are on today. Will it lead to peace and joy or to destruction and despair. We have choices to make every minute of every day.

     The word “steadfast” means to be firm, unwavering, loyal and faithful. Rather than wavering here, there and everywhere can we remain loyal to Jesus? Let your faith be the firm foundation on which to lay out the rest of your life. No matter the past, no matter the mistakes, give Him your life and let Him take the lead. It is such a relief. The choice gives freedom to the soul.

Jesus,

We want to be steadfast and loyal to You. Keep us in Your care. Watch over us as we make mistakes and pick us up and place us on the right path again. You never give up and You never leave us alone.

Amen

Give Careful Thought

     Giving careful thought to the way we live our lives is crucial in the world today. Standing for Christ comes at a cost, but no price is too high for all He has done for us. We are to watch for opportunities, serve cheerfully, spread the Good News faithfully, love deeply. As we dive deeper into our relationship with Christ and understand and study His Word, we can make wise decisions.

Be very careful then how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

     Be very careful as you live. Wise words from our Lord. The days are evil. We see more and more truth in that statement than ever before. The world is running faster and faster away from truth and faster and faster into more and more darkness. Be wise and make the most of every opportunity.

Jesus,

Teach us how to live as wise ambassadors for You. Help us to make the most of every opportunity as we live out our short earthly lives. We want to finish the race as strong disciples.

Amen

Give Careful Thought

    Are you walking in the way of truth and light? Are you focusing your attention on God more than anything or anyone else? Do you believe the Word of God above and beyond what the world is telling us? Do you pray for Jesus to guide your steps each day, to give you opportunities to represent Him, to love in His name?

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says, “Give careful thought to your ways.” Haggai 1:5, 7

     I’m taking an inventory today, giving careful thought to my ways. Let’s watch our step as we move out into the world around us and dwell on what pleases our God.

Lord,

You tell us to give careful thought to our ways. We want to stop and take stock of our lives and the ways in which we live. Show us how to do it and what needs changing. Keep us pliable in the Potter’s hands.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Love Love Love

     I leave you this week with Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. I pray this over each one of you today. Grasp the love and the power available to you today and each day ever after.

For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know the love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen

Love Love Love

     When we see the world around us with the spiritual eyes of love, we can look beyond the irritating, the annoying, the physical appearance, the emotionally unstable, the lost and lonely and see the hurt, the confusion, the fear and the hopelessness.

     People act and react from deep hurt and mistrust, from unstable environments, from misunderstanding and from walls built up over a lifetime. Love sees through. Love covers the sin.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

     I have a multitude of sins. And the love of Christ covers them all. Let’s love deeply and unconditionally, because that is how Christ loves us.

Jesus,

How can we love like You? Help us to see hearts and not outward appearance or outward actions. Love covers sin.

Amen

Love Love Love

     Jesus asks us to love in a radically different way than we would naturally, without Him and His Holy spirit. Without them, we are filled with anger, with pride, with unforgiveness, with an attitude that we are better than others.

     Christ, through His example, through His living Word, through prayer, through His Spirit, gives us the ability to grow in spiritual wisdom, to grow in love, even to the point of loving our enemies. What? I can’t do that, can you?

     With His help, we can. Listen to the very words of Christ, giving us advice on what to do with our enemies.

But love your enemies. Do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35

     But, did you see what he did? Did you hear what she said? He drives me crazy! I can’t stand her!

     We feel and say and question. How? With Christ. He was kind to us. He saved us when we lived so far apart from God. He is humble and kind and generous and compassionate. Let’s try. We represent Him. What do others see about you that represents Jesus? Let it be love.

     As you are struggling with all of this, remember. God is the one to hand out justice. He is the one who sees the heart and He is the one who will seek vengeance one day for His children. As we do good, even to our enemies, He will work it all out.

On the contrary, when your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Romans 12:20

     Now, that’s more like it! God will take care of evil, in its time. For now, we are to reach out to everyone in the name of Jesus and His love.

Lord,

You understand our emotions, our minds and our sinful hearts. We want to be more like You, but some days it seems to be impossible! When we love our enemies, you will handle the rest. We love You and we want to love like You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Love Love Love

     Stop for a minute. Take a deep breath and fill your heart with the love of Christ. Feeling lonely or unworthy? You are a beloved child of the King. The Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives within you as a believer.

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

     As His beloved family, we are alive spiritually. Those without the Spirit are like the walking dead, trying to find life in the world around them. Live as children of the light. Live in the confidence of the risen Christ. Live as one spiritually alive with the power of the Holy Spirit within. See others with the love and spiritual eyes of Christ and give them His love.

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Jesus,

Remind us of the power we have available to us because of Your great love. You have filled us with the very Spirit that raised You from the dead! We are alive in You. Show us Your ways and Your thoughts that are above the ways of the world.

Amen

Love Love Love

     Just a reminder. God loves you. He loves you so much, He sent His Son to die for you. Every sin, every wrong thought, every fear, every shame-filled moment was nailed to the cross. He suffered every sin and He overcame death. For you. There is no greater love.

Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

     No greater love. And we were not God’s friends. We were His enemies. The gap was too large to bridge. God could not and cannot look at sin and, thank God! He sees us now through the image of Christ, and when we believe in Jesus as Savior, we will be with Him now, every single day of our lives and we will be with Him forever.

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10

Lord,

Your love knows no bounds. You willingly died for us, shedding Your holy blood on the cross, as you experienced all of the darkness and despair of this world. We pray for those who do not yet know You, that their hearts may be open to Your sacrificial, unconditional, heavenly love.

Amen

Angels: Fellow Servants

     One other misconception in our culture today is that we can pray to angels and ask for their help. Angels only listen to and obey God. When John saw an angel in person as he was receiving information for the book of Revelation, here is what happened.

At this, I feel at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus. Revelation 19:10

     This angel astounded John and he bowed down to worship. The angel is forceful in his language. Notice all of the exclamation points! The angels are fellow servants along with us. There is no need to pray to angels or to anyone else. Jesus is the intermediary for the Father. We pray in His holy name.

Father,

We praise You for Your plan of redemption and we praise You for the angels. Someday we will see them face-to-face, along with Jesus. Until that day, we know they are around us, serving You, just as we do, and we pray only to the Father through and to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Miraculous Angels

     There is a misconception among the general population that people turn into protective angels after death. This simply is not true! We will be given heavenly, eternal bodies one day, but angels are separate beings, created by God to worship Him, to serve Him and to glorify Him.

     Humans were created in God’s image. (See Genesis 1) Angels are separate beings described both in the book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1 and 10 and in the book of Isaiah Chapter 6. The descriptions of the seraphim and cherubim are incredible and I look forward to being in the presence of the angelic host one day.

The seraphim:

Above him were seraphim, each with six wings. With two wings, they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. Isaiah 6:2

The cherubim:

But each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead. They did not turn as they moved. Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left, the face of an ox, each also had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1:6-10

     The sights and sounds of our heavenly home are beyond our imagination and angels are just one part of all we will see and experience.

Father,

Your creation astounds us as we look around us during our earthly lives and when we are in eternity with spiritual bodies and minds we will see so much more. We thank You for the gift of Your angels. Place them around us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Angel Escorts

     I have studied death and dying, have worked with hospice patients and have heard stories of those nearing death. Many people, as they near death, see angels There is a story in the Gospel of Luke about an angel escorting someone to heaven. I love the thought of being introduced into heaven by an angel. He just might show us around and introduce us to our Lord.

“the time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.” Luke 16:22a

     This can be a comforting verse to the dying. Angels may be surrounding the bed. The dying person may even see the angels as they near the time to go home to heaven.

Father,

Thank You for sharing stories with us about angels. We are grateful for their presence, for their protection and for their guidance. They serve and honor You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Guardian Angels

     I believe we all have an angel or angels assigned to us by our God. Many call them “guardian angels,’ although there is no such term in the Bible. One reason for believing each of us has an angel is found in the Book of Acts.

     Peter has been arrested because he is a follower of Jesus. King Herod has already put James to death and he plans to do the same with Peter. You can read the full miraculous story in Acts 12. Many of the disciples and followers of Christ are together praying for Peter. God hears their prayers and sends an angel to free Peter.

     Four sets of four soldiers each are assigned to guard him day and night and when the angel comes to wake him, he is chained between two soldiers and two others guard the prison door. Peter thinks he is dreaming as the angel leads him outside and he is free!

     In the home where his friends wait and pray, a servant goes to the door and sees Peter standing before her. She is so flabbergasted, she closes the door and runs to tell the others. And they don’t believe her! Listen to what they believe.

“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” Acts 12:15

     Did you read the words, “his angel?” Maybe our spiritual angels can manifest themselves to look like us? We can only imagine, but I love to think of angels surrounding us and protecting us. All because we belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus,

We thank You for Your angels. We believe they exist. They are spoken of over and over again the Your Word. Thank You for giving us access to Your holy angels.

Amen

Angels Unaware

Did you know angels are messengers sent in service to the believers?

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

    That’s me! I am going to inherit salvation because of Jesus. How about you? Isn’t it exciting to think of angels as our ministering spirits? They serve us in miraculous ways. We will talk a bit about angels this week, although that subject could go on for months.

     Angels were created by God to serve and worship Him. They are sent to do his bidding. They hearken to His Word. Don’t be surprised, if you are reading or speaking Scripture out loud that there may be angels surrounding you. Did you know that angels sometimes take on human form to serve us? You may have heard stories about someone coming to another’s aid and then vanishing, seemingly into thin air. Could it have been an angel? Be kind and hospitable to everyone and one day you may meet an angel in disguise!

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

Father,

Your ways are wonderful and miraculous! Keep us protected, served and surrounded by your angels. Keep our eyes open for ways to serve You. Who knows if one day we will meet an angel?

In Jesus name,

Amen

For Such A Time As This

     God may seem far away right now. You may not have ever prayed. You may not believe there is a loving God out there. Witnessing the devastation and disaster around us leaves us questioning. Where is God? Why is this happening?

     He understands and He loves you. He loves you so much, He came to earth and died for you. The world is a fallen world, a world where sin rules. Satan is now called “the prince of this world.” But he is no match for the Creator.

     Call out to Jesus today. Ask Him to forgive you and ask Him to be your Savior. We all need one, don’t we? He offers peace and joy in the midst of chaos and confusion. He offers hope when the world appears to be in a hopeless state. He offers unconditional love when we don’t feel worthy. Truth is, we’re not. Not a one of us.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

     But He came anyway and took the punishment for us.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     Accept the gift of His love and of heaven. He offers it freely and He paid a high price. Is today the day to find a Savior? Is the timing just right for you?

Lord,

You know our hearts and You know when we are ready. Open our hearts to Your truth and Your love. We don’t understand it, but we receive it. Thank You.

Amen

For Such A Time As This

     When Joseph was thrown into a pit by his own brothers and sold into slavery, he trusted God. When he was accused of seduction, he trusted God from prison. God made him second in command to the ruler of his time and his brothers came back to him in need. A beautiful story of a faithful servant, of God’s timing and of God working for good.

     Daniel refused to bow down to anyone other than God and was thrown into a pit of his own. His pit was filled with a den of lions. Daniel trusted, understanding he need not fear even death with his God. Angels closed the mouths of the lions and Daniel was unscathed. As a teenager, he defeated a giant with a slingshot, placing his trust in God with no fear.

     Are there giants taking over your life? Is Satan coming after you like a roaring lion? Trust in your Creator. Hold up your shield of faith and He will protect you. Through the storms and fires of life, He is there.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

     The storms can be frightening. The heat is uncomfortable. God will protect us. His angels will surround us and when the time is right, He will rescue us and protect us. He has a plan. And the plan is good.

“for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Lord,

You are there in the lion’s den, in the scorching flames, through the flood waters and in the pit. You promise us a future and a hope. Would you help us to see that hope today? Grant us spiritual eyes to see Your work.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For Such A Time As This

     When our faith rises above our circumstances, we trust God and keep peace in our hearts. A book I read years ago, said something like this; focus on yourself and your problems once for every ten times you focus on Jesus. His hope and His provision will answer our deepest cries. Have faith in Him above whatever you are suffering.

     Pray for the ability to be patient as You wait for His answer and for a way out. He may be preparing you through a difficult time. As He lifts you out of the pit, He will use your time of darkness for His glory.

     When our lives become His, we are offered freedom to believe. To believe in His promises, to believe in a future of hope, to believe He will lead us. Focus your attention on Him and wait, pray and love.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

     Joyful, hopeful, patient, faithful. Good words to consider every single day. God’s timing is perfect in your life and in mine.

Jesus,

We focus our attention on You. Find us answers, Find us hope, Find us joy. Find us peace. We place our faith in You. Give us the freedom to accept it today and to believe it.

Amen

For Such A Time as This

Trusting God’s timing isn’t easy. But faith in His ways will give us the peace we crave through the mountains and valleys of life. If you are suffering, ask for His presence. When you are worried, ask for His peace. When you fear, ask for His protection. When you mourn, ask for His promises. God brings good from disaster.

     We can use the lessons learned through our dark times to help others out of theirs. God pulls us out of the deep.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

     He has lifted me out of a slimy pit or two, You too? Sometimes He needs to get right in there with us and pull us out and sometimes, He just offers a hand and we find ourselves on solid ground again.

     Trust His timing, even when you can’t see the end of the story. His glory will shine from the depths of the pit. He is there beside us. Count on Him to pull you to safety.

Father,

How can we thank You for getting us on solid ground after a time in the pit? Life’s journey is filled with danger and disaster, but You bring back our delight and fulfill our deepest desires. We wait for Your perfect timing.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For Such A Time As This

     God’s timing is always perfect.  I became involved with Jesus in my early 30’s. My two daughters accepted him as Savior at a much younger age, one around age 4 and the other around 13. A close friend of mine met Jesus when she was 60 years old during a time of great suffering. There is a time for each of us when we realize we need a Savior.

     The Bible reminds us, too, of God’s timing in the lives of His followers. Moses needed preparation for 40 years in the desert before he led the Israelites to the promised land. Abraham and Sarah became parents when they were close to 100 years old. Daniel followed God closely, even in the midst of a fallen culture, when he was just a teenager. He never wavered in his faith, even when facing death.

     Count on God’s timing in your own life. He may call you to do something special as a teenager, as a young adult, in middle age or he may perform something miraculous as you enter old age. Watch for His next move in your life. Is He calling you to something new and exciting?

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this. Esther 4:14b

     Ester fulfilled her role in God’s plan and saved her people. You are here for such a time as this. God has a plan. Watch for it.

Father,

We have peace in Your hands. You know why we are here and what we are to do. Work for us and through us as we meet the needs around us. Prepare us for such a time as this.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Battle Gear/Prayer

     We end our two weeks of Spiritual armor and power with the importance of prayer. God wants to be in a deep and personal relationship with us. He loves to be in intimate contact with us each day. Take time to pray. Take time to worship. Pray in thanksgiving. Pray for help. Pray for others. Pray for advice. And don’t forget to listen.

     At the end of the Spiritual armor, Paul gives us this wise advice.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep in praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18

     Pray for our brothers and sisters in the faith. So many are being persecuted and even killed for the name of Jesus. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world. He honors our prayers. Pray all kinds of prayers and don’t be afraid to tell Him everything. He knows it all anyway. And the peace of God will follow us as we clothe ourselves with the Spiritual armor of God. We are protected from head to foot and we wield a mighty sword.

Amen

Battle Gear/The Sword

Take the helmet of salvation…Ephesians 6:17a

     Many of our battles take place in our own minds. The thoughts that go through my head can be damaging to myself and to others. Our minds can move us from our places of victory into a place of hopelessness and helplessness, right where Satan wants us.

     The greatest gift ever given is the Gospel of our salvation. No matter what life holds, we are going to heaven. Once we belong to Jesus, it is a done deal. We are seated in the heavenly realms, written in the Lamb’s book of life, set to live forever in our new glorious immortal bodies on a new heaven and a new earth!

     It is no wonder this reminder of our forever guards our minds. This helmet protects our heads from damage. There is nothing better than changing our perspective from our earthly worries to our eternal hope. Wear your helmet every single day. Consistently bring your thoughts back to heaven and to the powerful God who sits on the throne.

Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2

Father,

Set our minds on You every single day. You are seated in our true home, where we will live with You forever and ever. Our Spiritual helmets cannot be removed. We have been saved by grace. We have the Gospel of our salvation.

In Jesus name,

Amen