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Joy in Every Circumstance
~ Today we’re going to make space together to simply open our hearts and minds to receive the joy of the Father. I hope and pray that you find real, life-changing joy in God’s presence today.
The joy of the Lord available to us in the Holy Spirit transcends all circumstances, relationships, and possessions. It is an internal joy fed to our hearts by the wellspring of joy the Father has toward us. God longs to make us a people marked by His joy. He longs to fill us with the knowledge of how thrilled He is to be our Father. He longs to make us a joyful people in every circumstance and season.
1 Peter 1:6-9 says:
"You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith — more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
We can have joy in the midst of trial and tribulation because we have a genuine faith that this life is not all there is. Our hope reaches far beyond the confines of this fleeting age of sin and separation from God and looks toward the day when we will live in perfect, face-to-face relationship with our Creator. Every trial and tribulation is an opportunity to cling to the truth that this world is not our home, and to be filled with joy at the thought of what awaits us on the other side of this life.
James 1:2-4 says:
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
While God may not cause the various trials we face, He most certainly uses them to cause our joy to find its source in Him alone. Our heavenly Father knows that if we place our joy in the fleeting and fickle circumstances of this life our lives will be an emotional rollercoaster rather than a reflection of how consistently good He is.
Your heavenly Father has a compassionate heart toward the problems you face. He never desires for you to act, or try and drum up faith that everything will be all right. He longs to meet you at the very core of your trial and fill you with abundant joy that’s rooted in His love alone. He longs to guide you through the tough seasons of life that try and rob you of your allotted portion of joy. He longs to make your faith steadfast and sure, so you can meet the tribulations of this world head-on with joy. Run to your Father today with every weight and problem. Ask Him to guide you to the still waters that your soul might be restored. And receive all the joy He longs to give you today as you encounter His deep and powerful love for you.
May Mother Teresa’s words spur you toward a lifestyle of joy today:
“Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is love – Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen.”
______________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/joy-in-every-circumstance-2023/
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Returned from Exile
~ God offers grace, not condemnation, to all who acknowledge their mistakes and ask for help.
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-32
Jesus’ resurrection — the heart of the gospel — promises us resurrection as well. When He comes again, we will rise from physical death (1 Thessalonians 4:16). But the Lord promises more, which is described in the story of the Prodigal Son.
After taking his inheritance, the son assumed he could choose the life he wanted. Instead, he wasted everything — which is the definition of prodigal — and ended up with a life more like death. Penniless and alone, he at last “came to his senses” (Luke 15:17) and realized the full life he longed for was waiting back at home.
Great need motivated the young man to return home, but he didn’t assume that a full life would be restored; he hoped only for a servant’s existence. But the father, feeling that the son’s return warranted gracious extravagance, said, “Bring out the best robe ... let’s eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again” (vv. 22-24).
Whenever we have chosen the way of death and find ourselves in a spiritual “far country,” we can remember the prodigal’s story. Like him, we can respond to the Spirit-given change of heart that draws us home. The Father’s extravagant grace awaits all who return.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/returned-from-exile
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A Perspective On Possession
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” ~ 1 Timothy 6:7
Our materialistic society advises we live our lives a bit like Pac-Man, gobbling up everything around us. To be like a child who shouts “Mine!” as soon as they see any toy in the possession of another. But reality is that everything we ever possess is just passing through our hands, on the way to somewhere else.
Recognizing this reality allows us to adopt a stewardship approach to all we own. The question of a steward is not “How can I continue to possess?” This is because the steward recognizes that they are only managing on behalf of someone else. The proper stewardship question is “What is my proper duty?” while this temporarily passes through our hands.
We are stewards for God in this life. God is the true owner of all. We know this by faith. But even observation tells us this is reality. We are only owners for a time. Someone else will eventually possess all we currently possess.
We may be entrusted for a while with land, money, houses, or investments. We have gifts, imagination, emotion, and skills. But in the end, it all belongs to God. The power of this truth unlocks our freedom, our participation, and our truest perspective. We no longer need to cling. We need not worry about loss. We can free our focus to steward well. Peace and truth are found in this fact: The Lord is The Lord of All.
_____________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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What Seeds are You Sowing?
“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows that will they also reap.” ~ Galatians 6:7
The Bible has a lot to say about “sowing seeds” – and rightly so. We all sow (plant) seeds on a daily basis, and we will reap a harvest of exactly what we sow – later than we planted and more than we planted. Later than we planted because it takes time for the seed to grow, and more than we planted because a single seed can sprout into an abundance of crop – and it also multiplies the original single seed into many seeds of like kind.
So, the question is: “What seeds are we planting on a daily basis?”
If we’re filling our minds and time with ungodly thoughts, words, actions and deeds – then that is exactly what we will reap – and like seed will be spewed unto our circle of influence of family, friends, and associates.
On the other hand, when we fill our minds and time with the Word (Bible), seek to know and do God’s will – then we are sowing godly seeds, that will reap the fruits of the Spirit springing forth from us onto our circle of influence.
The seeds that we are sowing also have eternal consequences – as pointed out in Galatians 5:
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: adultery, sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (verse 19-22)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (verse 22-25)
I pray that you will continually seek out – and walk in – the paths of righteousness as taught and demonstrated by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Trust me – you will never regret planting the godly seeds in your life.
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Parting Words: Love One Another
~ Leading others to Jesus begins with caring the way He does.
Scripture Reading:
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” ~ John 13:34-35
What does it look like to love God and to follow Jesus?
Hundreds of voices around us shout very different answers to such questions. Believe this! Do that! Follow me! It can be confusing, even frightening, to a genuine seeker longing to know God.
But in today’s passage, we learn how Jesus wants believers to act on their faith — during His last dinner with the disciples, He simply encouraged them to “love one another.” This, Jesus says, is how the world will know we are His followers. Love will be the fruit, the sign, the proof.
What does this love look like?
That’s a fair question, and Jesus has that covered, too: “Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34 NLT). Turning with compassion to the hungry, sick, fearful, and vulnerable, Jesus spent His life putting aside status in order to serve. He confronted the greedy and those using God’s name to amass power for themselves. In a startling act of humble service, He got down on the floor to wash the feet of His followers. And soon after, He went to the cross in the most stunning display of love in history.
Our marching orders, then, are to love in the ways Jesus loved.
This is how the world will know we are His. This is how the world will know Him.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/parting-words-love-one-another
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The Triumphal Entry
“The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One — the King of Israel!”
“Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: Fear no more, Daughter Zion. “Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt” [Zechariah 9:9].
“His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. Meanwhile the crowd, which had been with Him, continued to testify that He had called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead. This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign.”
“Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look — the world has gone after Him!”
Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion
“Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. So, they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
“Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
“I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. The one who loves their life will lose it, and the one who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, they must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor them.”
“Now My soul is troubled. What should I say — Father, save Me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!”
“Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!”
“The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.”
“Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for Me, but for you. Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to Myself.” He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.”
“Then the crowd replied to Him, “We have heard from the scripture that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
“Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where they’re going. While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.”
“Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.”
Isaiah’s Prophecies Fulfilled
“Even though He had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him. But this was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, which he said:
“Lord, who has believed our message? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to?” [Isaiah 53:1]
“This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I would heal them.” [Isaiah 6:10]
“Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him.”
“Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”
A Summary of Jesus’ Mission
“Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge them; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as their judge:
“The word I have spoken will judge them on the last day. For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak. I know that His command is eternal life. So, the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
~ John 12:12-50
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Do You Want God’s Best?
~ Surrender everything to the Lord to discover the blessings He longs to pour into your life.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 37:3-8
We previously looked at Psalm 37:4 and read that God promises to give us the desires of our hearts. Today, let’s also look at the surrounding verses. This passage is one many people take out of context, forgetting the role they play.
What is our responsibility when it comes to claiming this promise from God?
We must …
• Delight ourselves in the Lord (v.4): As Christians, we should rejoice in God. He deserves top priority in our life.
• Commit our way to Him (v.5): We must allow God to change any aspect of our ambition that is not aligned with His will. It’s good to remember that when He doesn’t answer prayers as we wish, it’s for a reason.
• Trust in Him (v.5): God is merciful, all-knowing, kind, and generous. We can trust Him with our hopes and dreams.
• Rest in Him (v.7): Resting in the Lord means being at peace with His care and control in your life.
• Wait patiently upon Him (v.7): Jesus waited decades before beginning His ministry. Like Him, we should be patient.
Remember, the Lord longs to give His followers "fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11) and abundant blessings “beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). And when we surrender everything to Him, we’ll experience our Father’s best.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/do-you-want-god-s-best
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The Daily Article — March 22, 2024
More than 1 in 5 Gen Z Americans now identify as LGBTQ+
According to the latest poll from Gallup, more than one in five Gen Z adults in the US — people born between 1997 and 2012 — now identify as LGBTQ+.
But while that number may seem high, it’s right in line with the changes in sexuality from generation to generation. The study found that people in each generation are roughly twice as likely as the one preceding it to identify as LGBTQ+. If the trend continues, then nearly half of those who come after Gen Z will share a non-heterosexual identity.
What is more interesting than the overall statistics, however, is the breakdown of how they got there.
You see, the most common LGBTQ+ status among Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X is bisexual rather than homosexual. That’s a marked change from older generations, where the two identities are roughly equal. Moreover, Gen Z women are nearly three times as likely as men to identify as LGBTQ+, with more than two-thirds of them affiliating with the B part of that acronym.
As such, while 4.4 percent of the adult population identifies as bisexual, it’s a designation claimed by 57.3 percent of the LGBTQ+ population.
A Binary Distinction
I bring all of this up today because when we hear these statistics, it’s easy to forget how much diversity exists within an acronym that encompasses essentially every sexual orientation besides heterosexual individuals. And that kind of binary distinction is intentional.
After all, adults who identify as lesbian (1.2 percent), gay (1.4 percent), or transgender (0.9 percent) remain a distinct minority within the culture. And the same proportions are largely true of Gen Z as well where, despite an LGBTQ+ population nearly three times greater than the national average, only 3 percent, 2.6 percent, and 2.8 percent identify as L, G, and T, respectively.
But when you think about how LGBTQ+ normalization is often portrayed in the culture, how do those statistics compare with the national narrative?
From Tolerance to Acceptance
When the movement to normalize LGBTQ+ activity first began to gain momentum, the stated goal was tolerance. In the decades since, however, it has largely shifted to acceptance and validation.
And understandably so.
After all, very few of us would be all right with just being tolerated. We were created to crave a deeper level of relationship than simple tolerance affords. As such, it was only natural for the goalposts to shift once toleration was achieved. And that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
So how should we respond?
A Choice We All Must Make
The choice each of us must make is ultimately whether we will condemn Scripture or condemn actions that Scripture clearly calls sin.
And we need to understand that choice is one each of us will eventually have to make. The only question is how far down the path toward acceptance we’ll go before making it.
I wish that weren’t the case, and as we stand for a biblical view of sexuality, it’s imperative that we do so in a way that honors God and demonstrates His love to those with whom we disagree. But, ultimately, the least loving thing we can do is encourage people to continue living in a way that God can’t bless.
That doesn’t mean we should go looking for a fight or even that we volunteer our beliefs on this subject. People are more than their sexual identity, and our approach to them should reflect that. But if pressed for an answer, God’s Word is clear what that answer must be, and we shouldn’t apologize for it or be ashamed by it.
So, the next time you’re forced to choose between affirming Scripture or affirming what Scripture calls sin, which path will you take?
Decide now because it will only get more difficult the longer you wait.
NOTE: For more on what the Bible teaches on this subject and why, please see “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?” and “What does the Bible say about transgenderism?”
_______________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/more-than-1-in-5-gen-z-americans-now-identify-as-lgbtq/
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Willing to Wait for God’s Way
~ Trust the Lord to bring you His best at the right time.
Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:24-26
Many of us struggle when it comes to disciplining ourselves in the area of instant gratification. There are so many things we want now. And to make matters worse, we usually have the ability to follow through on our desires. That’s what the credit card industry is all about: Have it now; pay later. But finances aren’t the only area where we get into trouble. Being in a hurry to get married can lead to an unwise choice of a spouse. Or being in a rush for career success might tempt us not to consider whether our pursuit aligns with God’s plans.
Why do you think the Lord wants us to wait?
One reason is to protect us from our own self-destructive ways. Those who can’t say no to their own desires end up enslaved to them. God wants us to be mature believers who have the character and self-restraint to wait for Him to provide in His perfect time. Because the heavenly Father is omniscient, He alone knows what’s best. You can trust that if He asks you to wait, He has something more wonderful in mind than you could ever provide for yourself.
Does anything seem to have power over you?
If so, it may be an area that requires the practice of self-restraint. Yield to the Lord and submit your desires to Him. Then, begin saying no to temptations as you wait for God to reveal His perfect plan.
______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/willing-to-wait-for-god-s-way-2
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What’s Your Thorn in the Flesh?
“Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
The passage above describes a "messenger of Satan" that the Apostle Paul was dealing with. Most Bible scholars understand this to be a physical ailment – but, could it not as easily been a pesky sin that would occasionally rear its ugly head? As a born-again believer, I believe that we all have experienced those times when we are on a peak of our walk with Christ, when all of a sudden, BAM! the “messenger of Satan” – that pesky sin that we can’t seem to shake off no matter how much we plead with the Lord to remove it – rears its ugly head – and there we are: feeling weak, ashamed, defeated and downright unworthy of being called a child of God.
I believe that the Holy Spirit prevented Paul from telling us what his “thorn in the flesh” to be because the Lord knows full well that all of His followers will experience a thorn in our flesh as long as we are alive in this fallen world; whether it be a physical ailment, other certain person(s) or types of persons, sin, etc.
The good news is that the Lord’s grace is sufficient for all that we are going through – we just need to continually ask and receive it.
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Good word brother!
.
The Damage of Prayerlessness
~ Discouragement comes when we try to carry our load alone, but help is just a prayer away.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 4:2-6
Jesus often slipped away to spend quiet moments with His Father. If the Son of God needed prayer time, then we surely can’t live well without it. Yesterday we saw that those who “go it alone” become weary from bearing unnecessary burdens. Now let’s see the results of carrying that extra weight throughout life.
When we’re drained spiritually, emotionally, or physically, we become susceptible to discouragement. Loss of confidence is soon followed by doubt. A believer immersed in prayer and Scripture reading will find security in God’s power and presence. Joshua was exhorted to meditate on the Law, because his success was dependent on following God’s will (Joshua 1:8-9). Keeping the Lord at the center of our focus, coupled with regular Bible reading and prayer, builds confidence. But someone who questions His faithfulness will seek refuge everywhere except in those disciplines.
Forsaking prayer causes a downward slide — but the direction can be reversed at any time. It’s simple:
Confess your prayerlessness, and then make a priority of regular quiet time with God. In those moments of communion, He will make burdens light, offer encouragement, and fill you with confidence.
__________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-damage-of-prayerlessness-2
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Does the Bible Say True Christians Never Sin?
Today we dip into the Ask Pastor John podcast inbox:
“Pastor John, my name is Jake from Mexico. What does 1 John 5:18 mean?”
That’s the end of the question. And I’ll go ahead and read the text from the ESV:
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but He who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”
Pastor John what does this text mean?
I am not sure what part of this verse Jake is stumbling over. There are three things he could stumble over.
1. “Everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning” — what does that mean?
2. “He who was born of God protects him” — what does that mean?
3. “The evil one does not touch him” — whoa, really? What does that mean?
So, I am not sure which of those three he is stumbling over, so maybe I better say a word about each one.
Habitual Sin:
And what I am thinking is maybe Jake is reading the King James Version or the New American Standard Version of that first clause, because it is even more perplexing. The King James says, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.” That is the King James. The New American Standard says, “We know that no one who is born of God sins.” So, I would join Jake, if I read those, and say, “Huh, really? Christians don’t sin?”
That sounds truly problematical — “Christians never sin.”
I met a woman one time who believed that. She threw 1 John 5:18 and 1 John 3:9 at me. And I asked, “Well, what do you call the bad things you do?” And she had invented a lot of names for her sins, like: mistakes and flaws and shortcomings and imperfections, but she was adamant. I don’t sin.
Tense Help:
Now the ESV is right to translate “we know that everyone who has been born of God” — and then it translates the verb — “does not keep on sinning,” which helps a little bit, maybe. First John 3:9 has the same issue:
“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
Now I could pull rank with Greek here — which I will — and then I will back up and say that is not the key issue.
The idea of the Greek present tense — “hamartanei" in 1 John 5:18 — which is being used is that those who are born again and have the Spirit of God in them cannot ever make peace with sin, settle in with sin, make sin a friend, be okay with sinning — just go on sinning as though no war needs to be made against it, and nothing will come of it if we do. The present tense says: no, you can’t do that, you can’t make a practice of sinning like that.
Context Clues:
But if you don’t know Greek, you don’t have to trust me at this point, because there are a couple of other reasons why non-Greek readers know that this text does not mean that Christians don’t ever do anything wrong.
First John 5:16, two verses earlier:
“If anyone sees his brother [a Christian] committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life.”
So, he can’t mean that Christians don’t sin, because he just gave instruction for how to help Christians who do sin.
The same thing is true in 1 John 1:8–10:
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”
So, in the meaning of 1 John 5:18, I think here in the context, the first and obvious meaning would be:
The one who is born of God does not sin unto death; that is, we don’t make peace with sin, settle into a pattern of sinning that will destroy us in the end, prove that we are not truly born of God and are not truly Christians. Christians walk in the light, and, according to 1 John 1:8–10, walking in the light is not sinlessness. It is walking in a way that you have eyes to see in the light the ugliness of what you just did, and you are sorry for it. You confess it. You keep short accounts with God, and you move on.
So, I think “does not sin” means (1) doesn’t commit the sin unto death, and (2) doesn’t settle into a pattern of sinning that proves you have no spiritual life in you.
Christ Our Protector:
Second issue: “He who was born of God protects him.” I think that means that Christ — who is called the one born of God, the only begotten of God, the eternally virgin-born Spirit, but born by the Spirit Son of God, Christ — guards us from the devil.
He intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25), and He is with us to the end of the age helping us, (Matthew 28:20), and His blood covers us (Ephesians 2:13) and keeps us safe from Satan’s accusations because none of them can hold because Christ has died for us.
Safe from Satan:
Third issue: “The evil one does not touch him.” The devil’s accusations and temptations and harassments can hurt us terribly, but they can never destroy us. There is no deadly touch. There is no poisonous bite. His fangs were removed at the cross, and his lethal poison is taken away from believers. He cannot destroy us.
So, I take “cannot touch us” to mean that Satan can’t touch us with any deadly touch. He can hurt us terribly. I don’t want to minimize Satan’s realty in this world. He can throw us in prison and he can move others to kill us, according to Revelation 2:10. But he can’t hurt us ultimately. He can’t touch us with the touch of destruction and damnation. That has been taken out of his hand by the blood of Jesus. Jesus did that when He died on the cross according to Colossians 2:15. He disarmed the principalities and powers when He died and shed His blood.
So, the only begotten of God is, indeed, our perfect and everlasting protector.
___________________
~ by Pastor John Piper, Founder & Teacher (desiringGod.org)
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/does-the-bible-say-true-christians-never-sin
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The Price of Prayerlessness
~ God invites you to bring your burdens to Him every day.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31
God wants us to talk with Him, and Matthew 7:7-8 is an invitation to speak with Him about anything. Jesus said if we have a need, we’re to ask; if we seek answers, we’ll find them; if we want opportunities to open up, He will respond when we knock. Even so, many of us don’t spend as much time in prayer as we should.
Forsaking prayer can be costly. If we don’t spend time with the Lord, we might find ourselves on a slippery slope, sliding through weariness, discouragement, and doubt. Today let’s look at the first of these. Tomorrow we can examine the other two.
Certain situations take an emotional, physical, and/or spiritual toll — we call these burdens. They can wear us out if we attempt to endure them alone. But God doesn’t intend for that weight to fall on our shoulders. In fact, the Bible tells us to cast those loads on the Lord, who sustains us and “daily bears our burden” (Psalm 55:22; Psalm 68:19).
Hauling all our worries and cares around is exhausting because we are not built for such loads. In God’s design, His strength fills the believer to capacity. Picture Jesus’ shoulders just above your own — with Him bearing your problems. The burden may not disappear, but it feels blessedly lighter when you hand it over to the Lord.
__________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-price-of-prayerlessness-2
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Trading Spaces
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ traded spaces with us on the cross. He died in our place, for our sin. But if you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, you only believe one-half of the Gospel. The other half of the Gospel is the fact that Christ fulfilled God's standard perfectly. He was 100% righteous. So, had Christ been 90% righteous or 80% righteous, His sacrifice would not meet God's demands. He was 100% righteous.
So, once you bow the knee to Christ and ask Him to come into your life to take residence, to come into the dwelling place of your heart, then the righteousness of Christ is imputed into your life. Thus, when God sees you, He sees Jesus and His perfect character. This is only able to take place because of the resurrection power.
That's the power that can renovate our minds and hearts today and that will one day completely renovate and restore our sin-torn bodies into glorified bodies that will live forever in heaven. The resurrection is the final hope of every Christ-follower. It is the "final reveal" of God's design and renovation: the perfection of our mind, body, and spirit. On the other side of the grave, when God says, "Okay, open your eyes and see your new space," you will open your eyes in a resurrected, recreated body, a completely new space that you will inhabit for eternity.
It will be the perfect "space"…
…designed by the perfect Designer (God the Father),
…rebuilt by the perfect Carpenter (Jesus Christ) and
…purchased at the ultimate cost (Christ's precious blood).
But you've got to make the choice: Are you going to keep trying on your own to rebuild the rubble left by sin or are you going to let the Carpenter renovate your life into the perfect "space"?
_________________
~ by Dr. Ed Young (https://www.FellowshipChurch.com)
To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Overlooking Offenses
"A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense." ~ Proverbs 19:11
I have a friend who tells a story of a lesson the Lord taught him through his wife. It seems that every time he and his wife would get in the car to travel somewhere, his wife had a strong need to direct his driving. She would tell him where to turn and when to turn, even in their own subdivision. It was such a horrible habit that it drove my friend crazy and became the source of many an argument. Finally, one day my friend concluded that the Lord was trying to teach him something through this experience. He decided he would let go of his need to be free from this correction. He began to affirm his wife and even thank her for her input. It was excruciatingly painful to do this from where he sat.
A few months passed. He let go of the entire situation and actually got to a place where it just didn't matter to him anymore. An interesting thing happened a few months later. One day his wife looked at him and said, "John, I just realized that I have been directing your driving all these years and now realize why I do that. It goes back to my childhood when I had to direct my younger brothers and sisters. I am so sorry I have been doing that."
My friend nearly fell out of his seat!
Whenever we work close to another person, whether in an office or home, small offenses can become the source of great conflict. Resentment and irritability soon follow. God brings these "offenses" into our lives to develop character qualities in us. He uses individuals in our lives to accomplish His goal of making us more Christ-like.
So, the next time you complain or resist a habit or action from someone close to you, ask God if it has been placed there to develop some quality in you. Pride is the root source of the need to change another person. A man's wisdom gives him patience-to let go of little offenses. This is where spiritual maturity is seen in the day-to-day activity of life. Is there someone close to you who has some habit you really want to change? Give up that desire to the Lord. Who knows, He may even change it after you let go of the need to change it.
_________________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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The Prestige
“Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!” ~ Jeremiah 45:5
The Latin word of prestige means “to create an illusion”. In other words, to trick someone.
To have people think more highly of us, we create illusions that don’t line up with who we actually are.
When we seek “great things” for ourselves, we are trying to create an illusion. We want people to see our stuff. We are hoping for a misdirection. We want others to look at what we have carefully constructed to distract them from the truths we are afraid of within ourselves.
The calculated care and wisdom of the Lord doesn’t want us to stand propped up on lies. For our best good, He wants to expose the illusion of superficial prestige so that our full calling might be awakened and enacted.
The “great things” we pursue are often idols. They are prestige. We are trying to climb a mountain to show how high we can go. Old as the Tower of Babel (old as the Fall) is humanity’s desire to make themselves great in the eyes of others, rather than be all God made us to be.
God is for us. He has filled us with the power of His Spirit that gives us all we need to pursue the life of a faith superhero. The true manifestation of our good is rooted in the deep relationship of truth and our trust in Him.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Gentiles Hear the Good News
"Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel — that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
“And we apostles are witnesses of all He did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross, but God raised Him to life on the third day. Then God allowed Him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all — the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
"Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God."
"Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So, he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ."
~ Acts 10:34-48
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This word from In Touch stands in agreement with your shared message:
Remembering Forward
~ Take time to recall stories of God's faithfulness and share them with the people in your life.
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 29:1-29
Today we read about Moses gathering the people together so the entire nation could enter into a covenant with God. But he didn’t begin the way we might expect — with details of the oath, what the people must do, what the Lord would do, or the consequences of faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Instead, Moses began by reminding the people of all that God had already done.
Oh, the things they had seen with their own eyes! The things they had touched with their hands and tasted with their lips! God had entered their lives in tangible, unmistakable ways, and because of these experiences and memories, they knew “the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law” (v. 29).
Today, it’s still true that we gain confidence in God and trust for the future when we remember what He has already done in our life. But holding tightly to these memories can be harder than it sounds.
• What are the stories of your faith and your family?
• How and when has God met you, led you, fed you?
Let’s find ways to tell these stories…
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/remembering-forward
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Thank you plugger for sharing the “Good News” with us! We all need to be reminded that it is our daily walk with the Lord that demonstrates to others that we have been effected by the “Good News” of Christ, and, in the hopes that those that do not have a personal relationship with the Lord will desire to experience the joy of His salvation as well. God bless, and do have a good week!
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At the Table
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” ~ Revelation 3:20
The Lord offers us all the treasure we can carry. He wants us to be rich beyond measure. However, the Lord’s way of defining riches is quite different than the world’s.
The greatest treasure Jesus offers is relationship. The opportunity to mingle with the Creator of the Universe. It begins with hearing His voice and opening the door. For He is always inviting. And His invitation is to share bread together.
When we sit and break bread together, we share in the necessity of life. Hunger reminds us of our dependency on food to survive. Sharing a meal reminds us that we need one another. Intimacy develops around the table. There is something about sharing a meal that leads to personal connection. Fellowship and sharing of lives are inevitable around the dinner table.
This is the true nature of riches in the Kingdom of God. A seat at His table. Listening to His voice. Absorbing His wisdom. Altering our perspective to live in His ways.
Jesus offers us the most valuable thing conceivable. A relationship with God. To sit and share stories. To laugh and cry and be with one another. To hear and receive wisdom and insights - insights that turn into treasure.
There is no greater treasure than Jesus at the table. To glean His perspective. All we need to do is hear His voice. He is calling. He desires to give us the riches of the Kingdom. It begins with opening the door and letting Him pass the bread.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Bridge to God’s Promises
~ Faith is the pathway to abundant life in the Lord.
Scripture Reading: Romans 10:14-17
Northern California is home to the Golden Gate Bridge, a famous landmark and marvel of human engineering. Stretching across the strait between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it connects two shores that were once separated and provides safe passage across the expanse.
In our spiritual life, faith can also be seen as a type of bridge — one that links us, who were once far from God, to His promises (Isaiah 59:2). This span is foundational to our relationship with the Lord, offering hope on our journey. And the more we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and absorb His principles, the stronger this bridge of faith becomes. We can depend on it to provide safety as we navigate life’s trials.
As believers, we can find comfort knowing we’re connected to God’s love, grace, and redemption. Through faith, we can walk boldly on the path Jesus has laid out for us, safely traversing chasms of danger and doubt.
Whenever you see a bridge, let it serve as a symbol of how faith unites us with the living God and guides us to abundant life in Him. And keep in mind that a regular intake of Scripture reinforces our “bridge,” adding to its strength and stability.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/bridge-to-god-s-promises
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The Lord Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=ESV,KJV
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Jesus’ Enduring Presence
~ The Savior who died for you will stay by you.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:19-20
Life can feel like a complicated puzzle sometimes, with lots of uncertainties and challenges. But here’s the good news: Jesus tells us in today’s passage that He’s always with us, no matter what. His presence is like a reliable compass, guiding us in the right direction as we navigate the twists and turns of life.
Experiencing God’s presence isn’t just about attending church each week or being part of a monthly Bible study group; it’s a daily thing. As we consistently draw close to Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8).
If you’ve ever had a trustworthy friend who was faithful to walk with you in tough times, you know just how invaluable such companionship can be. And Jesus is the greatest and most loving friend we could ever have — guiding, comforting, and giving us strength. In His presence, we can find peace, courage, and the assurance that we’re never alone.
Take the words of Matthew 28:20 to heart. As we go through life, remember that Jesus is always there. Whether things are going well or not, in the everyday and the extraordinary moments, His presence is our constant. He’s with us always, even to the end of the age.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/jesus-enduring-presence
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Lord, Show Me My Choices
“Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we support you. Be strong and take action!” ~ Ezra 10:4
Even in the most frightening of circumstances, there are still choices available to us.
• What will I say?
• What will I do?
• How will I respond to this tragedy?
Terrible circumstances limit our choices but nothing can completely silence them.
Perhaps we should start praying that God would show us our choices. Pray He would empower our ability to see Him, to choose a perspective in alignment with His, and own the journey He has entrusted us to.
It is tempting to run from our choices. To feel as though the circumstances are so stacked against us that we no longer have any choices.
God calls us to participate in His Kingdom. Seeing the world, our circumstances, our daily tasks, and our relationships by the light of His Son is an option available to us daily.
We are looking for shortcuts, easy answers, for someone to just do the thing for us. Secretly, we like the idea of having no choices; it lets us off the hook.
Our choices are powerful and they matter in the Kingdom of God. The Lord will bless you with circumstances and manifestations of His Goodness. He will also bless you with choices.
Everyday, we are faced with a myriad of decisions. In the midst of triumph and pain and apathy, there are choices to be made. Choices about our perspective. Choices about our thoughts and actions. Pray today that the Lord will show you your choices and that you might make them with courage.
_________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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A Consistent Person
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:58
There are few things in life more difficult than consistency. It might be the most sought after aspect of human identity, the secret key to being oneself.
How do I be who I truly am? Everywhere? Always?
In an effort to find who we are, we adopt the suggestion of our surroundings. And when our surroundings change, so do we — navigating a sea of influences, reacting to a maze of experiences, and exploring a confusing atmosphere of people and relationships. Consistency is difficult and elusive. We can be blown back and forth by the wind.
Life will throw an array of circumstances our way. Some will be the mountaintop, some the valley, and most the plains.
• How do we find that part of us that is truly and deeply us?
• How do we tether our identity into the ground so that our values and our longings determine our identity rather than our circumstances?
The simple answer is that we decide to. In pursuing truth, we bind ourselves to an accurate perspective. A perspective that allows us to see every circumstance for what it is worth, feel every emotion involved, and own the choices we make in response. Perspective is the key to consistency. And truth is the key to perspective.
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
Https://yellowballoons.net
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Is Your Soul the Same as Your Spirit?
A man approaches Jesus seeking clarification on how to best live the life of faith. He asks Jesus to comment on the “greatest commandment” thereby inquiring as to what God values most in the spiritual life. Those familiar with the story know Christ’s answer. Jesus calls the man to “love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength” (Luke 10:27). What is interesting about this response is how the call to love relates to the various components of human life. Three of these terms are easy to locate within our anthropology. But what, and where, exactly is the soul? What is the difference between a soul and spirit?
Complicating matters is the fact that we often confuse the terms soul and spirit. We assume that our soul is the same as our spirit. Biblically speaking, however, the two are different. Hebrews 4:12, for example, speaks to how the Word of God “divides soul and spirit, bones and marrow.” Similarly, Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonians by praying that their “whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Savior” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). While the soul and the spirit relate to one another, they are clearly not the same thing. Scripture uses different terminology when describing each component.
• So, what exactly are the spirit and the soul of a person?
• What Does the Bible Say the Soul Is?
The Hebrew word for soul is “nephesh.” Like most of Hebrew terminology, much is lost in translation. Depending on the context of the passage it may take on various nuances. The word can be used to describe a person’s “soul,” “life,” “mind,” “will,” even “body.” The point is, nephesh does just mean one thing. Instead, nephesh refers to the whole of the person in the deepest level of their creation. When the psalmist questions “Why are you downcast O my soul?” (Psalm 43:5), the psalmist is addressing the most personal part of his or her existence. For the Hebrew people, the “soul” is that which is most uniquely you, the “you” God created you to be.
This same understanding is found in the New Testament. The Greek language uses the word “psyche” when describing the soul. For example, when responding to a question about the greatest commandment, Jesus calls us to “love the Lord with all your heart, and all your psyche….” This may seem strange today. We often associate this word with the activity of the mind. Psyche becomes synonymous with psychological structures and processes. Some may even attribute one’s psyche to nothing more than the neural activity of the brain.
Jesus, however, clearly means something beyond the psychological processes or thought life of an individual. In Mark 8:36, Jesus states “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but forfeit their soul.” Again, the word used is psyche. It makes little sense to believe that Jesus speaks of forfeiting one’s neural pathways or brain-activity. Rather, in this passage, the soul refers to the fundamental component of the human self.
In biblical anthropology, the soul encompasses the intellect, the affections, even the social context of one’s life. Rather than referring to one specific thing, the soul holds a unitive capacity. The soul integrates the various components of one’s life into one complex, unique, “self.” In effect, the soul refers to the whole of a person; a whole that can never be reduced to one isolated thing. Biblically, one’s soul is the deepest part of a person - your “you-ness.”
What Is the Difference between a Soul and Spirit?
If the word “soul” refers to the deep, personal, unity of a person’s self, to what does “spirit” refer? The history of Christian thought includes much debate over this. How are we to understand the relation between body and spirit? Are we spiritual beings encased in physical bodies? Or, are we bodily beings with a spiritual dimension to us?
Scripture refers in length to the spiritual side of our existence. Furthermore, the Bible employs many different words to describe this dimension of human life. One image that is frequently used is the image of breath. The Hebrew word used is “ruach.”’ This word, however, has a dual meaning; “breath” can also mean “spirit.” Scripture constantly plays with this image. God breathes life into humanity at the start of creation. In Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones, the bones do not possess life until the spirit is breathed within them. After his resurrection, Jesus breathed on the disciples, saying “receive the Holy Spirit.” In Greek, the word used is pneuma, again conveying a fundamental connection between spirit, breath, and life.
“Spirit” refers to the essence of life that is breathed into us by our creator/redeemer. It is in our spirits that we have the capacity to interact with our Lord; We pray by our spirits and in our spirits. This creates a certain confusion when speaking about our interaction with the Holy Spirit. Yet, this conflation articulates the basic reality of our spirits. Our spirits are that part of our lives that are to remain in active participation with the Spirit of God. In his letter to the Romans, Paul states that the Holy Spirit “testifies to our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). Our spirits are that which calls out for divine relationships.
Another image Scripture uses to describe the human spirit is through the term, “heart” (kardia). Interestingly, although the word is used over 800 times in Scripture, it rarely refers to the pulmonary muscle. Instead, the word is used to describe the non-physical essence of a person’s life. Returning to the first and great command, Jesus calls us to love our God with all our “heart.” The heart is the center of passion, desire, and choice. The heart (or the spirit) is the part of the human person that either turns to or rejects, the Holy Spirit.
How Do You Nurture Your Soul and Spirit?
While we may talk about the various dimensions of human life - soul, body, spirit, mind - we must recognize that we are talking about an integrated reality. Each “part” of the person influences, and is formed by, the activity of another. We know this instinctively. When our spirits are negative and dour, or when we are filled with stress or judgment, our own bodies reflect this inward state. Our bodies tense up and our muscles contract. The same is true on the positive side. Reduction of activity in our external environment often breaths a sense of inward peace or stillness. In fact, Jesus expresses this when he speaks of how each person “speaks out of the abundance of their heart” (Luke 6:45). What occurs in a person’s spirit and soul directly affects how they live their bodily lives.
There is a connection between our bodily life and our spiritual life. This means we are not just a bodily being with a spirit; nor are we spiritual beings in a body. We are created as bodily spiritual people. The two are held in harmony. Thus, the nurture of our spirits and souls must involve how we live in the world. To fully nurture our souls and spirits, we must involve the body. Spiritual disciplines are the way we go about this. Through spiritual disciplines, we nurture and sustain the spiritual/soulful part of our lives. Disciplines are not simply the “how to” of the Christian faith, they are the means through which we direct our inward self toward the presence of the Lord. Spiritual disciplines are activities we do (or abstain from doing) to place ourselves within the flow of the Spirit’s activity. The very point of discipline is to open our lives to the presence of the Lord in a deeper way.
The discipline of fasting is a great example of this. In the discipline of fasting, one abstains from bodily delights for a set period. Fasting makes little sense if done in a non-bodily way. The intention, however, is not simply the act of abstaining. Simply going without food for two days does not constitute a fast. The purpose of fasting is to direct one’s spirit and soul to the Lord. One goes without food, for example, so that he or she may feast inwardly on Christ’s presence. The bodily activity nurtures the spirit deep within us.
The postures of prayer are another great example. The physical posture of kneeling in repentance, opening hands in supplication, or raising our hands in adoration conveys something beyond just physical movement. The physical movement speaks to a deeper activity.
In his book “A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life” William Law writes:
“It is certain that if we would arrive at habits of devotion, or delight in God, we must not only meditate and exercise our souls, but we must practice and exercise our bodies to all such outward actions as are conformable to these inward tempers. . .outward actions are necessary to support inward tempers.” (Chapter 15)
This is the crux of the matter. Identifying the biblical understanding of spirit and soul does us little good if it does not inform how we live. We are created with an internal capacity to connect with, and delight in, the magnificent presence of God. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are blessed to live in an interactive relationship with the creator of our lives, and the lover of our souls. Because of this, the activity of our spirits, and the direction of our souls, is not a matter for mere idle speculation or philosophical discussion. It is a matter pertaining to who we are created to be, and whom we are created for.
_______________
~ by Rev. Kyle Norman
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/is-your-soul-the-same-as-your-spirit.html
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Bridge to God’s Promises
~ Faith is the pathway to abundant life in the Lord.
Scripture Reading: Romans 10:14-17
Northern California is home to the Golden Gate Bridge, a famous landmark and marvel of human engineering. Stretching across the strait between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it connects two shores that were once separated and provides safe passage across the expanse.
In our spiritual life, faith can also be seen as a type of bridge — one that links us, who were once far from God, to His promises (Isaiah 59:2). This span is foundational to our relationship with the Lord, offering hope on our journey. And the more we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and absorb His principles, the stronger this bridge of faith becomes. We can depend on it to provide safety as we navigate life’s trials.
As believers, we can find comfort knowing we’re connected to God’s love, grace, and redemption. Through faith, we can walk boldly on the path Jesus has laid out for us, safely traversing chasms of danger and doubt.
Whenever you see a bridge, let it serve as a symbol of how faith unites us with the living God and guides us to abundant life in Him. And keep in mind that a regular intake of Scripture reinforces our “bridge”, adding to its strength and stability.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/bridge-to-god-s-promises
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Adversity
“Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said.” ~ Job 2:10
Life is full of adversity. We lose loved ones, get fired from jobs, suffer miscarriages, and experience rejection. The story of Job is famous in part because of the extremity of the main character’s adversity. It is this very thing that makes Job so relatable. And it is Job's response that makes the story inspirational.
Adversities are a constant ingredient of life. We would prefer to have only easy situations, perfect settings, and good circumstances. But the fall of man has made it so that this existence, in some way or another, is going to be like Job’s.
There are times when it feels like we are brimming with adversity. When we “can’t find a win”. Life is tough. Being human is not for the faint of heart.
Just as we relate to Job’s situation, we have an opportunity to replicate his response.
Job “accepts” adversity as an opportunity to trust God. He did not go looking for adversity. But he acknowledges the reality of it and the choice he has in its midst. And he chose to live righteously.
Nothing about adversity is easy. We cannot completely avoid it. Often we cannot make it go away. What we can do is follow the example of Job and not let adversity define us. Not allow it to lead us into sin. We can see it as an opportunity for worship. A chance to trust. An invitation to be an example. A catalyst to know God by faith.
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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James — The Recipe for Victory Part Two - All Circumstances are Trials
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." ~ James 1:2-4
When we think of the word “trial”, we often think of a very specific type of circumstance. One that is hard, that we don’t like. Something negative we have to overcome. But James says all circumstances are trials.
These verses reference both the trial of want and of plenty:
"Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field." ~ James 1:9-10
We are familiar with the trial of want. The struggles with feeling like something is missing. The pain of loss; even the malaise of the mundane. When in the valley or on the plain, it is important to realize the perspective that “this is an exalted opportunity” to be faithful and depend on God. To endure and win the crown of life.
The mountaintops of life are traditionally viewed more as a triumph. We think winning at life is ascending the mountains. But winning is about who we are not where we are. And mountaintops have dangers of their own, a kind of trial to endure. On the mountaintop, we have to choose to adopt a different perspective. “This is only fleeting. It won’t last. Enjoy, but don’t depend on this. Depend on God.” This is difficult. Our senses tell us we are winning. We must have the eyes of faith to believe “This is fleeting, do not trust it.” If we make an idol of prosperous circumstances, we have lost our way just as effectively as if we cower under difficult circumstances.
All circumstances are trials. Tests. Championship games. Olympic trials. The valley, the plain and the mountaintop. Each has their struggle. And each is an opportunity to win gold. Life is not about avoiding one trial for the sake of the other. It is about navigating all trials through a Godly perspective.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/all-circumstances-are-trials/
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Joy Stealers
"I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete." ~ John 15:11
Why do many Christians fail to experience real joy, which is listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22? In his book "Laugh Again", Charles Swindoll suggests three common "joy stealers":
1. Worry
2. Stress
3. Fear
He defines worry as "an inordinate anxiety about something that may or may not occur" (and it usually doesn't).
Stress, says the author, is "intense strain over a situation we can't change or control" (but God can).
And fear, according to Swindoll, is a "dreadful uneasiness over danger, evil, or pain" (and it magnifies our problems).
Swindoll says that to resist these "joy stealers" we must embrace the same confidence that Paul expressed in his letter to the Philippians. After giving thanks for the Philippi believers (Philippians 1:3-5), the apostle assured them "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (v. 6).
Whatever causes us worry, stress, and fear - cannot ultimately keep God from continuing His work in us. With this confidence we can begin each day knowing that He is in control. We can leave everything in His hands.
Resist those "joy stealers" by renewing your confidence in God each morning. Then relax and rejoice!
________________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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"Jesus told them, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." ~ John 14:6
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"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again..." ~ Peter 1:3
...and by the Holy Spirit we can proclaim His mercy and grace to all.
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