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Tag Archives: faith

Giving Up Part 1

15 Mar

I Kings 19:3-4
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.  When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert.  He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.  “I have had enough, LORD,” he said.  “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Elijah is probably one of the most powerful Old Testament figures.  Through him, God performed incredible miracles to turn Israel around.  Yet at this point in his life he was ready to throw in the towel.  He actually prayed for God to take his life.

What could cause such an uncompromising individual to leave the race?  The answer lies in the first line.  “Elijah was afraid.”  The evil queen, Jezebel, had ordered his arrest and execution.  Fear had gripped his heart in spite of the presence of God in his life.

How many times do we lose sight of our calling when faced with the overwhelming problems of life?  We need to take the same path that Elijah took – but not the same attitude.  We need to run to the place of solitude with God and pour out our heart in prayer.

Just like Elijah, we need to admit our faults and failings.  Only the Lord is able to meet the need of our inner man.

Use this time to seek the Lord’s help for the challenges you face.  Confess your failures and trials.  God stands ready to enfold you in His arms.  Allow His strength to work in you the restoration that is needed.

 
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Posted by on March 15, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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The Road to Damascus

14 Mar

Acts 9:3-6
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

We all make mistakes.  The unfortunate thing is, that sometimes we compound these mistakes by going off into a totally wrong direction.

In this section of Scripture we find that Saul (later to become Paul the Apostle) has become self-deceived.  He thought that by persecuting the church, he was in the center of God’s will for his life.

It took a wilderness journey and a voice from heaven to knock him off his horse and break through his defenses.  Apparently there was no other way to get through to him.  He needed to be shaken up in order for God to get his attention.

As we spend time in the wilderness we should be open for the Lord to wake us up and turn our lives around.  Every once in a while God has a life altering event waiting for you just around the next corner.  We need to be prepared and open for these heavenly interruptions.

As you go before the Lord today, make sure that you reaffirm your intention to obey Him no matter what comes your way.  Let Him know that you will remain true to Him even if it calls for you to change your plans.

 
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Posted by on March 14, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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Footsteps of Faith

08 Mar

Faith is not a one-time thing.  It is a way of living.

Romans 4:12
And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
(NIV)

The word footsteps in this passage actually means a path that was created by many people walking the same way over time.  Over and over again there were men and women who followed the same path of faith that Abraham used.

God is not a respecter of persons.  He doesn’t ask everybody to do something different.  He requires the same from all of us – faith.  We must learn to trust God in all things, just like Abraham had to.  Each new generation of believers can see where others have walked before.

Sure, the technology changes.  We use new words and have new concerns to deal with.  But our God doesn’t change.  The same God who took care of Abraham in the wilderness, is the God who will see us through the challenges of the times we live in.  Only He knows the end from the beginning and can safely take us through to an abundant life.

Think about it!  This path of faith that we are walking is the same path that Abraham trod thousands of years ago.  Over time, with each new believer adding their steps, the path has become clearer and clearer.  It led them to see the glory of God and it will take us to the same location.

How unfortunate that so many believers don’t look at the path in that way.  They think it is too narrow and constrictive.  They want to see more than just the view from this trail.  We must keep reminding ourselves that this path is the one that can truly lead us to the abundant life.  If it brought Abraham there, then with God’s help, I can reach that destination as well.

 
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Posted by on March 8, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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Waiting for God

03 Mar

Lamentations 3:22-24
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Never get the idea that God is just waiting for us to mess up so that He can strike us down.  It is just the opposite.  He is looking out for our best.  The Lord wants each of us to experience the ultimate fulfillment in life.

To bring this about, He walks with us, guiding us each day – showing us compassion and faithfulness.  Let’s face it, if it were God’s goal to judge us, He would not have to wait long for us to make a mistake.  Each one of us has a personal history such that if He wanted to, the Lord could lock us in Hell and throw away the key.

The fact is, God has proven His intent through the death and resurrection of Christ.  He loved us enough to go to the cross.  He wouldn’t have done that if He was intent on condemning us.

Come to God today in a spirit of expectancy.  Be ready to hear and obey His plans for your life.  Wait on Him in the stillness of trust and dependancy.  Spend some time just listening for that still, small voice inside you.  It will be well worth your time.

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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Mountains

02 Mar

Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

They seem so powerful, so enduring.  Their immense size and lofty construction give us the idea that they will last forever.  Yet a viewing of the pictures of the Mount St. Helens tragedy illustrates how even a mountain can crumble at any time.

We, as human beings, tend to be impressed very easily.  We are quick to use labels such as “always”, “never”, and “forever.”  We seem to apply these to the most inappropriate parts of life – governments, economies, relationships, and so many other man-made institutions.  The events of September eleventh proved the foolishness of that kind of thinking.

Don’t fall into the trap of assigning eternal value to temporary things.  In spite of all this, there is a stable place in the world.  Even though the seemingly unshakable can topple, God’s love, His covenant, and His compassion will never fail.  They are established, eternal, and unshakable.

Meditate on the Lord’s faithfulness today.  Give Him praise for His unchanging and unwavering love – that love which reaches down to us at our point of need.  Spend time in the presence of the Eternal One today.  Receive from Him what you need to be established in your way.

 
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Posted by on March 2, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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Our Common Faith

26 Feb

What is church all about?  Why is it important to attend meetings?

Titus 1:4
To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
(NIV)

Many believers have a misconception of what the church is.  They see it in a very self-centered way.

“I go to church because I like the praise and worship.”

“They have a great youth ministry.”

“I get a lot out of the preaching.”

While these are all good things to say about a church, ultimately, they are not the main reason for going.  It is not all about what I get out of it that makes the church important to me.  There is a higher purpose.

The Apostle Paul gives us some insight in his words to Titus.  He calls Titus his son in their common faith.  That speaks volumes to me.  Son.  The church is not just a collection of individuals who happen to meet together to sing some songs and hear a speech.  Because of the blood of Christ imparted to us, we are now a family.  The church is, in fact, a family get-together.

We must see the church as a family unit.  A place where the bonds are more important than the individuals.  Paul calls it their common faith.  It is the family heritage.  Have you ever heard someone say something like, “Everyone in my family has a temper.”  Or maybe, “My family are all very giving people.”  There is a common trait to some families.  To those of us in Christ, it should be our common faith in the Lord.

The church is that place where we pick up and strengthen our family traits.  We start to resemble the Lord as we meet together with His family.  Don’t miss out on the family reunion.  Be a part of the church God has called you to.  Let our common faith be what the world sees in us.

 
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Posted by on February 26, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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