12.30.09
Posted in Bible at 1:17 am by Administrator
Another year has come to an end, and by the grace of God, we are alive- able to hope and pray for good things in the coming year. This is the time that people make resolutions, because a new year is likened to a clean slate, a chance to start fresh; a chance to do things differently, and hopefully, better than they were done in the previous year. The unfortunate thing about new year’s resolutions is that by February and March, most of them have already been abandoned and we start to feel badly about the fact that we failed to follow through with our commitments.
I find comfort in the fact that the only thing better than making a resolution with each new year is the ability to make a resolution with each new day. Every day that we are blessed with life is another opportunity to start fresh. Every day that we decide to surrender our burdens to Jesus and stop carrying them ourselves is another day to start with a clean slate. Every new day in which we decide to change ways that may not be pleasing to the Lord is a new beginning.
Lamentations 3: 22 – 23 tells us that “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
The Lord is faithful and merciful in that as long as we are willing to acknowledge that a change is needed in our lives and are willing to come to Him for help, He is willing to help us make that change. As Christians every new day is an opportunity to rededicate our lives to God through His son Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:9-10 tells us “ Since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”
We also know that as soon as we decide to make a change, the devil sets out to make us fail by making situations arise that will cause us to revert to old behaviors. When those situations arise, we should claim the word of God that tells us that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, because it is by the spirit of God that we overcome temptation, and not by our own might. The Lord tells us again in
Psalm 37:23-24 that “If the Lord delights in a man’s way He will make his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”
So let us not wait until January to make a new year’s resolution, but instead, let us make a new life’s resolution today. Let us not rely on our own resolve to keep these resolutions but let us surrender all of our difficulties to Christ and let Him bear our burdens.
May the Lord God Almighty give us His spirit to walk in His ways and remain obedient to Him and may He give us His peace, joy and favor this 2010 and in the years to come.
Let us share our thoughts that we might encourage our brethren.
In Christ,
The handmaid at His feet.
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12.16.09
Posted in Bible at 1:34 am by Administrator
Proverbs 3:5-6 says” Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He will direct your path”. Psalm 37:3-5 states “ Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him and He will do this”.
I know that when we read passages like this we are filled with such hope. It is an assurance of the fact that the Lord is always with us and He’s ready to do good things for us. But I just want to point out the parts of these passages that we may sometimes gloss over.
The first passage tells us that in order for God to be able to direct our paths we have to acknowledge Him in ALL of our ways. We also have to trust Him with ALL of our heart. The second passage tells us that He will give us the desires of our heart only if we DELIGHT ourselves in Him.
Are we acknowledging God in all that we do? Do we rationalize our actions no matter how wrong they are and give in to our emotions? Do we seek God’s approval before we act or ask ourselves if our actions will be pleasing to God or in line with His will? Do we allow His Word to work in us and do we get our road map through life from His word? Do we hunger for His word and long for it the way we long for earthly food and drink? Do we worship out of duty and routine or out of passion for God? Do we seek Him because of what we need from Him or simply because we need Him? God did not tell us to acknowledge him in some of our ways, He did not say trust Him with some of our heart, He asks for ALL of it. ALL of us.
When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, he did not say “think about it for a day or two and let me know what you think” Abraham knew God well enough to trust Him completely. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, and seek Him eagerly, the trust will follow
Are we short-changing ourselves because we refuse to let go and give everything to God? Are we not getting the desires of our heart because we haven’t done our part?
I once heard a well known preacher say “ The Son of God became son of man, so that sons of men could become sons of God”. As we come into the Christmas season let us reflect on the priceless gift that God gave us , and all that He continues to give us through His word with each new day. Let us commit all of our short-comings to Him because He alone is able to fix them and draw us as close to Him as we desire to be drawn.
May the joy and promise and blessing of the true meaning of Christmas remain and abide with us all year through.
Please, share your thoughts that we might encourage our brethren.
In Christ,
The handmaid at His feet.
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12.02.09
Posted in Bible at 12:32 am by Administrator
The term ‘tunnel vision’ is usually used with a negative connotation. Given the definition of the term however, that is not altogether surprising. The dictionary defines tunnel vision as “ a drastically narrowed field of vision” or “an extremely narrow or prejudiced outlook; narrow mindedness”. When it comes to being a christian and staying on the path of righteousness, is tunnel vision such a bad thing? Another synonym for ‘tunnel vision’ is ‘one-track mind’, so, is having a ‘ one-track mind when it comes to our salvation a negative trait?
1 Peter 1:13 states “ Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Be self controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed”.
In a world full of distractions, it is so easy to get re-entangled in the things that the blood of Jesus freed us from when we accepted Him into our hearts. Verse 14 of the same chapter states “ As obedient children do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance”. That is why it is imperative for us to pray for that spirit that will guide us jealously on that path of salvation. Verse 9 of the same chapter states “ for you are receiving the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls”. That is what it is all about. We are not professing Jesus to become wealthy, or to become popular, we are not signing up for the persecution that all christians go through because it is the latest trend or because our friends are doing it, we profess our faith in Jesus Christ because it is the ONLY way to salvation and that is our ultimate goal.
Philippians 3:14 states “ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. Looking straight ahead and blurring out everything else on all other sides so that we can stay focused on the goal ahead is the only way to keep ourselves from falling. Titus 2: 11 -13 states “ for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and savior, Jesus Christ”.
Let us tunnel our vision unto that crown of salvation that our Lord has reserved for us and pray that we may be able to overcome everything that attempts to deter us.
Please share your thoughts that you might encourage your brethren.
In Christ,
The handmaid at His feet.
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