We all have issues and people to deal with. No matter how good things look on the outside, no one's life is free from complications. Some may outwardly handle it better than others. There are those who carry a heavy load with a smile on their face to try not to burden others with their problems. Then there are those who express and share every detail of their pain with anyone who will listen. Don't be so quick to judge those who keep to themselves or wish you had their life, they may carry a lot of pain before they break and cry out. Here's a task for you today: reach out to that person that you see as having the perfect life and ask them if you can pray for them. Chances are that they will bust into tears because no one ever notices their pain. This task will take a little selfless effort on your part, but it will make someone's day. Being a blessing to someone will become a blessing for you as well.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
If it doesn't bring glory to God, then it is evil! To say that evil things are not evil, is evil. The devil has a cunning way of skewing minds and giving them a voice that can be heard by millions. I am overwhelmed that our society is so twisted that they have bought into the lies of the enemy and keep listening intently them as if they're going to miss something if they don't turn them off. Jesus told Satan to get behind Him and then He stopped listening to him! Are we going to keep allowing garbage and filth to penetrate into the Holy of Holies? We might as well slaughter a pig in the temple! Something good is coming from all of this; God has turned on a light and the roaches are scurrying around. And now that you know you have roaches, it's time to get out the spray and do some pest control, unless of course you like living in the filth. Fill your mind with the good things of God so you can easily identify the enemy within your midst.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
I'm no expert on photography but, I do know that lighting has a lot to do with how a picture will turn out. If you've ever tried to capture the moon with your phone camera, you know that it comes out grainy and possibly blurry because of the lack of sufficient lighting. On the contrary, when you take your pictures in the early morning sun, you get beautiful, light drenched photos. The more light there is, the more vivid the colors are in your photos; however, if there is too much light, then they become overexposed. For a moment, let's compare our mind to photography. When we expose it to the light of Jesus, the truth is exposed. The colors in our mind's eye become more dramatic and we see our life in the light of the truth. Not just the truth concerning you, but the truth of God and His great love for us. If you want to live your life in true, vivid color, keep exposing it to Jesus! In His light, darkness flees.
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
Before marriage, there is a process we go through when we meet someone we are attracted to. You may feel an instant connection which helps the conversations to begin to flow. We feel an eagerness to see one another, so you begin dating and spending time together. If everything works out you fall in love, your passion grows, and eventually you get married. Getting to know them is vitally important to any successful relationship. We are in that beautiful dance with Jesus! We are betrothed in marriage to Him and should be faithful to Him as we wait upon His return to us. We have entered into a formal agreement with Him and should only be seeking to connect with Him alone. He has gone to prepare a place for us in His kingdom, so don't be foolish and pursue other loves while He's away. Instead, do everything you can to learn about Him and be ready for His return.
"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning...You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Luke 12:35 & 40
Step into this new year full of faith and optimism. God is the one who goes before us and prepares the way. Listen for His voice to pierce the darkness and give you clues to the way you should go. He has a set plan and the pieces must fall into place at His command. Those of us who are trusting Him with our lives have nothing to fear. He has given us everything we need to know written down in His Word. He will give us understanding and wisdom concerning it as we mature. A child learns as it grows, starts out crawling, then pulls up on furniture, eventually it will become brave enough to take a step. This is very similar to how we grow in Christ. A baby never comes out of the womb running, nor does it learn to walk if it never tries. As you spend time in prayer and reading the Bible, He will start opening your eyes to the depth of His truth and bring you into maturity. Eventually you will be running!
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. Proverbs 18:15
My sister is a runner and has competed in many races. While we were in DC, she decided to take in all the sites on foot and ran for ten miles seeing every monument that we had seen the previous night plus took in a few we hadn't seen yet. Who does that for fun? However, she didn't just wake up one morning and say, "I'm going to run 10 miles today"! It has taken her time and lots of training to get to where a ten mile run was easy. The same goes for believers, you don't just wake up one morning knowing everything you need to know about God, He's more complicated than that! Much training is needed just to begin to understand the depth of who He is. This is why it is vitally important that you start your training now; it takes time to begin building upon your layers of knowledge. It's worth it for what is waiting for us at the finish line! GET ON YOUR MARK! GET SET! GO! Finish the race!
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Happy New Year! Today is a day for a fresh start, a do-over, new beginnings, and a brand new page in history. What are you going to do with it? It really just feels like the next day for me, but the calendar and the activity from last night indicate that we have a new year. Jesus gave all of us exactly that when He gave His life for our sins. Just like Frosty the Snowman when he comes back to life after melting, he was given new life so he came back exclaiming "Happy Birthday!" On this, the birth of a new year, maybe it would be a good day to go over your laundry list of sins, repent, and start off this year with a clean slate. Sin is what separates us from the Father, so it is very important that we have a repentant heart and ask forgiveness. I would rather not have God hide His face from me and know that he hears my cries as I ask for help. I pray that you see God's activity in your life today and for the rest of this year!
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2
