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When Jesus says we’re to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” he’s talking about far more than just bread. In fact, the Bible tells us that bread represents four things.
- Bread represents the necessities of life.This is the economy of God. God says, “I supply it. You gather it.” When you pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” it doesn’t mean you sit on the couch and wait for God to throw you money. You’ve got to work! Even the Israelites had to go out and pick up the manna. Work is a part of God’s purpose for your life. It builds character. Proverbs 14:23 says, “Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table” (MSG).
- Bread represents God’s Word. The Bible is spiritual food. Bread is a symbol for scripture. The Bible says, “People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3 NLT, second edition). When the children of Israel were walking to the Promised Land, God dropped manna from Heaven for the people to pick up because they had nothing to eat. God gave them this bread to teach them that people need more than bread for their life. Real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord. You don’t just need physical nourishment; you also need spiritual nourishment.
- Bread represents God’s family and fellowship. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:16,“Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? [Indeed it is]” (AMP). Bread is a metaphor for the family of God. You need God’s people in your life! Whether or not you have a physical family, God wants you to be part of his family that will last forever — the Church. It is to be a place of fellowship.
- Bread represents salvation. Jesus chose bread to represent his sacrifice in communion. Every time we eat the bread and drink the wine or juice, it is a reminder of how much God loves us and the sacrifice he made so that we can go to Heaven. Whatever your need is — physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual — God will take care of it if you will depend on him. Pray today, “Give us this day our daily bread,” and trust God to provide for you in every way.
One of the reasons people struggle with contentment is because we’re always looking for explanations for why things happen in our lives. It ticks us off that God doesn’t offer us explanations. So why doesn’t he?
Because he’s testing you. He’s testing you to see if you will let go of control and learn to be content, whether he explains it or not.
God doesn’t owe you an explanation for anything, and you wouldn’t understand it even if he gave it.
But even if you did get an explanation, it still wouldn’t take away the pain. You’re not going to know why most things happen until you get on the other side of death.
God isn’t going to give you an explanation. But he will test you.
I remember when I was a little kid, the only time our classroom in school was quiet was during a test. The teacher would say, “No talking! Take your pencils, and fill out your tests.” Even the teacher would be silent.
When God is silent in your life, you’re going through a test. When you don’t hear God and he feels like a million miles away, that is a test! The teacher is always silent when the students take a test. When God is silent in your life, your faith is being tested. Will you let go of control, or will you grab on more tightly? Will you learn to be content?
When you’re going through pain this next week or next month or this year, you don’t really need God’s explanation. You need God’s presence.
Because he’s testing you. He’s testing you to see if you will let go of control and learn to be content, whether he explains it or not.
God doesn’t owe you an explanation for anything, and you wouldn’t understand it even if he gave it.
But even if you did get an explanation, it still wouldn’t take away the pain. You’re not going to know why most things happen until you get on the other side of death.
God isn’t going to give you an explanation. But he will test you.
I remember when I was a little kid, the only time our classroom in school was quiet was during a test. The teacher would say, “No talking! Take your pencils, and fill out your tests.” Even the teacher would be silent.
When God is silent in your life, you’re going through a test. When you don’t hear God and he feels like a million miles away, that is a test! The teacher is always silent when the students take a test. When God is silent in your life, your faith is being tested. Will you let go of control, or will you grab on more tightly? Will you learn to be content?
When you’re going through pain this next week or next month or this year, you don’t really need God’s explanation. You need God’s presence.
No matter what you are going through - somewhere in the world, there are others experiencing something much worse. You can complain you don’t make enough money to provide all the fresh fruits and vegetables for your family - yet there are people who are literally starving because they have NO food! Not even scavenging through the garbage provides enough substance to silence the hungry cries of their children. You complain because your back hurts or you’re tired - yet there are those who are laying in a hospital bed for months in excruciating pain. You grumble about your life - a friend has betrayed you, you hate your job, your car keeps breaking down - not once considering the homeless on the street that has no friends, who can’t get a job and a car isn’t even in the realm of possibility. You complain of a gray hair, wrinkle or getting older - while a short distance away there is a husband, his heart breaking as he holds his wife’s hand when she breathes her last breath, her children collapsing in grief at her bedside. You may not even realize all the things you have to to be thankful for - so before you complain about how your life is so miserable - stop and make a “Blessing List,” and when you’re done - you’ll be on your knees thanking God for every wonderful thing He has done for you. The Bible says in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” And in Philippians 2:14-15 we’re told, “ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure . . . Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” Pray and ask God to help you see the positive side of life, praising Him for all the good things He has done. In other words, stop complaining and count your blessings!
Right before Jesus goes to the cross, he gives his last minute instructions to his followers: “Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me” (John 15:4 ). Jesus says that being spiritually connected is like being attached to a vine. You’re not going to have any fruitfulness or productivity in your life if you’re out there on your own. You’ve got to stay connected. In plants, a disconnected branch can’t bear fruit. Not only do you lack support and start to wither and die, but you also don’t have any productivity in your life if you’re not spiritually connected. I grow a lot of vegetables and fruit every spring. If I cut off a branch, those branches aren’t going to produce any tomatoes or anything else. They’ve got to be connected in order to produce fruit. What kind of fruit should you produce when you are connected to the Body of Christ? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control” (Galatians 5:22-23). I don’t know about you, but I’d like to be more loving. I’d like to be more joyful. I’d like to be more at peace, no matter what happens to the economy. I’d like to be more kind to people who are mean to me. I’d like to be a good person. I want to be faithful, not unfaithful. I want to keep my promises. I’d like to be gentle with people who are not very gentle. And I’d like to have more self-control. That’s called the fruit of the Spirit, and it’s the evidence that you are spiritually connected. If you are not seeing yourself grow in all these things, guess what? It means you’re not spiritually connected. He’s saying this is so important that not only do you need the support like in a building, and not only do you need the life blood like being in a body—he’s saying you’re not going to have any fruitfulness or any productivity in your life if you’re out there on your own. You’ve got to stay connected. And the Good News is that God wants you to be connected!
Here are four secrets to answered prayer from the life of Nehemiah:
Base your request on God’s character.
Pray like you know God will answer you: “I’m expecting you to answer this prayer because of who you are. You are a faithful God. You are a great God. You are a loving God. You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem, God!”
Confess the sins of which you’re aware.
After Nehemiah based his prayer on who God is, he confessed his sins. It wasn’t Nehemiah’s fault that Israel went into captivity. He wasn’t even born when it happened; he was most likely born in captivity. Yet, he’s including himself in the national sins. He says, “I’ve been a part of the problem.”
Claim the promises of God.
Nehemiah prays to the Lord, saying, “I want you to remember what you told your servant Moses.” Can you imagine saying “remember” to God? Nehemiah reminds God of a promise he made to the nation of Israel. In effect, he prays, “God, you warned through Moses that if we were unfaithful, we would lose the land of Israel. But you also promised that if we repent, you’d give it back to us.”
Does God have to be reminded? No. Does he forget what he’s promised? No. Then why do we do this? Because it helps us remember what God has promised.
Be very specific in what you ask for.
If you want specific answers to prayer, then make specific requests. If your prayers consist of general requests, how will you know if they’re answered?
Base your request on God’s character.
Pray like you know God will answer you: “I’m expecting you to answer this prayer because of who you are. You are a faithful God. You are a great God. You are a loving God. You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem, God!”
Confess the sins of which you’re aware.
After Nehemiah based his prayer on who God is, he confessed his sins. It wasn’t Nehemiah’s fault that Israel went into captivity. He wasn’t even born when it happened; he was most likely born in captivity. Yet, he’s including himself in the national sins. He says, “I’ve been a part of the problem.”
Claim the promises of God.
Nehemiah prays to the Lord, saying, “I want you to remember what you told your servant Moses.” Can you imagine saying “remember” to God? Nehemiah reminds God of a promise he made to the nation of Israel. In effect, he prays, “God, you warned through Moses that if we were unfaithful, we would lose the land of Israel. But you also promised that if we repent, you’d give it back to us.”
Does God have to be reminded? No. Does he forget what he’s promised? No. Then why do we do this? Because it helps us remember what God has promised.
Be very specific in what you ask for.
If you want specific answers to prayer, then make specific requests. If your prayers consist of general requests, how will you know if they’re answered?
Worry is essentially a control issue. It’s trying to control the uncontrollable. We can’t control the economy, so we worry about the economy. We can’t control our children, so we worry about our children. We can’t control the future, so we worry about the future. But worry never solves anything! It’s stewing without doing.
Jesus gives four reasons why you don’t need to worry in his Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus gives four reasons why you don’t need to worry in his Sermon on the Mount.
- Worry is unreasonable. Matthew 6:25 says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (NIV) Jesus is saying, if it’s not going to last, don’t worry about it. To worry about something you can change is stupid. To worry about something you can’t change is useless. Either way, it’s unreasonable to worry.
- Worry is unnatural. Jesus gives us an illustration from nature in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” There’s only one thing in all of God’s creation that worries: human beings. We’re the only things God has created that don’t trust him, and God says this is unnatural.
- Worry is unhelpful. It doesn’t change anything. Matthew 6:27 says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” When you worry about a problem, it doesn’t bring you one inch closer to the solution. It’s like sitting in a rocking chair — a lot of activity, energy, and motion, but no progress. Worry doesn’t change anything except you. It makes you miserable!
- Worry is unnecessary. Matthew 6:30 says, “If God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?” (TLB) If you trust in God, you don’t need to worry. Why? Because he has promised to take care of all your needs: “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV). Does that include bills? Yes. Does that include relational conflicts? Yes. Does that include your dreams and goals and ambitions? Yes. Does that include the health issues you don’t know what to do with? Yes. God will meet all your needs in Christ. Don’t worry about it!
When you pray a prayer request over and over, it’s not to remind God. He doesn’t need to be reminded! It’s to remind yourself who the source of your answer and all your needs is. If every prayer you ever prayed were instantly answered, two things would be true. First, prayer would become a weapon of destruction in your life. And, you’d never think about God, because he would become a vending machine. If every time you prayed you instantly got results, all you’d think about is the blessing. God wants you to think about the Blesser.
Persistent prayer clarifies your request.
A delayed answer gives you time to clarify exactly what you want and to refine your prayers. When you pray persistently to your heavenly Father and you say something over and over again, it separates deep longings from mere whims. It says, “God, I really care about this.”
It’s not that God doesn’t want to answer your prayers. He does. It’s just that he wants you to be certain that that’s what you really want.
Persistent prayer tests your faith.
James 1:3-4 says, “When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (NLT, second edition). The only way you can grow to spiritual maturity is to have your faith tested. One of the ways God’s going to test your faith is by delaying some answers to your prayers.
Persistent prayer prepares your heart for the answer.
When you make a request of God, God almost always wants to answer in a bigger and better way than you’ve prayed. Sometimes God denies your prayer requests because you’re thinking and asking too small. He wants to give you something bigger and better. But first, he has to prepare you for it. So God uses delays in answering prayer to help you grow, to help you get ready, to help prepare you for a bigger and better answer.
Persistent prayer clarifies your request.
A delayed answer gives you time to clarify exactly what you want and to refine your prayers. When you pray persistently to your heavenly Father and you say something over and over again, it separates deep longings from mere whims. It says, “God, I really care about this.”
It’s not that God doesn’t want to answer your prayers. He does. It’s just that he wants you to be certain that that’s what you really want.
Persistent prayer tests your faith.
James 1:3-4 says, “When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (NLT, second edition). The only way you can grow to spiritual maturity is to have your faith tested. One of the ways God’s going to test your faith is by delaying some answers to your prayers.
Persistent prayer prepares your heart for the answer.
When you make a request of God, God almost always wants to answer in a bigger and better way than you’ve prayed. Sometimes God denies your prayer requests because you’re thinking and asking too small. He wants to give you something bigger and better. But first, he has to prepare you for it. So God uses delays in answering prayer to help you grow, to help you get ready, to help prepare you for a bigger and better answer.
Do you ever wonder if prayer really works? You’re praying about something and Satan whispers to you, “This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? What do you think you’re doing? God is not listening. Don’t waste your time.”
Prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God’s sovereignty. Why does he do one and not another? Because God is in control. We have to trust his wisdom and his goodness.
Ephesians 3:20 says, “God ... is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes” (TLB).
Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, “Ask.” It’s encouraging to know that things that are out of my control are not out of God’s. I may not be able to change a situation, but I can pray, and God can change it.
I know exactly what some of you are thinking right now: “If I can pray and ask God to change things, and if God is really in control of everything, why don’t I get everything I pray for?” Good question. Here are three reasons:
Prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God’s sovereignty. Why does he do one and not another? Because God is in control. We have to trust his wisdom and his goodness.
Ephesians 3:20 says, “God ... is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes” (TLB).
Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, “Ask.” It’s encouraging to know that things that are out of my control are not out of God’s. I may not be able to change a situation, but I can pray, and God can change it.
I know exactly what some of you are thinking right now: “If I can pray and ask God to change things, and if God is really in control of everything, why don’t I get everything I pray for?” Good question. Here are three reasons:
- God is not a genie. You don’t just put in a prayer and get whatever you want. If every prayer were answered, we’d be spoiled brats. Do you give your children everything they ask for? I hope not. You know what’s best for them. You can see the bigger picture. If you can see the bigger picture for your kids, how much bigger is the picture God can see?
- Sometimes Christians pray in conflict. If two Christians are praying at the Super Bowl for different teams, who’s God going to answer? Obviously, God can’t answer every prayer at the same time. But I think the real reason is this:
- God knows what’s best, and you don’t. If you think you do, that is very presumptuous. The Bible tells us, “We are sure that [God] hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will” (1 John 5:14 TEV). Look at the phrase “according to his will.” The attitude of your prayer needs to be: “Lord, this is my prayer request, but thy will be done.” That’s what Jesus prayed in Luke 22:42: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (NIV).
When you truly love someone, you nurture that relationship with acts of kindness, support, open communication and unselfishness. Sometimes the depth of your love is measured by your willingness to put their needs or desires ahead of your own, which requires sacrifice on your part. So it is with your friendship with God. If you want God to know how much you love Him - remember that actions speak louder than words! It is not enough to simply “tell Him” - as it is far more meaningful to “show Him” through your obedience, denying self, and sinful desires. God makes it very clear just how much He wants us to “show” Him our love in in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” He has also instructed us to show love to each other. The Bible says in 1 John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” All throughout scripture, God’s messages has always been about demonstrating His great love!
Sin always involves self-deception. At the moment you’re sinning, you’re deceiving yourself because you think that what you’re doing will actually produce better results than what God has already told you to do.
To stop defeating yourself, you must stop deceiving yourself. You’ve got to take an honest look at your life, face the truth, and deal with the issues. What is it in your life you’re pretending isn’t a problem? What is it in your life you’re pretending you’re not addicted to? What is it in your life you’re saying “It’s no big deal” about?
It really doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting heroin or running up your MasterCard, whether you’re reading pornography or a trashy novel. You’re using it all to try to escape from your pain and your sin. But you’re not going to get healing until you first acknowledge the root of your problem.
You don’t have to hit rock bottom before you really change. There are wake-up calls going on all around you right now, and you’re not listening to them. Instead, you’re headed on the path toward destruction.
But you don’t have to go that way! You can acknowledge the root of the issue and deal with it.
I’ve asked the professional counselors in our church, “What’s the biggest problem you encounter?” They say over and over, “People wait too long before they ask for help. Then it’s almost impossible to turn around.” There will be warning signs all over the place in a marriage, and then all of a sudden the husband or wife walks out. The one that’s left behind asks, “What can I do now?” Not a whole lot. You should have been working on it sooner. Most people are in denial and wait until it’s too late, and they go through unnecessary pain.Repent (turn entirely away) from evildoing. Be baptized in The Name of JESUS CHRIST and ask to be filled with and disciplined by THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Prayerfully study, apply and obey The WORD of GOD, no matter what others are saying or doing.
To stop defeating yourself, you must stop deceiving yourself. You’ve got to take an honest look at your life, face the truth, and deal with the issues. What is it in your life you’re pretending isn’t a problem? What is it in your life you’re pretending you’re not addicted to? What is it in your life you’re saying “It’s no big deal” about?
It really doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting heroin or running up your MasterCard, whether you’re reading pornography or a trashy novel. You’re using it all to try to escape from your pain and your sin. But you’re not going to get healing until you first acknowledge the root of your problem.
You don’t have to hit rock bottom before you really change. There are wake-up calls going on all around you right now, and you’re not listening to them. Instead, you’re headed on the path toward destruction.
But you don’t have to go that way! You can acknowledge the root of the issue and deal with it.
I’ve asked the professional counselors in our church, “What’s the biggest problem you encounter?” They say over and over, “People wait too long before they ask for help. Then it’s almost impossible to turn around.” There will be warning signs all over the place in a marriage, and then all of a sudden the husband or wife walks out. The one that’s left behind asks, “What can I do now?” Not a whole lot. You should have been working on it sooner. Most people are in denial and wait until it’s too late, and they go through unnecessary pain.Repent (turn entirely away) from evildoing. Be baptized in The Name of JESUS CHRIST and ask to be filled with and disciplined by THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Prayerfully study, apply and obey The WORD of GOD, no matter what others are saying or doing.
The secret to personal change is not willpower. It’s not a pill. It’s not a resolution. It’s not some vow that you make. The secret to personal change is not something you do or say.The secret to personal change is something you know. You know the truth. When you change the way you think, it changes the way you feel. And when you change the way you feel, it changes the way you act.Behind every self-defeating act is a lie you believe. It may be a lie about yourself, your past or future, God, or others.
Why do you do something that you know is bad for you? Because you think there’s some kind of payoff. That’s the lie! You can only change and fulfill God’s purpose for your life if you start with God’s truth. If you want to change the way you live, you have to start in your mind. You have to know and believe God’s truth.
When you know the truth, the truth will set you free. What you have to do is expose and uncover the lies that you have been accepting. Some of those lies you picked up on the playground as a kid or from TV. Some of them you picked up from your parents or you creatively thought them up yourself. But they are lies, and when you reject them and instead find out what God has to say, you will experience freedom like you’ve never known.
Why do you do something that you know is bad for you? Because you think there’s some kind of payoff. That’s the lie! You can only change and fulfill God’s purpose for your life if you start with God’s truth. If you want to change the way you live, you have to start in your mind. You have to know and believe God’s truth.
When you know the truth, the truth will set you free. What you have to do is expose and uncover the lies that you have been accepting. Some of those lies you picked up on the playground as a kid or from TV. Some of them you picked up from your parents or you creatively thought them up yourself. But they are lies, and when you reject them and instead find out what God has to say, you will experience freedom like you’ve never known.
The power of God working in you is greater than the power of the enemy. Submit to God, resist the devil, and Satan will flee from you. This is a fact--a truth. Submission to God means total surrender to His ways and to His will. It is a total trust that He is capable and able to take care of that which concerns you. When you practice trusting and believing the work of the Holy Spirit in you and in your family, you will began to see changes and transformation. You will see and enjoy these positive changes in your children and in your family life sooner than you thought possible. Most of the time the change has to begin in us. If we yell, they will yell. If we curse, they will curse. If we talk negatively, they will talk negatively. When we change, they also will change. If this is not the case for you, then stand and resist. Your effective, fervent prayers will avail much.
When you're facing difficult circumstances, continue serving God and ministering to the needs of others. Use your God-given talents and abilities to rise above the negative circumstances. Wait upon the Lord and expect to see your miracle unfold. Ignore negative comments from those who know you. Don't allow quilt, condemnation, and shame to rule in your life.
Put everything behind you, and set your face like flint. Begin to trust the Lord and His Word. Don't be moved by what you can see, hear, know, or feel. You must not allow situations to consume your time, prayers, and fellowship with God. Continue serving, witnessing, teaching, praying, and doing all of those things that you were doing or have desired to do in your heart
Put everything behind you, and set your face like flint. Begin to trust the Lord and His Word. Don't be moved by what you can see, hear, know, or feel. You must not allow situations to consume your time, prayers, and fellowship with God. Continue serving, witnessing, teaching, praying, and doing all of those things that you were doing or have desired to do in your heart
If your problems are present tense, and you're right now going through distresses, allow God to clean out of you all the garbage such as impurity, hate, jealousy, offenses, bad habits, rooted resentments, fear, phobias, discord, gossip, bitterness, all forms of anger, and enmity. All these impure things attract demons and destroy marriages and families. You can't get clean on your own. You need the help of the Holy Spirit.
Only in the presence of God can you find healing and wholeness. God will restore your right, your reason, your virtues, what belongs to you, your joy, your childhood, and your treasures. Take one step at a time. Get ready to experience joy and peace.
Heavenly Father, we draw near to You with a sincere heart. Cleanse us from all evil and anything in my conscience that can be a hindrance to my relationship with You. Purify my heart with the blood of Jesus, and open our spiritual eyes to discern the wiles of the enemy. We love You
Only in the presence of God can you find healing and wholeness. God will restore your right, your reason, your virtues, what belongs to you, your joy, your childhood, and your treasures. Take one step at a time. Get ready to experience joy and peace.
Heavenly Father, we draw near to You with a sincere heart. Cleanse us from all evil and anything in my conscience that can be a hindrance to my relationship with You. Purify my heart with the blood of Jesus, and open our spiritual eyes to discern the wiles of the enemy. We love You
The Bible says, “In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?”(Romans 8:31 GNT) If you recognize how much God is for you, it gives you the ability to withstand tremendous rejection.
For some people, all that matters is popularity, fame, or applause. “What do other people think of me? How do I look to everybody else? Image is everything!”
If you live that way, you are at the mercy of everybody else’s judgments. If they think I’m a loser, I must be a loser! If they think I’m a dork, I must be a dork! I don’t want to live that way — do you?
God never intended for you to live that way. He says, “What are you listening to them for? They’re just mortal men. I’m the one that counts. They are no more enduring than grass.”
Paul says his goal in life is to please God, not men: “Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God’s approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
He says I have a choice. I can choose whether I’m going to live for the applause of God or the applause of men.
Who are you more interested in pleasing? The crowd or God? Paul says you can’t seek the approval of both at the same time. You have to decide who you want to impress. Just remember whose applause is “no more enduring than grass.”
God is for you and he wants to see you succeed!
For some people, all that matters is popularity, fame, or applause. “What do other people think of me? How do I look to everybody else? Image is everything!”
If you live that way, you are at the mercy of everybody else’s judgments. If they think I’m a loser, I must be a loser! If they think I’m a dork, I must be a dork! I don’t want to live that way — do you?
God never intended for you to live that way. He says, “What are you listening to them for? They’re just mortal men. I’m the one that counts. They are no more enduring than grass.”
Paul says his goal in life is to please God, not men: “Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God’s approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
He says I have a choice. I can choose whether I’m going to live for the applause of God or the applause of men.
Who are you more interested in pleasing? The crowd or God? Paul says you can’t seek the approval of both at the same time. You have to decide who you want to impress. Just remember whose applause is “no more enduring than grass.”
God is for you and he wants to see you succeed!
Help us JESUS to let go of anything or anyone that could corrupt our actions or words. Please forgive us of sins and renew our minds and motives as we obey YOUR WORD. Show us clearly YOUR Will for our lives so we do not waste any time or resources. We need YOUR Help in every area of our situations conditions and circumstances
Please continue to supply our every need as we study and obey YOUR WORD JESUS In all things give thanks to GOD HE is Worthy of our praise and obedience to HIS WORD |
Continue to surround us with people and things that will bring us to a closer right relationship with YOU JESUS. Please keep our loved ones and those in our influences from hurt, harm and danger as we obey YOUR WORD
Show us clearly YOUR WILL for us to prosper as we obey YOUR WORD & acknowledge YOU in every situation. We want to be a blessing Spiritually & financially to those in and out of our influence,JESUS Help us to be mindful of things we watch, hear and say so we can be sensitive to YOUR VOICE. We need YOU in every area of our lives,JESUS |
Guide and direct us on every path as we acknowledge YOU in every situation, JESUS
By all means use our actions & words to draw others to a closer relationship to YOU,JESUS Equip us to be a blessing to those in and our of our influences as we strive to live blameless before YOU,JESUS Continue to be our Shepherd and Shield as we serve YOU with our actions and words. Help us to stay obedient and righteous before YOU,JESUS no matter what others say or do. We need YOU in every area of our lives |
Why is it that no one seems to notice when you’re in pain, sad, or hurting? You could be depressed for weeks and those around you are seemingly oblivious. But if you were to make a mistake - why, everyone seems to notice and are all too quick to point it out! Fortunately, God isn’t watching you with devilish anticipation just waiting for you to mess up! He loves you so much that He is at your side the very second you call on Him - for He hears AND responds to your cries for help. The Bible says in Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” How wonderful to know that your Savior cares! He not only notices when you are sad, lonely, or suffering from a broken heart - but He lifts you up and gives you the strength, comfort, and courage you need to carry on. In Psalm 37:24, Scripture says, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.” What a beautiful promise that you can claim - God will uphold you - He will lift you up! What an awesome God who loves you more than you could possibly imagine! When you are at your lowest and it feels no one notices whether you are dead or alive - remember God not only notices, but He cares and stands by ready to respond the instant you call.
When approaching the throne room of God, it’s important to have faith that God actually listens and answers your prayers, for prayer and faith go hand in hand! The Bible says in Matthew 21:21, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.” God certainly makes it very clear how important “believing in Him,” is. Too often, prayers are prayed “hoping, hoping, hoping,” God will hear - but not actually believing that He will. Yet, God says in Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” It’s not enough to just “hope,” - you must believe. In 1 John 5:14, Jesus says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” With promises like that - why is it that so many people have trouble believing God even hears them when they pray. You often hear people say, “I don’t think my prayers go higher than the ceiling.” That’s exactly what Satan wants you to think - but it’s a lie! God hears not only your audible prayers - He hears your heart! If your faith is weak - pray, “Lord, give me faith,” and God will give you the trust you need to believe in Him! You can know without a doubt that your prayers go much higher than the ceiling - for they go straight to the throne room of God!