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Ask For Wisdom, Live In Safety

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God has stored a supply of wisdom to those who ask.

Ask for wisdom and live in safety.

If you’re anything like me, you feel like slapping yourself sometimes for saying something stupid, or failing to do something you should have. What is needed is some wisdom. I’m so grateful that God gives wisdom to those who ask.

He stores up wisdom for the upright. (Prv. 2:7) Whenever something is “stored”, it’s usually in volume. This makes me think of a huge grain silo, filled with wisdom. God has saved up a vast supply to give to those who ask for it. You can get more than you can carry–more than you can take in. There is a lot!

When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you, to deliver you from the way of evil. (Prv 2:10-12) That is an amazing statement. You can be safe from disastrous decisions, from choices that would cause serious harm.

You have to want it. You have to want God to help you in every area of your life. You have to be thankful that He can speak to your soul  and guide you through life. Ask Him for wisdom, every day. .Ask Him to help you, and discretion will preserve you and keep you safe. Always ask for more.

Another post on wisdom: Wisdom As A Way Of Life

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart
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Oh You Of Great Faith!

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Start trusting Him in the small things.

God has you covered. Just believe.

There were four times when Jesus said to the disciples, Oh you of little faith.

1. When He described how God made the grass beautiful. Of course He would take care to cloth us–and take care of all our needs.

2. When He spoke to the storm to bring peace to the wind and waves.

3. When Peter tried to walk on water.

4. When the disciples said they didn’t bring bread with them.

It’s clear that Jesus expects us to trust God completely for all our needs, for our safety, for miracles when we need it. He expected, if not great faith, at least enough faith to allow God to do what we need Him to. What He saw was little faith–not even enough to trust.

That’s a good place to start. Can you trust God for what you need? Can you trust Him to bring peace to the storm? Those are just the basics. Once you can get used to Him covering the easy stuff, you can start to trust Him for the really big stuff.

The amazing thing is, our really big stuff is just as easy for Him to fix as the basic stuff. We just have to start with what faith we have and believe, then believe some more. He should start calling you, You of great faith!

Another post on faith: Nothing Is Going To Happen Until You Believe

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart

 

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It Takes A Lot Of Strength To Be Meek

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It takes strength to lay down your ego.

Living humbly is not easy to do. The meek shall inherit the earth because they’re the really strong ones! Jesus said, Do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek,  offer the other cheek  also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. (Mat 5: 39-40)

It goes against what we feel is right. Everyone hates being taken advantage of or being robbed. But Jesus wants us to live with light attachment to possessions and pride. These are not the things of value in the kingdom.

Where ever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also. (Mat 6:21) What we value most should be the things of God, because they are eternal. Turning the other cheek will actually accumulate treasure in heaven because the heart that can humbly refuse revenge is a heart that is filled with the knowledge of God and His peace.

That kind of humility can only come from the Holy Spirit. Only with His presence can you truly lay down your rights with a heart of love. God will be your defender. He will bless where the enemy has stolen. In your weakness, He is made strong.

Another post on humility: How High Will Humility Take You?

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart
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Holiness Takes Intention

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Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. (Heb 12:14 NLT) This verse is a minefield. There is one way to go through it in safety and another way that will get you blown up.

Only God can make you holy.

The path of holiness takes intention.

Working at holiness will get you nowhere. If you act a certain way, never say certain words, eat the right food and never drink certain drinks–that should do it. Shouldn’t it? No. It’s not what goes in someone’s mouth that defiles you. (Mat 15:11) Your actions should reflect a lifestyle of holiness, but that won’t make you holy. But without holiness, you won’t see God!

Only God can make you holy. Only by the blood of Jesus can you be cleansed and sanctified. Jesus must be your Lord and Savior. Working at living a holy life is to pursue Jesus, to want more from Him everyday. If you ever get complacent in your faith, you’re in danger of walking off His path.

Work takes intention. You don’t maintain holiness casually. You must allow the Holy Spirit to convict you when you sin. Humility must be a lifestyle. And as you pursue holiness, your life will reflect peace.

Another post on holiness: Yeah, You Can Be Holy

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart

The Holy Spirit Helps You Do The Right Thing

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If you listen, He will help you.

The Holy Spirit is great at helping us live His ways.

As believers, we need to be living examples of Christ. That’s a tall order, us being human and all. We’re going to make mistakes everyday.  But it’s so cool that God actually knows that, and He made a way to compensate for our failings. He gave us His Holy Spirit.

You don’t have to be perfect, but you have to listen to Him. If your heart is hungry to know God, He makes you sensitive to hear Him. and when you hear Him, He helps you when you need it.

I really try to act appropriately in life, and that includes my online life. I used a photo recently from a free photo use site, but this particular photo asked for the photographer to be credited. It wasn’t until I was in the shower the next day that it dawned on me that I forgot to do that. I tend to hear God a lot in the shower. I scurried to find that image again and get the photographer’s name. I was amazed at  how many other Christians sites were using the same image, but failed to credit the photographer as asked.

I was grateful that the Holy Spirit prompted me to fix an error. He didn’t condemn me. He just showed me what to do. He’s wonderful like that. Ask Him for guidance. He’s there for you.

Another post on living with the Holy Spirit: Living The Full Life

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart
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You Were Made To Love God Back

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If you understood God's love, you'd never be afraid.

You were made to love God back.

The love of God is a power beyond imagining. Love. Through love, God created heaven and earth just to have a people and a culture to live in communion. We are here on planet earth because God wanted us to be with Him. His love created all that we know and see.

I love how the Message Bible describes the love of God:

I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (Rom 8:38-39)

If you can get your head around that, then you will never be afraid again. If your trust is in Him, there’s nothing that will stop Him from blessing you. The enemy can lie about it and try to convince you that you don’t deserve it, or you’re not ready for it yet, but it’s not true. God poured out His love to you so completely that all your shortcomings and bad temper are covered. He has amazing plans for you.

Can you love Him back? Can you put yourself, with all your issues in His hands, to do what He wants? If you can say yes, then hold on and don’t let go, because He never will.

Another post on the love of God: You Are Loved, Really Loved

Knocking On The Doors Of Promise

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God's promises are always true.

Be faithful and persistent, and promises will come. Photo: Kashfina Rahman

God made it very clear that if we turn to Him first, He will take care of all our needs and desires. He made promises to us:

  • The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. (Psalm 91:14)
  • But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. (Malachi 4:2)
  • And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19)
  • Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.(Psalm 37:4)

These are promises. He will do what He says, under condition. Will you delight in Him and seek Him first? Will you trust Him, despite how long it takes to answer?

There was a judge in a certain city . . . who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ (Luk 18 2-5)

God said to go to Him like that woman. Look at those promises like a door and knock until you see it open. And it will.

Another post on answered prayer: Is God Going To Answer My Prayer?

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart
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Don’t Let Rocks Outdo Your Praise

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Don't let the stone praise God better than you do.

Praise God with everything that’s in you.

When Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Pharisees told Him to rebuke His disciples for praising Him openly. But Jesus said, I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out. (Luk 19:40) When it’s time to praise the Lord, nothing will hold it back.

The Spirit of God within you loves to praise and glorify Jesus. Have you ever been in church during worship and felt something rise up within you that you really wanted to let out? Is it praise that you can’t explain? Is it a joyful noise that threatens to bubble out uncontrolled? Is it an overwhelming feeling of worship and adoration to God that you want more than anything to express?

You probably didn’t let it out. You probably followed the normal pattern of the service. That’s too bad. When the Spirit of God stirs up praise and you enter into it, you join the angelic choirs that never cease to give Him glory. That kind of praise will fill you as you give it out. It will leave you shaken and changed.

Imagine the stones crying out in praise because no man would. God will be glorified. Join with the heavenly host and let His name be praised!

Another post on praise: God Like Praise Loud

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart

 

Jesus Forgives All Sin–That You Give Him

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Repentance makes us clean.

Allow God to clean you up inside.

Salvation is the most wonderful thing in life. Jesus made a way for us to be free and blessed for the rest of our lives, and all eternity. When we confess our sin, He covers it with His blood and it is no more. But just because we are saved and our future is in God does not mean that we don’t have sin in our lives.

Jesus said we must take up our cross daily to follow Him. (Luk 9:23) Any sin we hold onto will be a thorn in our flesh. It will block some aspect of blessing like mud on your windshield so you don’t have a clear view of where you are driving. It’s that dangerous.

We need to always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to uncover secret sin and long-held attitudes that are not pleasing to Him. Unforgiveness is a biggie. Lack of faith is a biggie. Jesus does not expect us to be perfect now, but He does expect us to want to be cleansed.

The more you allow God to clean you up, the happier you will be. He replaces the bad attitudes that we give Him with more of His Spirit, and He is the source of joy. It’s the best trade-off ever.  —Diana Symons

Another post on repentance: How To Repent

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart

 

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You Are Responsible For All Your Words

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Feed your mind with good things and your words will be good as well.

There’s never guilt with a heart of love.

As we grow and mature as believers, we begin to realize that we need to be careful about how we speak, even when we’re kidding around. I actually think it’s a lie of the enemy to make us think that joking is innocent. I don’t mean that all jokes are evil–of course not. But there is a line that is easily crossed when we’re joking that begins to smell of offense.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, o Lord. (Ps 19:14) May all our words be pleasing to God. When we’re angry, when we’re rushed, when we’re stressed–may we always speak what is pleasing to God.

The way to ensure that the words that come out are good is to meditate on good things. Feed your heart and mind with the life of God’s word. Let His truth fill you and your words and your thoughts become His. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure and lovely, and admirable.Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Phil 4:8) Take in excellence and you will give out excellence. If you start to feel guilty about what comes out of your mouth, it’s time to clean it up.

Another post on the importance of your words: Your Words Carry Power

 

Read the first chapter of my book Crucible Heart
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