What trait do you think makes a Christian most attractive?

x

“I was wrong about what I needed; He never is”.
How has this truth played out in your life?

How do you solve the dilemma of feeling a lack or weakness in an area of your life? We’ve learned as Christians that we are not really to go by what we think or feel but by the Word of God, so we pray. But if persistent prayer has not completely conquered this weakness yet, what can we do?

While discussing this with my husband one morning, I told him the only thing that ever worked for me in combination with prayer was to meditate and ponder a scripture until it becomes part of you. Here is what I do. Focus on the area or quality you want to improve. Find a verse with the desired result and paste it to the area of need as the remedy. By that I mean, every time I am faced throughout my day with this insufficiency, I ask the Holy Spirit to make a change in me according to this verse in this area.
I began to recall every breakthrough that had come my way through this method and recited them to my husband. When I pondered John 8:32, (You will know the truth and the truth will set you free), God revealed what I needed to do for Him to set me free at that time. I was to get rid of all offenses or unforgiveness, even things not my fault. Next, I pondered Rom. 8:28 about turning things for good and God turned a difficult situation into salvation for another, Rom. 8:1 reminded me there is no condemnation in Christ, don’t receive it from another, John 12:32 reminded me to honor Christ and He will draw people to Himself through us, I John 3:1 gave me a deposit of His love that I would never doubt again despite my past, I Cor. 1:5 that I have all I need for speaking and knowledge because of my testimony in Him, Eph. 6:19 that I will be given words to fearlessly make known His gospel, John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit will teach me what I need to know and remind me of everything He has already taught me. Whether the verse delivered courage, love, confidence, boldness, honor, or understanding; each gave a desired result. This process may take a week or even a month of pressing in and ruminating over a scripture and asking God for belief for this new strength.

What do you need? What areas need fortitude or revelation? Find the verse that answers that question in your life. Meditate on it day and night until it becomes alive and active in your life. When God’s Word goes out, it does not return empty but accomplishes what He desires and achieves the purpose for which He sends it. (Is. 55:11) As you keep your focus and draw close, remember that whatever you ask in faith, He will do it for you.

When you read “Do not fear” in the bible,

what “fear” comes to mind first for you?

If someone asked “why do you believe the bible is true?”,

how would you go about answering them?

In our pursuit of God, we find ourselves. Although we can be and do all things in Christ, without abiding in Him, we can do nothing. We must acknowledge our “wormhood” before we can be transformed into a butterfly. God never intended us to perfect ourselves. The dichotomy is this-the more we realize the truth of our flaws and vulnerability, the more we know we must depend on God’s spirit to work through us. Then the focus is shifted to more of Him-we must become less.
Since God knows just how He made us and how we can best serve Him to be fulfilled, the best expression of ourselves is when He shines through us, joyfully doing what we are made to be- a unique expression of His personality. A confidence arises in the fact that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion.
C.S. Lewis states in “Till We All Have Faces,”
“We must die before we die, and the kingdom life arises anew.” God makes all things new, a far superior life than we were leading.

I John 3:2 Beloved we are God’s children; Now what we shall be has not yet been revealed.

In our pursuit of God, we find ourselves. Holly Smith

Spiritually, what get’s you most inspired, most motivated, most charged up?

What advice should you have given yourself 1 year ago?

If you could ask God one question about 2011,

what would it be?

It’s very easy to walk confidently- with your head and shoulders high- when you have a good stash of money in the bank.

When you’re depth free.

When you have good insurance.

When you have wealthy parents.

When you’re married and have a good paying job.

When you’re related to a millionaire or a celebrity.

There’s a proverb in my native tongue that says,

“Aku n’esi obi ike.”

It means,

“Wealth/Success makes the heart strong”.

This proverbs is similar to what is revealed in the book of Proverbs:

“The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.” (Proverbs 18:11).

But my question for you today is, what if God is all you have?

Nothing much in the bank.

Living in debt.

Little or no substantial educational qualification.

Out of job – coupled with parents that are virtually dependent on you.

Will you still be confident?

Will you still walk confidently with your shoulders high?

I really don’t know if you will still… But I know that you can still …

God is not enough reason to be confident. He is more than enough reason to be confident.

I once had a young lady tell me, “You are too bold!”

I really didn’t see that statement coming. Guess it was because according to the world’s standard, I had no reason to be confident, especially at that point in my life when there was nothing much to show materially.

But I had a word from God installed in my heart from whence my confidence emanates:

“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” (Proverbs 3:25-26).

My confidence did not come from a bank account that is subject to the evil forces of the universe. Neither did it come from any material possession that is subject to destruction.

My confidence came from the only wise God.

An indestructible God.

My confidence came from a target that can’t be hit!

I’m talking about a God whose wealth and splendor is unimaginable.

Putting your confidence in this only true God implies that anyone who wants to tamper with your self esteem will have to dethrone God first. Good luck with that…

However, putting your confidence in God is not something that happens by chance. It’s something that you’ll needs to take certain deliberate steps to put into place through continuous – prayer, meditation on God’s word/promises, and fellowship with the brethren.

The world also has a standard for confidence.

But the world’s standard for confidence is too inferior both for humanity generally and particularly for us as heirs of a superior Kingdom.

Operating with the substandard standard of the world has signed many up for suicide, violent dis-contentment. And will leave us violated, empty, frustrated, depressed, and disillusioned with life.

If millionaires and celebrities are committing suicide, fighting depression, and battlling all sorts of addiction in a futile quest for joy and peace of mind, why do people still believe that attaining a similar status will give them the desired fulfillment? Guess the lawn still looks greener on the other side huh?

Simply put; as a human and especially as a beliver, embracing the world’s standard of success is like trying to install a Microsoft Windows 7 software into a Windows 95′ operating system hardware. That’s only going to crash both the software and the hardware.

God’s people are alarmingly – falling for the world’s flashy toys: “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13).

This post is for all those who feel they have – had a terrible year. People who falsely feel worthless as a result of their lack of material possession. Especially at this evaluative and comparative time of the year. My message to you is; “Turn back to God- away from the world’s empty cisterns because God is more than enough for you”.

I want to remind you that you are worth the life of God. All God had – could not pay for you. God literally had to turn Himself in to bail you out, to earn a place in your life. This is a virtually neglected part of the gospel of the birth and death of Jesus Christ.

I also want to let you know that, “No matter what happened-happens this year, don’t be afraid of next year because God is already there, and He’s on your side.

Cash is not king…

Jesus is king! …and this Jesus – lives in you.

Have a blessed Christmas and New Year celebration!