Life Journal

God wants to meet your needs

Danny Mequet — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:59:41 +0000

Scripture

Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat.” Isaiah 55:1

Observation

We do not have to come to God with our life in order and ready to present ourselves to God as righteous. It is actually the opposite. Within our own strength and ability we cannot make ourselves right or find the strength God desires to give us. However, when we go to God in a humble manner with a desire for Him, He will meet us in our time and place of need.

Application

I need to learn to rely on God to be my strength. I thank Him for the talents that He has given me, but those talents are will always fall short if I do not keep my focus and dependence on God. With dependence on God I know my desires and my needs will be fulfilled in His perfect ways.

Prayer

Father, thank you so much for your promise to meet me in my time of need. I know that when you promise to provide for me that refers to every area of need in my life. I love you and thank you for being a loving father who knows what is best for me and wants to give to me.

The Righteous Life

Danny Mequet — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:46:15 +0000

Scripture

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.
Psalm 92:12-14

Observation

God promises that those who are righteous will flourish, grow and leave a lasting legacy. These things are not found through good works or great leadership outside of total dependence on God who is the only one who can make us righteous.

Application

My heart’s desire should be righteousness. When I strive to be more like God and rely on Him to be my righteousness, then I wil find the prosperity, peace and lasting legacy that I desire.

Prayer

Father, please help me to thrive after you and the things that please you. Let my desires to be your desires and my ways your ways.

Stand Firm Against the Enemy

Bob Bruce — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:11:56 +0000

Scripture

Be of sober spirit, be eon the alert. You adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 1 Peter 5:8-10

Observation

When we are struggling in areas of life, it can seem as though we are isolated and alone. This is precisely the time we need to seek the support of others in the faith. Our enemy, the devil, like a lion seeking animals that are weak, struggling and alone to devour, seeks to destroy us in the same manner.

Application

It is critical that we remain firm in our faith and get the necessary support from a brother or sister in Christ during the difficult challenges we face in our lives. Keep your eyes firmly focused on Christ and His promises, and determine to resist giving up or giving in to your anxieties or circumstances. Resisting the enemy takes action, not passivity. Do not submit to circumstances, but to the Lord who controls the circumstances. Then, as James says, “he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, cause me to seek You first during times of anxiety and struggle, knowing You will never leave or forsake me. May I remember those that support me and seek their counsel as well. Lord, help me to stand firm against the enemy, seeking Your care and promises during these times. Amen.

People do what people see

Mike Cuccia — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:18:44 +0000

Scripture

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Observation

The bible describes Hezekiah as a leader that led by example. He inherited an unholy mess, left by his father, king Ahaz. In his reign as king, Hezekiah repaired the temple, restored worship, removed idols, repented for the people and required a change in the land. Once the people of Israel saw his example of worship, they followed suit. Hezekiah knew that people do what people see.

Application

Leaders are an example to others in every aspect of life. My life as a leader is on display and will impact those people around me. I must incarnate the life of Christ that I desire in me first, before I can lead my family and others. As I seek God with all my heart, I will by God’s grace grow into the leader that He has created me to be.

Prayer

Father, I pray that I grow in Your grace to become all that You created me to be. I place You first in all that I do today and declare that you are Lord over my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

God’s Wisdom Brings Peace

Doug Armand — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:45:37 +0000

Scripture

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. – James 3:17

Observation

Notice the characteristics of God’s wisdom:
Purity – pure in motivation, thought and expression
Peaceable – also stated as “peace-loving” in another version; in other words, “not looking for a fight but making peace.”
Gentle – strength under control
Willing to yield – it doesn’t need to be “my way”
Full of mercy – not seeking vengeance but extending grace
Good fruits – Love, joy, peace patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, self control
Without partiality – honoring all people as created in God’s image
Without hypocrisy – consistency of belief and action

Application

When considering the topic of wisdom and specifically God’s wisdom, the issue goes beyond being able to make right decisions to advance a particular task or agenda. When God’s wisdom is at work, people and relationships are always given the highest priority. The expression of God’s wisdom will always lead to peace, relational reconciliation and deep sense of peace.

Prayer

Jesus, help me to walk in Your wisdom today toward others. Help me to recognize the need to put others first and to consider what is best in every decision that I make today. Help me to pursue peace, to walk in purity of thought and intent. Let Your wisdom work in me today. Thank you God! Amen.

Remember Those Who Led You

Bob Bruce — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:23:16 +0000

Scripture

Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you, and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:7-8

Observation

As Christians, we should consider those who have contributed to the spiritual growth in our lives. For most, there have been men and women who have invested themselves in our lives that has helped us develop into what God is calling us to be. It is important that we not only acknowledge these people, but that we let them know that through their example, we have gained life principles that leads to purpose and contentment in our lives. It is also important to know that our life given over to Jesus’ Lordship is stable and secure and will never be changed or taken from us.

Application

Today, take time to communicate to those that have contributed to your spiritual growth your thankfulness in what they have done. Remember to let them know how without their “care and feeding” of the principles of God in your life, you would not have the confidence to do what God has called you to be.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for those You have brought into my life that have given of themselves to help me grow in Your principles for life. I pray that you would bless them and return in abundance the love You have shown me. Amen

Walk in Faith through the Challenge

Ben Comer — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:01:14 +0000

Scripture

Hebrews 11:29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land, When the Egyptians attempted to do this they were drowned. HCSB

Observation

Oh how I love this chapter!!! This is a new thought that I have neve seen before. Obviously Moses was in faith when he raised his staff and the Red Sea parted. But here the scripture is talking about the people walking in faith. Literally as they walked in the river bed, they were in faith that God was going to provide their deliverence. The Egyptian army had no faith in God, so that is why they were drowned in the river.

Application

With all the current challenges of this oil spill and the bad news of economic down turn in our region the body of Christ has to walk in faith. I am amazed that we are faced with yet another financial challenge, but the key is to keep walking through it. If any of Isreal had stopped because it was too scarely to walk through the Red Sea, they would have drowned with the Egyptians. I must just keep walking in faith!!!

Prayer

God thank you for walking with me through this faith journey. I am so glad that I am not on my own. I pray for all of my dear friends to keep the faith and believe in God’s sustaining grace no matter what the specific challenge might be.

Holy Anger Turned Away

Gary Borgstede — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:51:52 +0000

Scripture

Isaiah 12:1-2 “And in that day you will say: ‘O Lord, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid.’”

Observation

In this passage, Isaiah prophesies of a day when the people of God will sing to the Lord and praise Him for turning away His holy anger and comforting them as God of their salvation. It is evident from this verse that God, in His holiness, can be angry with me which is a very sobering thought. However, it is also evident from this verse that God’s holy anger can be turned away from me in His comfort as I behold Him and trust Him as God of my salvation.

Application

As a believer, there are times when I can anger the Lord with willful sin; however, in His mercy that endures forever, the Lord can turn His anger away from me through His loving correction even though such rebuke is painful for the moment. In fact, Psalms 30:5 declares, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” King David expresses praise for the Lord’s everlasting mercy through this kind of loving rebuke from our holy heavenly Father when he says in Psalm 118:18, “The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.” Therefore, just as God is holy, by the power of the Holy Spirit living in me, I must also be holy in all of my conduct as a redeemed child of the living God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy that endures forever and Your loving-kindness that leads me to repentance when I have sinned against You! I praise You Lord for You are Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness, who is faithful and just to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness when I fail You and confess my sin to You! I love You Jesus! Amen!

Yesterday’s Faith

Dave Madden — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:55:16 +0000

Scripture

But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
Jude 1:5

Observation

The Israelites trusted in God and pleased God while they were slaves in Egypt and God delivered them. However after they left Egypt they stopped trusting in Him and stopped pleasing Him. Therefore the same God who delivered them because of their faith, allowed them to die in the wilderness because of their unbelief.

Application

Just like the Israelites, we cannot rely on yesterday’s faith. Today is a new day with new challenges. Trusting in God is a daily, moment-by-moment choice that we must continually make. We must trust in God today. We must walk with God closely and listen to His voice today.

Prayer

Father God, I thank You for all the ways You have blessed me in the past. You have provided for all of my needs, healed me of all my sicknesses, and always been there for me. I remember what great things You have done. Help me to walk closely with You, trust in You, and be pleasing to You today. Thank You that that as I walk with You and trust in You today, You will do even greater things on my behalf… in Jesus name amen.

Good Works

Gary Borgstede — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:13:54 +0000

Scripture

Titus 3: 8 “This is a faithful saying, and these sayings I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

Observation

In this passage, Paul is mentoring Titus, a trusted son in the kingdom of God, by directing him to constantly affirm with people who believe in God that they should be careful to maintain good works of faith because such good works are profitable to men. It is clear that Paul has an expectation for Titus to instruct and teach people in the body of Christ, the importance of demonstrating their faith by their good works which produces good fruit in Christ. At the same time, Paul clarifies in the previous verse that believers are saved by grace through faith in the Lord’s loving-kindness and mercy expressed toward us by Him and not by any works of righteousness of our own. With salvation firmly established in our hearts by the washing of regeneration and the perfect renewing work of the Holy Spirit in us, we are to maintain good works that demonstrate our faith in Christ and bless other people.

Application

As a believer saved by grace through faith, I must be careful to maintain good works of faith in Christ that demonstrate my faith and bless other people. In fact, the bible says in James 2:26 that “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” And even furthermore, the Lord Himself says in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Therefore, our good works as believers in the body of Christ really do demonstrate loud and clear to those around us how much we actually do love the Lord, our God, with our whole heart, mind, and soul and our neighbors as ourselves.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the perfect work of salvation that You completed on the Cross for me to be saved by grace through faith. With my salvation secure in You for eternity through my faith in Jesus and Your sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in me, help me to demonstrate my faith each day by my good works in You that bless and benefit others. I love You Jesus! Amen!