For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11 NASB)
Step number 9 is be expectant. Far too often we walk around thinking about all the what ifs & waiting on the other shoe to fall. That is not how God wants us to live. He's telling us here that He is in control & He has good plans for us. We should wake up every morning with that attitude. If we wake up, God has a plan & a purpose for us that day. We need to say God is in control, He loves me, & He has a good plan for me today. Believe it & declare it all throughout 2013. It's having faith & trust in God & allowing Him to work. It's hard to walk around with joy, peace, & expectancy when you don't understand Gods plans for you. You're His child. Just like we want good things for our kids, God wants good things for His. So in 2013, expect good things & be on the lookout for them to happen!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Encourage
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing (1 Thess. 5:11 NASB)t
Step 8 is encourage. I don't know about you but I can always use more encouragement. Sometimes you just need somebody to tell you you can do it. I have had a couple of times in my life when I had a lot of people & "experts" telling me I couldn't overcome certain obstacles & I just needed one person to tell me I could. Fortunately, God sent me the people I needed & they gave me the encouragement I needed. You might be the person God is wanting to use to give someone that lift that they need. It might be a simple word,phone call, letter, visit, etc. . People often get way to much of being torn down & a little encouragement produces great results. Encouragement multiplies. It spreads rapidly. Look for the good in others & take every opportunity to encourage them.
Step 8 is encourage. I don't know about you but I can always use more encouragement. Sometimes you just need somebody to tell you you can do it. I have had a couple of times in my life when I had a lot of people & "experts" telling me I couldn't overcome certain obstacles & I just needed one person to tell me I could. Fortunately, God sent me the people I needed & they gave me the encouragement I needed. You might be the person God is wanting to use to give someone that lift that they need. It might be a simple word,phone call, letter, visit, etc. . People often get way to much of being torn down & a little encouragement produces great results. Encouragement multiplies. It spreads rapidly. Look for the good in others & take every opportunity to encourage them.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Share
So proclaim the message with intensity; Keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, & urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple (2 Tim. 4:2 Mess.)
Step 7 is proclaim the message. We don't have to be preachers or authors to do this step. We all have people that we come in contact with who we can share with about what God is doing in our lives. If He's not doing anything in your life, pleas go back & re-read the first six steps. Your testimony is one of the best ways to share. If you can show how God is helping you it may show someone else that He can do the same for them. Pray for opportunities to share. God will provide them. Ask God to speak through you & He will. He just needs us to be willing to be used. You may have the message of hope someone needs. Its a great feeling to be able to give someone that hope. Sometimes you might not see immediate results but realize your job is to share & then allow God to work. He can do amazing things!
Step 7 is proclaim the message. We don't have to be preachers or authors to do this step. We all have people that we come in contact with who we can share with about what God is doing in our lives. If He's not doing anything in your life, pleas go back & re-read the first six steps. Your testimony is one of the best ways to share. If you can show how God is helping you it may show someone else that He can do the same for them. Pray for opportunities to share. God will provide them. Ask God to speak through you & He will. He just needs us to be willing to be used. You may have the message of hope someone needs. Its a great feeling to be able to give someone that hope. Sometimes you might not see immediate results but realize your job is to share & then allow God to work. He can do amazing things!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Serve
I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:15 NIV)
Step 6 is serve . In this passage, Jesus had just washed His disciples feet. He was serving the disciples. He gave them the example that if He (the Savior of the world) was not above serving, neither were they. Now this is not always a popular concept today because a lot of people want to know "what's in it for me". Trust me you will reap huge rewards if you will follow this step. We can serve our family, friends, neighbors, church, fellow workers, community, country etc. . Many people I know do random acts of kindness. This is a great opportunity to share Gods love & serve. He will constantly provide opportunities for us to do those if we will ask & look for opportunities. To those who are doing those, keep it up. What a difference we can make if we will serve. It was Christs example & today Hes asking us to take our focus off of ourselves , follow His example & serve.
Step 6 is serve . In this passage, Jesus had just washed His disciples feet. He was serving the disciples. He gave them the example that if He (the Savior of the world) was not above serving, neither were they. Now this is not always a popular concept today because a lot of people want to know "what's in it for me". Trust me you will reap huge rewards if you will follow this step. We can serve our family, friends, neighbors, church, fellow workers, community, country etc. . Many people I know do random acts of kindness. This is a great opportunity to share Gods love & serve. He will constantly provide opportunities for us to do those if we will ask & look for opportunities. To those who are doing those, keep it up. What a difference we can make if we will serve. It was Christs example & today Hes asking us to take our focus off of ourselves , follow His example & serve.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Be different
Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out (Rom. 12:2 Mess.)
Step number 5- be different. Don't blend in with society but be something different. Reflect the hope that only Christ can give. Show the peace that only He provides. Stand firm on His word not on the worlds standards. We are called to be set apart. God has high standards for us & we are to reflect those. The only way we can do that is to fix our focus on Him. Follow Gods word, it's the guide. Talk to God often, He wants to direct you. It says here if you will do this He will change you from the inside out. If you're like me that's a major key to your best 2013. When everything around you is crazy, when all hope is gone, when you feel like giving up, stay focused on God & let Him do the changing.
Step number 5- be different. Don't blend in with society but be something different. Reflect the hope that only Christ can give. Show the peace that only He provides. Stand firm on His word not on the worlds standards. We are called to be set apart. God has high standards for us & we are to reflect those. The only way we can do that is to fix our focus on Him. Follow Gods word, it's the guide. Talk to God often, He wants to direct you. It says here if you will do this He will change you from the inside out. If you're like me that's a major key to your best 2013. When everything around you is crazy, when all hope is gone, when you feel like giving up, stay focused on God & let Him do the changing.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Worship
The secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face & worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. (1 Cor. 14:25 NASB)
Fourth key is worship. Worship is not just song service on Sunday. We can worship God anytime, anywhere. Worship is coming into Gods presence, setting aside time for Him. Get off in a quiet spot, seek Him, worship Him, study Him & talk to Him. Tell Him your concerns & frustrations. He knows them anyway but He wants to hear them from you. Seek His guidance & tell Him you love Him. Ask for His protection & healing. And please don't forget to listen. You might be surprised what He has to tell you. If you will spend time with Him everyday you will be amazed at what God will do through you.
Fourth key is worship. Worship is not just song service on Sunday. We can worship God anytime, anywhere. Worship is coming into Gods presence, setting aside time for Him. Get off in a quiet spot, seek Him, worship Him, study Him & talk to Him. Tell Him your concerns & frustrations. He knows them anyway but He wants to hear them from you. Seek His guidance & tell Him you love Him. Ask for His protection & healing. And please don't forget to listen. You might be surprised what He has to tell you. If you will spend time with Him everyday you will be amazed at what God will do through you.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Forgive
But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matt. 6:15 NLT)
Key 3- forgive. I think first of all you have to forgive yourself. If you're holding on to something you've done in the past even though you have asked God to forgive you,you are wasting your time. When God forgives, He forgets. If Hes forgotten it why do we remember? Secondly forgive others. It says if we don't, God won't forgive us. I don't know about you but I definitely want His forgiveness. I not only want it, I need it. The third part of forgiveness is asking others for forgiveness when necessary. We all mess up sometimes. If we need to ask God for forgiveness, ask. If we need forgiveness from someone else, ask. If we'll practice forgiveness, it will take a huge burden off of us. That sounds like it is well worth it.
Key 3- forgive. I think first of all you have to forgive yourself. If you're holding on to something you've done in the past even though you have asked God to forgive you,you are wasting your time. When God forgives, He forgets. If Hes forgotten it why do we remember? Secondly forgive others. It says if we don't, God won't forgive us. I don't know about you but I definitely want His forgiveness. I not only want it, I need it. The third part of forgiveness is asking others for forgiveness when necessary. We all mess up sometimes. If we need to ask God for forgiveness, ask. If we need forgiveness from someone else, ask. If we'll practice forgiveness, it will take a huge burden off of us. That sounds like it is well worth it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)