Take Up Your Mat and Walk

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:11-12)

Have you ever had a friend say sorry to you over and over, even after you’ve already forgiven them?

It’s insulting. In repeatedly apologizing, they’re saying, “I’m not sure if you’ve really forgiven me; I still feel guilty.” In essence, they’re doubting your word.

Imagine how much more insulting it is to God!

Psalm 103:12 says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Just think how far the east is from the west. It’s basically infinity—the two can never meet. So, imagine for a moment, you and your sins bound together. Then God comes and separates the two of you, sending your sin traveling to the west and you to the east. But maybe you haven’t truly let go of your guilt.

Look what Jesus did:

“Some people brought to Him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘Be encouraged, My child! Your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, ‘That’s blasphemy! Does He think He’s God?’ Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them, ‘Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And the man jumped up and went home!” (Matthew 9:2-7).

Now, say the newly-healed man went home with his mat and laid on it, continuing to live like he was still paralyzed.

That’s what you might be doing with your sins! Jesus has said to you, “My child, be encouraged! Your sins are forgiven! Now get up and experience life in freedom!” But you can’t fully believe it, so you lay back down on your mat of paralysis and depression, missing out on what God has for you. I have been like that. But God is making this verse real to me: “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36).

And He wants to make it real for you.

Ask Him right now to help you truly know that your sins are forgiven. Ask Him to help you take up your mat and walk in the fulfilling life He has for you. There is so much He has planned for you to do! Today is the day for you to take up your mat and walk.

So, let’s pray that :

• We would experience true separation from our past.
• We would take up our mat and walk in God’s great will.
• We begin to run with the vision God has given us.

Read More

What Beats Cause and Effect?

source by email

“But God showed His great love for us

by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”

(Romans 5:8)

They say “What comes around goes around.”

That describes the law of Cause and Effect. The Bible says it another way: “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). What have you been sowing? Peace, love, and kindness—all of the time? If so, you’re in luck.

But if not, what fate awaits you? This is a tricky one, for the biblical principle of sowing and reaping still stands. However, there is a higher law

Forgiveness trumps Cause and Effect—every time.

When Jesus was hanging on the cross—mid-crucifixion—He said to God on your behalf, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34).

Can you believe it? It’s hard enough for me to forgive someone after they’ve hurt me, let alone while they are doing it. But in the middle of crucifixion, being tortured and killed as the Son of God for coming to save His own people, Jesus stands in the gap and tells God: I’m asking you not to hold it against them; they don’t know what they’re doing.

If you’re banking on your deeds to save you or condemn you, think again:

The fact is, you have not done more good than bad: quite the opposite. And if you’re hoping your good deeds are going to set you up for a good afterlife, guess again. Concerning Cause and Effect, we all deserve

Hell. That is the proper application of “What comes around goes around.” But there’s a higher law—Jesus’ law of love and forgiveness. The Bible says, “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). When He died for you, His sacrifice stretched over your sins and covered them completely, like a thick blanket.

Jesus completely absorbed your punishment. In doing so He wasn’t saying, “Oh, no more sowing and reaping; that rule is getting tossed out.” Instead, He said, “I’m going to take their punishment.

They’re going to get the positive consequences for my perfect actions (Heaven) and I’m going to take the dreadful consequences for their actions (crucifixion).” He took your Cause and Effect and gave you His instead.

Now, who do you need to forgive? Jesus said it plainly, “But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins” (Mark 11:26). By holding on to a grudge, you’re disqualifying yourself from Jesus’ forgiveness. Instead of holding a grudge, let someone have the grace Jesus gave you. Say, “Father forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing, just as I don’t. Thank you so much for forgiving me.”

Forgiveness is the greatest need in the world. Today, receive God’s gift of forgiveness to you and give it to someone else.

So, let’s pray together that:

• We would truly understand how forgiven we are

• We would truly forgive others from the heart

• Global Media Outreach would help many others experience Jesus’ forgiveness

Read More

What's your Worst-case Scenario?

source by email

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus”

(Philippians 4:6,7).

Today I want you to think about the worst thing that could happen in your life. Is it sickness? Bankruptcy? Loneliness? Normally I like to talk about nice things, but I want to share with you how God has been helping me with my worry. You see, I worry a lot. And most of my worries never come true.

But say the worst of the worst happened, whatever that is for you. There are a few things you can know will never be affected, no matter what goes wrong:

• God will still be glorified: “’As surely as I live,' says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God'" (Romans 14:11)

• God will never leave you: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)

• Jesus will never stop loving you: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39)

So I’d like you to do this exercise with me. Fill in the blank with your worst worry and say out loud: “If God wants to glorify Himself through _______________, then so be it. He will never leave me, abandon me, or take His love away from me. And I will arrive at the End of Days with Jesus in Heaven.”

Because that is the ultimate worst-case scenario: that you would arrive at the Day of Judgment and not be admitted into Heaven. But Jesus has promised you: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me” (John 10:27,28).

What are you worrying about today? Give it to God. This is how I do it: I imagine my worry as a ball that I throw to God for Him to deal with. I Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Sometimes I have to throw my worry ball to Him just once; sometimes once an hour. But He always gives me His peace in exchange. And He will do the same for you.

So, let’s pray together that:

• We would completely give all our worries over to God and receive His peace

• We would rest in the knowledge that He will ultimately be glorified

• We would completely give God all our worries

Every time you worry this week, throw your worry ball to God.

Thank Him that He will never leave you, and ask for His peace.

Read More

God Wants to Renew His Vows‏

source by email

“’For the mountains may move and the hills disappear,

but even then my faithful love for you will remain.

My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’

says the LORD, who has mercy on you”

(Isaiah 54:10).

Have you ever seen a married couple renew their vows? It’s so beautiful. After years of hardships, things not going the way they thought, and weird traits they didn’t know about, they still say: I’d do it all over again. I’d marry you a million times over.

That’s what God says to you today. He knows all the sins you’ve committed—and all the ones you’re going to commit. He knows all the things you didn’t do just how He wanted and how you will resent and misunderstand Him at times. And He still says to you: I love you today like I did yesterday. And I’d die for you all over again. I don’t regret it one bit. “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love; with unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself” (Jeremiah 31:3).

I was the person Jesus was talking to when He said, “You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see” (Revelation 3:17,18).

And now He wants to hear it from you. Think how much a person wants to hear “I love you too” when they confess their own love. Would you tell Him that you would do it all over again—even though things haven’t gone the way you planned, and maybe He hasn’t answered your every prayer just how you wanted? Maybe even God is different than you imagined Him…would you still commit your whole life to Him again today? In fact, will you do it today?

Renew your Vows with God today. Maybe circumstances have caused you to drift from God. It’s not to late to return. He says, “Return to Me, and I will return to you” (Malachi 3:7). No matter what has happened in your past, God has a wonderful plan for your future. Right after He said, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love; with unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself”, He said, “I will rebuild you, My virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines” (Jeremiah 31:4).

God wants to rebuild you and your relationship with Him. He renews His vows with you today and is waiting for you to do the same. He longs to hear from you, “God, I’d do it all over again. I love you today and I will never take back my commitment to you.”

So, let us pray that:

• We would understand and feel God’s great love for us

• We would get a fresh love and passion for God

• We would hear what God wants us to do

Read More

If your House was Robbed Today...‏

“For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith; and this is the gift of God,

not by works, that no one should boast”

(Ephesians 2:8,9)

I want you to imagine that your house is being robbed, but you put your most valuable asset in a safe. What is that asset? It might be expensive jewelry, family photos, or the deed to your land. You can rest assured that even if you are robbed, your most valuable asset will stay safe.

Think about it spiritually now. What is your most valuable spiritual asset? For a while, I had everything backwards. I thought my prayer life, Bible reading, and church attendance gave me my value as a Christian. But I thought very little about Jesus’ sacrifice for me and how He gave me righteousness I could never get otherwise. It was as if I was appraising my home and put high value on all of the insignificant items like vases and pictures and minimal value on the important things like the walls and foundation.

I was the person Jesus was talking to when He said, “You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see” (Revelation 3:17,18).

Jesus’ righteousness is the most valuable item I have. And it’s the most valuable item you have. He paid for it with His life and gave it to you free of charge. And God has locked it in your spiritual safe; He will never take it away. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me” (John 10:28). Your Bible knowledge, service at church, or your good deeds can fade away; but no one can take Jesus’ righteousness from you. And it is the only thing you need. It will carry you through this life and into Heaven.

Paul said, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:31). Do this with me right now: Close your eyes and imagine a bar of gold (representing Jesus’ righteousness) locked in your safe. Pray aloud, “Thank you Jesus that all I have is Your righteousness, and no one can take it from me.”

Read More

Become a Happier Christian

Are emotions ruling in your life?

Many of us go through the motions of life and can’t seem to find true happiness. Where does this bliss come from? Does it come from some big promotion or vicariously living through a celebrity on Twitter or Facebook? When it ends, do you find yourself craving more stuff to feel better or ignite those good ol' happy feelings?

If we are honest with ourselves, we are all guilty.

Regardless of the vice, the buzz of euphoric joy usually dissipates after we receive good news or when we finally get our breakthrough. What happens when you feel like heaven is silent or you are on a emotional roller coaster when plans are derailed? During that time we need the Word to sustain us, when our feelings won’t cooperate and want to flare up when nothing is going right.

You were meant to be more than a mere survivor, right? So let’s get on with it! Here are a few simple and practical ways to become a happier Christian.

Help Me, I Need a Break!

Not everyone can hop on a plane to get away from the hassles of life.

It’s even harder when it’s you that you need to get away from! If your thoughts go from zero to 60 in seconds, find a scripture that speaks to you and mediate on it.

Post-it Notes are great way to do this. Post the scripture everywhere you can.

When I was in need of peace of mind, I posted a favorite scripture on the dashboard of my car, phones, mirror and even put a note with it in my purse.

The constant reflection of scriptures of your choice will sink into your spirit and take root when those thoughts come knocking and work to sour your emotions. Take a walk and think on the scripture(s).

The local park is a great place for a quick gateway and where nature can sooth emotional flare-ups.

Give it up and Rejoice

When you have done all you can in your circumstances--give it up to God.

This is so hard because we want to take control, but laying your prayers down will give you a sense of release and that God is the author of your story.

Speak the Word of God over your life out loud. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The scripture in Philippians 4:19 has also helped me.

I would speak this frequently over my life and throughout my day such as:

"This world doesn’t dictate whether my needs are met.

They are met according to the riches and glory by Christ Jesus (paraphrased).

I don’t care what my bank account says

and I don’t care what the economists say “Greater is He in me than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

My God is greater than these circumstances!

Take the Social Media Break

Shut the computer off and fast social media for a while.

Yes you can do this!

With so much vying for your attention,

unplugging for a time will help you invest in other things like God, friends, family and yourself.

Share The Love

Ouch! Give of yourself a little more? You have to be kidding?

As hard as this is, getting your mind off of yourself and serving others will make you feel better.

Try a simple act of sowing a seed into another person's life.

Maybe you can pay for a single mom’s groceries, buying someone a gas card,

or giving a word of encouragement--it will get your mind off your own worries.

When you meet another persons needs, God will meet yours. Yes, you will feel better.

A Little Prose

You don’t have to be a poet to write down your struggles or thoughts on paper.

Don’t hold anything back. Use colored markers.

The different colors often depict the emotions you are feeling.

Releasing anxiety through a rant book, I call it; can help you be honest with yourself and God.

This is another good way for you to reflect on how God has answered your prayers over time.

Then go back in your writings and put the date God answered those prayers.

It will encourage you when you’re feeling bewildered.

Morning Prayer

Building a deeper relationship with God takes time.

Morning time reflection is a great way to spend time reading and praying.

It’s worth getting up a little earlier to build yourself up before starting your day.

A nice cup of coffee or tea and reading the Bible or devotional will do wonders for your moods and anxiety. Also letting go of offenses and strife will help you continue to grow during prayer.

Ask God if there is anything hindering your prayer life and walk.

Be quick to repent (as hard as it is),

but avoid condemnation because through Jesus Christ we are free!

Get Real

That’s right--throw it all out there!

It’s not like God doesn’t know what you’re thinking.

We tend to wear masks in the world. Stop hiding.

Start talking to God openly if you are angry,

frustrated or becoming bitter towards your unanswered prayers.

Speak Positive Words over Your Life, Situation

Confess favor and wisdom over your situation.

Build yourself up. “Just like Daniel had favor and success I (name) will have favor and success”.

Again, find scripture that encourages you and confess it.

Praise God, although your emotions are screaming for you to “shut up”.

That’s right--throw it all out there! It’s not like God doesn’t know what you’re thinking.

We tend to wear masks in the world, start talking to God openly if you are angry,

frustrated or becoming bitter towards your unanswered prayers

source by JesusDaily

Read More

How Qualified are You?‏

source by email

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Have you ever been to a job interview where they ask you, “What qualifies you for this position?”

You might go on and on about what makes you the best employee they could ever have, desperately hoping for the position.

However, we often do the opposite with God. He comes to you and says, “I have a great plan for your life. I want you to reach many people with My love and display My glory.” And you say, “Not me, God. I can’t do that. I have too much sin, too many weaknesses. You have the wrong person. Pick him over there…he never makes the mistakes I do.”

You’re not alone. Moses did the same thing. God gave him the awesome privilege of delivering His people from slavery. But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled" (Exodus 4:10). But it wasn’t like God didn’t know about Moses’ inadequacies. He knew exactly who He was dealing with—and He chose him anyway.

And God has chosen you anyway. He knows your weakness, that sin that always trips you up, every sin you’ve committed so far, and every reason why you shouldn’t get the job. If it were really a matter of qualifications, you’re right: you’re not qualified! But God looks past all of those things and says, “I’ve called you anyways. I love you. I know your weaknesses and I’m going to help you overcome them. I’m not giving up on you. And I have great things for you to do.”

That’s God’s beauty. He chooses the foolish things to confuse the smart, and the humble things to bring down the proud. What is a foolish thing in your life? Your past? Lack of education? Fear of people? God can turn it into a strength. Think about it—what story shows the greatness of a coach more: a strong, talented kid who the coach helped to make a great player? Or a short, fumbling kid who the coach turned into a star? You may feel like the runt of the team, but God plans to turn you into a success story in His kingdom.

What has He called you to? You’re not disqualified for the job just because of your past failings or current weaknesses. God says to you today, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God made fearful Moses into a national deliverer. And He can make you into whatever He wants.

Read More