Wait Upon The Lord May 31,2017

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

What is your strength? Is it your youth? ...your conditioning? ...your wisdom? ...your friends? ...your experience? None of us can depend upon our human ability. Health, wisdom, and wealth are all vulnerable to the fragility of life and circumstance. Only the LORD can ensure that we can survive the unthinkable, thrive in the mundane, and soar in good times. Let's call upon, let's wait upon, let's depend upon the LORD!

Thought for today: Do I know what it means to wait upon the Lord?

Surrendering Your Will May 30, 2017

Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Christianity is all about dying to ourselves. Some see this as hideous, onerous, and weak. "Why give up your desires, wants, and longings for something someone else mandates?" they wonder. "That sounds like slavery!" they charge. However, they fail to realize that surrendering our wills to Christ is like a bird surrendering to air currents or a fish to the water. When we surrender to the Lord, he gives us the power to be what we were made to be — enabled to be useful in ways that are eternal, empowered to have life not limited by mortal boundaries, and blessed by communion with the Creator as our Father. What is lost in this surrender to Christ living in us? Only our selfishness and our self-damage caused by rebellion.

Thought for today: Do I recognize my self will and God’s will?

In The Spirit May 29, 2017

Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

It is one thing to talk about being filled with the Spirit; it is quite another to live under the Spirit's control and direction in our life. Paul is reminding us that we must do more than talk the talk; we must walk the walk. The Holy Spirit must guide our decisions, determine our morality, and control our speech. His fruit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control — must be in evidence. Paul says to Christians filled with the Spirit, "Live like it!"

Thought for today: Do I walk, talk and live in the Spirit?

Heed The Call May 28, 2017

Proverbs 31:8 (NIV)

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.

Christians in every era are called to defend the rights of the weak, speak up for the disenfranchised, and protect the life of those who are vulnerable. This comprehensive call is the great reminder that the blessings, rights, wealth, and power we may have is not ours alone; it is a gift from God to be used to bless those who have no power to speak, to defend, or to protect themselves.

Thought for today: Am I a defender?

Power May 27, 2017

Isaiah 40:28-29 (NIV)

28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.

God is eternal. He has unlimited power. His supply of strength is limitless. He blesses and shares his grace without growing tired. Most importantly, he longs to share his power and grace with us daily.

Thought for today: Do I know how to tap into God’s power?

Call Him May 26, 2017

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

This was originally spoken to Jeremiah about the fate of Jerusalem. However, this promise is true in special ways for us as well. God wants us to call to him. God often waits for us to ask before he blesses us what he longs to give us. Yet we lack the ability to comprehend and receive all the great truth about God. He is simply too big and too glorious for us to fully apprehend him in his grace.

Thought for today: Do I try to understand the nature of God?

Seek Ye First May 25, 2017

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

God wants us to seek him. In fact, he made us to seek him! Unfortunately, however, we often seek God along with the other things that draw our eye for a moment or two. We must never let anything detract from God having first command of our heart. Only God is worthy of our full devotion.

Thought for today:  Do I put other things before God?