DO ALL FOR HIS GLORY

Remember that everything we say or do is as if it were done directly
to the Lord. Knowing that, we strive to honor Him in all we say and
do. And we are thankful to Him for giving us the grace and strength
to be able to Honor Him this way.

Read Colossians 3:17

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (NIV)

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (KJV)

OVERCOMING

To overcome is to overpower and defeat the enemy. If we endure the
struggle with God's help and overcome Satan, we are promised the
greatest reward of eternity in the presence of our Lord and His angels.

Read Revelation 3:5

"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never
blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name
before my Father and his angels." (NIV)

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will
not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name
before my Father, and before his angels." (KJV)

THE LAW ONLY MAKES US AWARE OF SIN

Laws are given to help us stay in the boundaries of the right way.
The problem is, laws do not give us the ability or the desire to stay
in the boundaries of the right way. The law merely shows us that
we do not have the ability to be "right"eous. We can only be made
right by the sacrifice Christ made. Faith in Him will give us the desire
to do right, whether the law is present or not.

Read Romans 3:20

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing
the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (NIV)

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in
his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (KJV)

HE WILL KEEP US STRONG

According to our faith and trust in the Lord, He will keep us strong
and victorious so that we will be ready when He comes back for His
Church. We are always encouraged and reminded to stir up our faith,
keep the faith, and guard our faith.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:8

"He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless
on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (NIV)

"Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless
in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (KJV)

REJOICE

To rejoice is to celebrate, enjoy, take pleasure, or be full of joy.
If we are rejoicing that we belong to the Lord, we are fully
equipped to overcome the difficult things of this world.

Read Philippians 4:4

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (NIV)

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." (KJV)

GODLY SORROW

There are two kinds of remorse for doing a sinful action. Godly
remorse is based on knowledge and acceptance that God has
been offended by our actions and we are ashamed that we have
dishonored Him. We will then get rid of that sin, forsaking it and
walking in the way to eternal life. Worldly remorse is based on
awareness of being caught and embarrassed that others know we
have done wrong. This type of remorse puts us in danger of eternal
separation from God.

Read 2 Corinthians 7:10

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves
no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." (NIV)

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented
of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (KJV)

NO MORE SELFNESS

Imagine how you would feel if you could not do things you want
to do, think things you want to think, say things you want to say,
or go places you want to go? Imagine letting someone else decide
all these things for you. If you to follow Christ, this is exactly how
it will be. It is a difficult, narrow path. Very few are willing to do it.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:32

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" (NIV)

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, 'If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'" (KJV)

GOD'S JUDGEMENT

If we are spiritually open to God's judgement of our thoughts,
feelings, and actions, He will let us see if there is anything
contrary to Him and His Word. This allows us opportunity to
change and get our lives in harmony with Him.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:32

"When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that
we will not be condemned with the world." (NIV)

"But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we
should not be condemned with the world." (KJV)

POWER OF THE GOSPEL

Jesus told us that the result of His being lifted up, nailed to the cross,
dying, and rising to life would be a powerful Gospel message. It will draw everyone who hears it to a point of decision to believe in Him as Savior or to continue in sin.

Read John 12:32

"But, I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
(NIV)

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (KJV)

SPIRITUAL VS NATURAL

As humans, we have five senses with which to gather information
and provide stimulation from our environment. When we allow our
natural senses, on a regular basis, to bring us stimulation that is
displeasing to God, we have chosen our natural desires and the
things of this world to be our gods. Those who have Christ will allow
the Holy Spirit to direct their desires toward Godly and eternal
things.

Read Romans 8:5

"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on
what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." (NIV)

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." (KJV)

GETTING DIRECTION

There will be times when we come to crossroads or major decisions
that will have far reaching impact on our lives. The Lord tells us we
are to choose the way of Christians who have gone on before us. They
have worn a proven trail that leads to peace and rest for the soul. Jesus
Christ took that road, walk the way He did.

Read Jeremiah 6:16

"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (NIV)

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old
paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for
your souls." (KJV)

YOUR CHOICE

Temptation is universal. It comes to every human being. Giving in
or not giving in to the temptation is always a choice. God will never
allow us to be tempted to the point that we can do nothing but sin.
There will always be an option to get through the temptation without
sinning. It's our choice and we will be held responsible for the choice
we make.

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so
that you can stand up under it."(NIV)

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it." (KJV)

PRIDE VS HUMILITY

Pride results in an expectation of special treatment and privileges.
Shame and embarrassment result when these things do not occur
and the proud person is treated as common. The humble person
expects nothing and does not believe he is deserving of special
treatment or privileges. God honors the humble by lavishing them
with wisdom. Others will then show them with respect.

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes
wisdom." (NIV)

"When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom." (KJV)

THINKING ATTENTIVELY

To have discernment is to recognize those thoughts and statements
that are lies and not from God. In fact, we are to filter all thoughts
and statements through the Word of God and His principles.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:5

" We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up
against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ." (NIV)

"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." (KJV)

LIGHT & JOY

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and repent of our
sins, the Lord sows seeds of Godly light and happiness into our
souls. We are to cultivate what He has sown within us until the
light shines out into the darkness and the joy brings strength
and joy to the lost.

Psalm 97:11

"Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart."
(NIV)

"Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in
heart." (KJV)

THE REAL BATTLE

The struggles we encounter in this life are not against human beings. They are against the natural and sinful spirit within humans, the ranks of evil spirits in Satan's kingdom, the powers of Satan himself, and the darkness of sin and lawless ness that presently prevails over the earth. These are the things we struggle against and we cannot do it without the help of the Lord and putting on His full armor.

Read Ephesians 6:12

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (NIV)

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness In high places." (KJV)

DELIGHT & RECEIVE

What does it mean to delight ourselves in the Lord? It is to be
conscious and eager to know Him, to learn His ways, to be close
to Him, to commune with Him. By delighting in Him, He will give
us our heart's desires. If our hearts are truly right with God, our
desires will not be for personal gratification, but will be to love
God, live according to His will, and to please Him.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of
your heart." (NIV)

"Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of
thine heart." (KJV)

HIS INVISIBLE IMAGE

The divine nature of Christ was invisible to humanity just as the
divine nature of God the Father is invisible. Jesus Christ is the
image of God the Father. He is the perfect representation of the
Father. Jesus Christ is first over all creation and holds the position
and privilege of being God's Son. Is it any wonder that we will spend
eternity praising and worshipping Him.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
(NIV)

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature."
(KJV)

WORDS AND THOUGHTS

We live each day bumping against the temptations and tribulations
of this world. It is so easy to allow the things of this world to invade
our thoughts and speech. Without being aware of it, our thoughts and
speech are no different than that of the world. If we ask the Lord each
day to keep watch and guard our thoughts and speech, He will help us
keep them pleasing to Him.

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing
in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (NIV)

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be
acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (KJV)

WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US

The Gospel was not given in the same manner as the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai where there was great fear and trembling. The Gospel, born of a great and terrible price, is offered to us with power to be like Christ, doing the things He did. It is given freely to us to love unconditionally as He loves us. And it is given so that we can be alert, wise, and have understanding. All we have to do is acknowledge that we need this Gospel, repent of our own ways of living, and believe that Christ is truly the Son of God, our Saviour, that gave us this great and wonderful message.

Read 2 Itmothy 1:7

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love
and of self-discipline." (NIV)

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind." (KJV)

HE KNOWS US

We do not understand the ways of God, as we know His ways are
far above our ways. But, He knows the ways we take, and is well
acquainted with them. Even when others around us don't understand
our ways, God does. He honors our choice to go the right way even if
we have taken a wrong step at times. Our Lord will examine our ways
and when we have passed His test of our faith, we will emerge with
the rewards of everlasting life.

Read Job 23:10

"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will
come forth as gold." (NIV)

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall
come forth as gold." (KJV)

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION

The Gospel message and the Words that Christ gave us are of such
infinite importance to our eternal future and our walk through this
world. This should be foremost in our hearts and minds and of the
deepest concern to us. There are many, many things in this world
to distract us from this most important message. Consider the glory
and dignity of the One who has spoken these words and gave all for
us, and of the eternal importance of the message. Don't allow your
mind and heart to get side tracked.

Read Hebrews 2:1

"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have
heard, so that we do not drift away." (NIV)

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things
which we have heard, lest at any itme we should let them slip." (KJV)

NOTHING IS HIDDEN

It is usually the case that when we are about to do something we
know is displeasing to God or even illegal in man's eyes, we do our
best to hide it, disguise it, and make certain no one sees. Don't be
fooled! God sees every move we make, every move. Not only does
He see it, He thinks about it and makes rightful judgement about it.
If we confess and repent, God is faithful to forgive us. If we continue
to do those same "hidden," sinful things, God will allow us to reap
the terrible judgement we have sown.

Read Proverbs 5:21

"For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord and He examines all
his paths." (NIV)

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he
pondereth all his goings." (KJV)

LOOK WHERE YOU CAME FROM

For those who are serious about following after righteousness, God
tells us to recall the place He brought us from, the hopeless condition
from which we could not save ourselves. When we remember what He
did for us, we will be more attentive to our walk in righteousness.

Read Isaiah 51:1

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which
you were hewn." (NIV)

"Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD:
look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence
ye are digged." (KJV)

WHAT GOD RESPECTS

The most elaborate and ornate churches, temples, and shrines are only
impressive to the human senses. God is not impressed with them at all.
After all, He made the awesome universe. What gets God's attention as
the most beautiful temple is the individual that is humble in spirit. One
who grieves the sin in this world and gives total respect to the things of
God.

Read Isaiah 66:2

"'Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?'
declares the Lord. 'This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and
contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.'" (NIV)

"For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have
been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is
poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." (KJV)

GREATNESS OF GOD

God has revealed to us in His Word that He is omnipotent, and we
stand in awe and recognize the fact that He is all powerful. There
is no force in existence more powerful than He is. God also revealed
to us in His Word that He is eternal. He has always been, He is, and
He always will be. If anyone is searching for happiness, security, and
peace, all these things can be found in trusting and following God.

Read Isaiah 43:13

"Yes, and from ancient days I am He. No one can deliver out of my
hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" (NIV)

"Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver
out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?" (KJV)

GOD'S PROTECTION

Lawlessness and evil has been unleashed in this world. Look
around you, it is everywhere. There is no escape from it, except
to call on the Lord. He has promised that He will watch over us
and protect us from all this evil. We can fully trust Him to take
care of us. There is no human or other entity that can be trusted,
that will be faithful, or that is even capable of keeping us from
harm. Only our God, Him only.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:3

"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect
you from the evil one." (NIV)

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you
from evil." (KJV)

REAL CHRISTIANITY

To actively choose to follow the way of Christ is to ignore what the
"self" desires. It is to walk out in active steps each day the kind of
life Christ lived. That is so unlike many "Christians" today who glut
their minds with knowledge about the Lord and exchange their ideas
at the meeting place with others who do the same.

Read Luke 9:23

"Then He said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (NIV)

"And he said to them all, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.'" (KJV)

LET GOD TELL IT

It is human nature to want others to know about our special gifts and
abilities. The thing is, human nature is infected with pride. Calling
attention or merely mentioning our abilities does nothing for the
Kingdom of God or to draw others to Him. Just living for the moment
and opportunity to use our gifts, practicing them without fanfare, is
when the Lord will acknowledge us and others will know we have
gifts and abilities and that they are God given.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:18

"For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but
the one whom the Lord commends." (NIV)

"For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord
commendeth." (KJV)

KEEP ALERT

Living in the end times is very chaotic, distracting, and difficult.
It takes conscious, deliberate effort to stay focused on the things
that are really important and of eternal consequence. We are to
make every effort to keep our attention on God's unfolding plan so
that our prayers will be in harmony with His will, not our own wants
and needs.

Read 1 Peter 4:7

"The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and
self-controlled so that you can pray." (NIV)

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and
watch unto prayer." (KJV)

THINK ABOUT YOUR ANGER

It is so easy to act on our anger and emotions. We are emotional
beings and it is in our nature to express them. Sometimes our
emotions, anger in particular, are best kept under control. It is far
better to give ourselves time to think about why we are feeling this
way and listen to our heart. Our own hearts will counsel us to do the
right and honorable thing if we are serving Christ. Many sins and
heartaches have been avoided by heeding this wisdom.

Read Psalm 4:4

"In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your
hearts and be silent." (NIV)

"Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon
your bed, and be still. Selah." (KJV)

MERCY

God's mercy moved Him to bring us to Himself. If we are merciful,
we will be brought to Him and will be like Him. Without mercy, any
religious act or Christian work is useless. Without mercy, it is only
an empty act. God desires us to be merciful above all else.

Read Hosea 6:6

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God
rather than burnt offerings." (NIV)

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God
more than burnt offerings." (KJV)

RIGHT MOTIVES IN PRAYER

Prayer is a precious gift from God where we can communicate with Him
freely and openly. Some use prayer as an opportunity to tell God what they think He should do. When God does not answer, they become angry with God and complain that He does not really care. Really consider what you pray. Search your heart and mind for your real motive. Your true motives will determine if God listens to your prayer.

Read James 4:3

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (NIV)

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume
it upon your lusts." (KJV)

LIVE FOR HIS RETURN

It is in our own control to keep our minds ready to meet with whatever
this world brings our way. What we do now should be with the future of
Christ's return in mind. Hold on to the promise of God's grace no matter
what happens in your life now. His promise is sure. Trust Him and you
will not be disappointed.

Read 1 Peter 1:13

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your
hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."
(NIV)

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (KJV)

HOW STRONG IS YOUR FAITH?

Is our commitment to the Lord God such that we can be stripped
of every good thing, be abandoned by all, and be passing through
the threshold of death, yet still fully trust that He is faithful and
just, worthy of all honor and praise? This is true faith. Oh, that He
would find this faith in us!

Read Job 13:15

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my
ways to His face." (NIV)

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine
own ways before him." (KJV)

CASTING YOUR CARES

We can literally throw our worries and concerns on the Lord with
full confidence that He will protect us so that we do not fall under
the pressure of them. He is ever faithful to those who have a heart
of obedience and desire to please Him. As long as we live in this
world, it is unlikely we will be free of trials and sufferings, but we
have total access to be free of the worry and concern that accompany
them.

Read Psalm 55:22

"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; he will never
let the righteous fall." (NIV)

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall
never suffer the righteous to be moved." (KJV)

TRUE RELIGION

The original Latin meaning of the word religion is to tie, fasten, or bind,
like a ligament functions in the muscle structure of the human body. When our religion consists of being tied to tradition and rituals, it makes us rigid and susceptible to breaking apart. When the effect of our religion is mercy and giving to the needs of others, we become a living tie between the flowing, living love of the Lord and others around us. Being tied (bound) to the Lord is our choice. It is a choice that gives us the power to stay spiritually free from worldly ways. That is true religion.

Read James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (NIV)

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (KJV)

CONSIDER HIM

We are certainly living in difficult times. Often we get our eyes
off the eternal realm and on the earthly things that are going on
around us. Most of us are struggling with the trials and tribulations
common to humanity. Just stop for a moment and consider what
our Lord endured as He walked this earth. He suffered to the point
of death for being righteous and showing us the Father. If we keep
this in mind, it will help us keep the right perspective and remember
that we have not been required to suffer as He did.

Read Hebrews 12:3

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that
you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NIV)

"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (KJV)

HIS EYES ARE ON YOU

There is nothing that escapes the eyes of God. He is intently
watching, scanning, and knowing all things whether open, or
tucked away in the remotest of places. When His eyes behold
a righteous soul, one with honorable intent to please Him, God
will strengthen that one by His mighty power and love.

Read 2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen
those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (NIV)

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect
toward him." (KJV)

THE CURSE

It is understood by looking in the Word, historical records, and looking
at the earth around us now that it is a grieving, sorrowful world. The
whole earth and all creation were put under a curse when Adam and
Eve sinned in the garden of Eden. No one is immune to this curse. We
wait for that day when Christ returns and the curse is lifted. Then, there
will be no more sorrow, suffering, crying or pain.

Read Romans 8:22

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains
of childbirth right up to the present time." (NIV)

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now." (KJV)

JUST

What does it mean to be a "just" person? It is someone who is guided by
Truth, justice, and fairness. An honest and pure intentioned heart. The
Lord always and ever favors and protects those who are just because they
have His heart.

Read Psalm 37:28

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever (NIV)

"For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they
are preserved for ever." (KJV)

BLESSING AMID THE STORM

We can fully rely on God's grace and mercy when we stand firm in
His ways, in spite of difficult things happening all around us. It is so
easy to blame God and become discouraged, but these difficult times
are among the most blessed when we stay close to Him.

Read 2 Samuel 22:21

"The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me."
(NIV)

"The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness:
according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed
me." (KJV)

SUFFERING IN GOD'S WILL

There are times when we suffer because we have sinned and failed to
act in the way God has chosen for us. That suffering we must accept
and gain wisdom from it. When we suffer after having obeyed God's
Word to us, we can be sure that keeping our trust in Him will result in
His keeping us close to Him in communion and peace.

Read 1 Peter 4:19

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit
themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (NIV)

"Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit
the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful
Creator." (KJV)

DANGERS OF ILL WILL

God has made it very clear that He abhors lying, deceit, slander,
dishonesty, and evil scheming. Those who are guilty of these
things mock the love of God and love for our fellow human beings.
It's a dangerous place to be and a terrible price to pay for insisting
on harboring ill will toward others.

Read Zechariah 8:16,17

"These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and
render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against
your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this, declares
the Lord." (NIV)

"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth
to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD." (KJV)

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

Jesus is the Light of the world. His life and His words light up the
Truth for all to see and accept. Yet, there are those who refuse to
come into the rays of His light because they don't want to deal with
their darkness, having it exposed to others, and having to give it up.
God doesn't send anyone to eternal darkness. People choose to go
there because they prefer their own way and are deceived into thinking
they are safe. (NIV)

Read John 3:19

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved
darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." (NIV)

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil." (KJV)

A BLESSING FOR OTHERS

It is a gesture of love to ask for God's blessing on others. Doing
so shows our own right relationship with the Lord and our desire
to see Him bless and protect others. Ask the Lord to keep His face
toward them and smile down on them in His abundant grace and
mercy. Call for the blessing of Peace that is so rare in these times.
What a beautiful way to bless and pray for each other.

Read Numbers 6:24-26

"May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine
upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you
and give you peace." (NIV)

"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine
upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his
countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (KJV)

GOD BECAME MAN

Christ became human flesh and blood for the specific purpose of being
the sinless sacrifice for our sin, once for all. As God, He could not die.
With a body like ours, He died and took control of death from Satan. Now Satan cannot taunt us with fear about death and hell. Christ holds the key to death and the fear is gone because He has made death the passage to eternal life.

Read Hebrews 2:14

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil." (NIV)

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (KJV)

PLANTED CLOSE TO THE SOURCE

Water is the vital source of life for a tree planted near its' banks where
nutrients and refreshment are available through any type of weather, mild or harsh. Likewise, the Lord is absolutely trustworthy as our source of life and renewal through any circumstances we might encounter. Plant yourself close to Him.

Read Jeremiah 17:7,8

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in
Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots
by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always
green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (NIV)

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." (KJV)

SUBMIT & RESIST

God will never force us to obey or serve Him. We are free to choose
willingly to make ourselves subject to Him in obedience. Likewise,
the devil will continually make attempts to taunt and tempt us, but
we are free to resist him by faith in God and he has to leave us alone.

Read James 4:7

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you." (NIV)

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you." (KJV)

COMPLACENCY

Be alert! It may seem that God is silent, that He is sitting back, looking
away. But He sees that we have become lazy in our responsibilities as
Christians, compromising our faith, and allowing our beliefs to become
diluted with deceitful beliefs of this world. He will not remain silent. He
will call us to give an account using the standards He set for us not our
own standards or the standards of the world.

Read Isaiah 57:11

"Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me,
and have neither remembered me nor pondered this in your hearts? Is it
not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? (NIV)

"And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? Have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?" (KJV)