LORD HELP ME

Mark 9:23-24

"If you can?” said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"


If you are having difficulty with your faith today learn from this scripture to say, “Lord help me with my unbelief.” This type of prayer is a way of surrendering to God all of our weaknesses and so He can become strong, that's faith in action.

JUDGING OTHERS

1 Corinthians 13:5
(Love) It is not rude, not self -seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.


We are all responsible to God for our own actions. He requires us "Not" keep wrong records of others. It is easier to look at someone and make a big parade of what are doing or have not done that seems to be out of line, rather than looking at ourselves. Romans 3:12, "There is no one who does good, not even one." We all have faults, we all fall into the sin of pride when we begin judge the actions of others, considering ourselves better than they are.

Today, consider taking your next thought of what someone has done that you perceive wrong, and privately give it to God and pray for them. Have you ever drop a stone in calm water and watch the ripples continue? that's what happens when we do not exercise self-control when handling wrongs of others, the ripple of sin just continue to flow.

TRUE CONVERSATION

1 John 5:18

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you— unless, of course, you fail the test?


Many call themselves Christians; examine yourself to see if you are in the faith. Jesus said that we would know them (Christians) by their fruit. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" John 13:35. That’s the very best of the good fruit. Sexual immorality, drunkenness, greed, hatred, and unforgiveness, just to name a few, are considered to be bad fruit. What type of fruit is your life producing?

Calling yourself a Christian and bearing the fruit of a Christian is very different. Many will say to the Lord when they die, I did this and that in your name and He will say depart from me, I never knew you. Please don't examine others actions and how they live their lives but look into your own today! Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For God wants your life to resemble a healthy fruit tree.

ARE YOU FULL OR EMPTY?

Luke 4:14

Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the Holy Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.


What is your life like today, full or empty? Is the power of the Holy Spirit evident in your life? Later on in this chapter Jesus explains why the spirit of the Lord is on Him, in verse 18 and 19 He says the following: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me the Anointed One, the Messiah to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity, To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound." God’s power is working within us, is powerful, and is given to us for a purpose. So are you full or empty?

HAVE YOU SEEN JESUS?

Matthew 11:5

And Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed (by healing) and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news (the Gospel) preached to them.




As I read this passage, I wonder if I have really seen Jesus? As I am wondering, there is a great hunger to find this man described in this scripture. I don't just want to know about Him, I want to walk with Him and see the evidence of His presence revealed.

DON'T GIVE UP

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.


Today's scripture is very straight forward, don't be a quitter but in everything keep praying just as Jesus taught His disciple to do. Sometimes, as believers when w are faced with difficulties and challenges we spend more time dwelling on it and hoping God will somehow miraculously use a magic wand to change and turn things around. Now the only magic wand to change that situation is Prayer. Lets make a decision today to become people of prayer and take what belongs to us in the name of Jesus by never quitting cos quitters don't win and winners don't quit. And remember even Jesus never stop praying neither did He give up when He was on earth!

MORE JOY

Philemon 1:7

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit…

I want to be a joy giver today. God fill me with your joy and love so those around me may be refreshed by you. I want you and I to make a conscious effort this week of becoming joy givers. By bringing joy to our friends, family, co-workers and strangers we might come in contact with so they will be refreshed with the Love of Christ filled with joy in their spirits.

MORE LOVE

1Peter 4:11

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God......."


Is there anything more important than expressing love?

A gentle hand on someone’s shoulder, a smile in the middle of someone’s bad mood accompanied by encouraging words of appreciation. What about a phone call to someone you haven't seen in a while or an e-mail just to let them know that you are thinking of them. We all want to be recognized and feel accepted. As we reach out to those around us, God is actually recognizing them through us. Think on that for awhile; God may actually use you to make someone feel recognized and accepted today.

NEW BEGINNING

Hebrews 10:22

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.


God gives us an invitation to draw near and be cleansed, He does not ever want us to remain separated from Him because of wrongs we have done. Let’s draw near to Him today, He is waiting with love to touch and purify our lives. The key is to be sincere in heart by turning from sin and choosing to get back on the righteous path.

HEALING

Psalms 69:20
Insults and reproach have broken my heart; I am full of heaviness and I am distressingly sick.

Mathew 4:24
So the report of Him (Jesus) spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all who were sick, those afflicted with various diseases and torments, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed people, and He healed them.


The psalmist refers to insults directed towards us, like being a sickness within us. Have you ever been hurt by someone?

This may affect how you trust people, because after you have been hurt by people you trust, it is easy to become less trusting of others. Sometimes it is wise to carefully consider who you can trust, and other times our broken heart can make us sick, and not want to trust anyone. This sickness can cause us to over react and shut people out of our lives if their behavior even slightly reminds us of past hurts. Today's verse from Matthew uses the word “torments”. That is what these past experiences do they torment us, meaning we relive the old feelings of hurt. The scripture says that Jesus heals these hurts and torments. My prayer today is that God will heal you everywhere you are hurt!

OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

Luke 22:46

"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."



Have you been struggling with temptation? Jesus gives us the way out of its grasp. The way of escape is through prayer. When temptation comes and it will certainly. Just turn from it and begin to pray immediately. Also prayer is a protection from temptation as Jesus taught us to pray using these words “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt6:13) by doing this we are saying Lord lead me, I am willing to follow your instructions. He will guide us onto paths of holiness and protect us from evil.

SIMPLE FAITH

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.


Just give your cares to the Lord. It really is that simple, and when you turn them over to God, don’t pick them up again, just leave them in God’s hands.


SOLDIER UNDER PRESSURE, THE PRESSURE IS OFF

The pressure is off, the weight is gone

Cast your care on Jesus and keep moving on
 
The road may seem long, the battle may be raging


Cast your care on Jesus and find that His strength is amazing

Don't look back, just leave that last battle behind

Cast your care on Jesus and step back in line

Don't look to the left, or to the right

Cast your care on Jesus and everything will be alright

Hold on tight to His words, and retreat only for prayer

Cast your care on Jesus, He has promised to always be there

POWER

1Corinthians 2:4-5

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.


If you desire to have God’s power demonstrated through your life then total surrender is the price for it. A good place to start dying to your desires; is spending much time in prayer, worship, and study of the word. You will be amazed at what God will begin to do. Once I simply was telling a friend good bye, as she stepped into the car, I was compelled by the Holy Spirit to say; “hey, God loves you.” Wam, the power of God was released and tears began to pour down her face. When I talked to her the next day she said she was deeply touched with the love of God at that moment. She made a new commitment to the Lord and her and her family began going to church regularly.

SEEING JESUS

John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

My favorite part of this verse is that Jesus will show Himself to us if we truly love Him. He has been so good to me and revealed Himself many times in thousands of ways. He will reveal Himself to you too, if you will search for Him with all of your heart. The name of Jesus should stay on our lips so much, so that, when we stir in our sleep we tell Him, Jesus I love you. The command Jesus gave was to love the Lord your God with all of your heart. Do this and Jesus will show Himself to you.

SORROWS

Psalms 126:5

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

John16:33
In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted! For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.

 
Life sometimes is difficult, that is just the way life is. God will provide joy through and after the difficult times that we experience. Jesus is basically saying in this scripture, I know what you’re going through, I am with you, I am your protector, and I have a winning plan, trust me, smile and be cheerful, I am on your side. If we keep putting our trust in the Lord, God promises songs of joy will come.

HARVEST

John 4:37-38

Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."


The only way to have a beautiful garden of flowers is to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water them tenderly and lovingly care for them. We are responsible to plant the seeds of God's love into the lives of unbelievers so that there will be a harvest of souls to reap. In order for there to be a continuing harvest there must be a continual planting. Some people are easy to witness to; this can be compared to moist prepared soil and others are more difficult, which would compare to the harder ground that requires more effort to plant the seed into. My prayer is that throughout the city, there will be a great sowing of good seeds. My intention is to let it begin with me today. Think about what types of seeds are sitting in your hands, and how can they be sown into people’s lives. Here are some hints; tracts, music Cd's, and serving others. Remember too, that there are false teachers sowing weeds, we must do our part to sow the truth of God’s word.

GOD'S PLAN

Proverbs 21:30

There is no wisdom, no insight, and no plan that can succeed against the LORD.


Acts 5:38-39
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."



God has a plan for our lives. Remember the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth and reveal to you things to come. Spend time seeking after the Lord's direction through prayer. Once His plan is launched in our lives as our scripture says, it will not fail. He opens doors that cannot be shut; He also closes doors that cannot be opened.

THE LORD WILL

Psalm 121: 7-8

The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.


Psalm 91:14-16
"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.


These are some of my favorite promises. I am always filled with faith when I read them; this is why it is so important to read God's word. Faith is found in knowing who God is through reading the Bible. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans10:17)

DIFFICULTIES

Hebrews 5:7-8 (Amplified)

In the days of His flesh Jesus offered up definite, special petitions for that which He not only wanted but needed and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was always able to save Him out from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God His godly fear, His piety,  in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father. Although He was a Son, He learned active, special obedience through what He suffered

 
Sometimes the frustrations in life bring a lot of pressure upon us. It is okay to cry out loudly with tears to the Lord. Our prayers will be heard if we do it with reverent submission. While we are under the pressures in life we are learning from the things that we suffer. I remember a time, when everything just seemed to be going wrong and my life was just falling apart. I screamed at the top of my lungs repeatedly “Jesus!” The Lord knew what my heart was saying. I think I must have really been saying, Lord help, I can't endure these difficulties with out you. Its okay to yell out to God, He understands.

THOUGHTS

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.


Psalms 119:113(Amplified)
I hate the thoughts of undecided in religion, double-minded people, but Your law do I love.

 
Sin always begins with a thought. It is simple, we either decide to join with sin or we decide not to. It is your choice today how you will handle your thought life.

UNITY

1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.


1 Corinthians 12:12
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.


You are important to God and you have a part that fits with others in the functioning of the church. My dear beloved mother explain it this way; a box of parts can be together, but useless until they are assembled. She also said that strands of chord are weak when alone but strong when knitted together so are broom sticks. I am always amazed when I watch the music awards on TV, the artist who is recognized as great always says thank you to the many people who helped them to achieve greatness. God has gifted you with certain abilities but always remember to use them in connection with the body of Christ.

I WILL

Psalms 119:7, 8, 15, 16
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart. I will keep thy statutes. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.


The Bible says that king David encouraged himself in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6) These verses give us some guidelines as to how we can do that. Is there some area of your life that you have been struggling with? Today, ask God to help you as you encourage yourself by saying, today I will do something different with this difficult thing in my life. It is like setting a goal for ourselves. Today I will __________. If you fail, start over. If you have to start over 100 times in a day, keep trying don’t give up. Keep on saying: I will.

GOD REVEALS HIMSELF

Acts 1:3
After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.


It has been my experience with the Lord that once I began to follow after Him with all my heart; He began to give me convincing proof that He is alive. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you. I assure you that you will experience things that only God and God alone could have caused to happen. He wants you to know without any doubt, that He is present with you. Maye He will appear to you as in this story or perhaps you will encounter an Angel. Signs and wonders will follow those who believe. Anything is possible with Lord.

DESIRES OF YOUR HEART

Psalm 37:4-5

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:


It is important to understand that the key to God giving us the desires of our heart is in committing our lives to Him. As we truly surrender our life to God, His desires begin to become our desires. His desire is to save the lost and heal the broken hearted. God has a plan and purpose for our lives. If we are committed to following His plan, then He will only give to us what He has planned for us.

ESCAPE

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 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.

God always offers a way out when sin is knocking at the door. We must turn from sin and choose the way out that God provides. The Holy Spirit always whispers clearly “don't do that” we have to choose to listen to His instructions. Turn your back on sin and choose to walk away from it today.

HOPE

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


When we get to know God we then have hope in Him. The reality of His presence, and the constant unveiling of His plans for us, strengthens us to put our trust in the truth of this verse. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. When we seek Him with all our hearts then His plans begins to be seen, usually it is one step at time. If we were following a friend who is walking before us we would follow one step at a time. This is how we also follow the Lord. With every step of obedience to what He tells us to do in His word, we continue walking forward in hope and moving into the future of His destiny for our lives.

CHURCH

Matthew 21:13
'My house will be called a house of prayer,'

^{Our churches are known as the House of God. One thing I always do when I go into God's house is, I seek to find an intimate place of prayer with the Lord. I do this where ever it is that I have choosen to sit that day, by closing my eyes not concertrating on anyone else around me. I just focus on the Lord, I pour out my heart to Him and He listens to me and often times He speaks to me as well. I call my home where I live my Fathers' house of prayer, as I daily pray there as well.}

LISTENING

Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

This passage is full of many lessons, but I want us to focus on listening to the words of Jesus as He speaks. When the word of God is been spoken we are to listen as Martha did in this story. Regardless who is sharing the word of God, remember they are speaking as if Jesus were speaking Himself.

WAITING AND WALKING

Revelation 3:8
I know your record of works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name.

Sometimes the door of opportunity seems to shut, but God is able to open a door that no one can shut. So standing on the firm foundation of His word, we wait for the doors to be opened to accomplish His will through our lives. When the door opens the pathway to do it, and through it, it is always made clear by God. His promise is to never leave us, and His presence which comforts us is the hope that strengthens us to endure the waiting.

SURRENDER

1Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace Who imparts all blessing and favor, Who has called you to His own eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.


Do not give up! If you are down get up! Stand firm! GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE, it’s the truth. When we give our life to the Lord totally, God begins to change and mold us to accomplish His purposes through our lives. Notice the bold print in the scripture that God Himself is making you what you ought to be. Be patient and trust God is working all things for the good for those who love Him and have surrendered their life to Him. Trust God!

REJECTION

Luke 6: 22-23
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.”

1 Peter 4:14
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.


Rejection is a winning situation in Gods eyes, when we are rejected for telling people about Christ. We have to get tough as Christians and realize that as painful as rejection is and as much as we want to be accepted by everyone, people will reject the message of Christ that we speak. So get over the fear, accept the fact, AND TELL SOMEONE ABOUT CHRIST! They are rejecting Jesus, not you! God has rewards for you according to the scriptures; there are no Losers in the battle for souls.