WHY GOD?

Hebrews 12:7
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.

Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Sometimes I get tired of having some kind of hardships in my life, but God is able to use them for good, and to bring Him glory. Just by reading this verse, I am able to let go of troubling things in my life and trust that God is able to teach me something through this hardship. Eventually, things always get better. Once I have victory over the hardship, I am able to share with others how to overcome hardships in their lives.

God teaches us in many ways, the Bible says that He is working all things for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. No matter what is going on in my life, because I am sincere about committing my life to God daily, I know that He is working in every area of my life. He is a loving father who helps us walk and stand so we then can reach out and help others who may be hurting.

JESUS GIVES FAITH

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter or of our faith.

One of the greatest spiritual keys I have come to understand is that Jesus is the one who changes and transforms my life. I just have to become willing to let God show me the changes I need to make in my life. He does this as I read the Bible and stay close to Him in prayer, trusting Him like a best friend. Jesus is the one who gives faith and perfects it. I just become willing to let Him do this. Sometimes I just tell the Lord, “Increase my faith and help me believe”.

The Bible also teaches that there is a gift of faith. Ask God to do this work in you. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Learning to live by faith, trusting in Jesus, is a very important part of our lives as Christians.

JESUS UNDERSTANDS

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

If there are areas in your life that you are struggling with, bring them to the throne of God. He doesn't want you to stay away from talking to Him because you feel like you are failing in your Christian walk. This verse says that He understands our struggles. Whatever your struggle is today, bring it to God to receive mercy and grace. He is a loving Father who wants to cleanse, purify, and help us to become more like Jesus. You may be asking “how do I take my cares to the Lord”?

Simply talk to Him through prayer, He is listening. I usually enter the throne of God on my knees with my eyes closed and then talk to Him about all my concerns, believing He cares for me and wants to help me.

I BELIEVE

John 11:27
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”


Yes Lord, I believe you are the Christ! How has this decision affected your life?

I had no idea that when I decided to follow Jesus, so many other lives would be touched by the hand of the Lord through me. It is the truth, He is alive!!! If we truly believe He is the Christ; our lives will point to Him through our thoughts, our words and our actions. When we truly believe, we will live a life that is filled with loving and serving others. Others around us will be able to tell that we love Jesus, because everything about our lives will emanate the love of Christ. When Jesus is truly the Lord of our lives, our desires will change. Things that touch the heart of God will touch our heart. We will find we have the desire to spend time reading the Bible, studying His word, praying and fellowhshipping with other believers.

Is Jesus really the Lord of your life today? Let your actions (Life) reflect your love for Jesus; others are watching you. Be a demonstration of God's love in all you do and say.

LIGHT AND DARKNESS

1John 1:6-7
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.



Today choose to walk in the light. Walking with God is always a matter of choice. Making a choice to follow God’s way or our own way. Deuteronomy 30:19, "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Walk in the light that God has prepared for you to walk in, our own path if full of darkness, leads to death.

HEALING; GOD'S WILL

Mathew 8: 2-3
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him (Jesus) and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.


God's will is to heal people, why all people do not experience divine healing is a mystery that even the greatest healing evangelist alive today cannot explain. We put our hope in God's word and the truth of His word; we then leave the results up to Him. We never give up seeking God's divine touch and putting our trust in Him. We know that God is real, alive, willing and able to help us. As Jesus said in the scripture “I am willing”, He is the same today as He was then.

CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS

Mathew 7:12
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you...."

Who is able to figure out why people treat others and each other so rotten at times?

Only God really knows. All of us experience difficulties when interacting with others. God knows this and has given us guidelines to follow that will help you  and Ilive in peace. This peace I am talking about is inner peace (God’s peace). We have no control over someone’s actions toward us, but we can control how we treat them. When we control our actions and treat others in positive ways, there is no room for us to have feelings of guilt or shame. Friends and family do things that wound us, that’s the way life is.

Sometimes in response to other people's actions towards us we have a tendency to want to do something hurtful back to them. Jesus, in the scripture is saying; treat others the way you want to be treated. My pastor recently was telling the church to go to God first before you respond to how someone is treating you.

Pray and seek God before hurting someone because they have hurt you. I think it is very unhealthy to allow someone to continually treat a person poorly. If there is someone in your life who you feel is always hurting you, please seek to talk a leader in your church. If you are not in a church find an adult who you know you can trust and talk to them. Please do it immediately, without hesitation, no one should continually be harmed by another. Happy New Year!