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SPIRITUAL GROWTH

“When we grew up, we quit our childish ways.’ – 1 Corinthians 13:11 CEV
Comparison is dangerous. And when comparison creeps into our spiritual lives, we need to remove it because it isn’t healthy. When we spend time with people who seem to have really strong faith, it can make us feel ‘less than’ and not good enough when we compare ourselves to them. Other people can seem to have it all together spiritually.

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AVOIDING OBSTACLES TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER

” If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” – James 1:5-8

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WHY DO WE PRAY

“pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
In the powerful work, Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Gary T. Meadors observes that dialogue with the Almighty is part of the fabric of the Bible: “Genesis 4:26 first mentions that ‘men began to call on the name of the Lord,’ and Revelation 22:20 closes the Bible with the prayer, ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ (compare 1 Corinthians 16:22).
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5 Reasons We Must “Hate What is Evil”

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. – 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Introduction

The last days will be marked by a widespread collapse of the moral structures of the family and of society in general as people are arrogant “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Even in churches, unfaithfulness to God and disloyalty to His truth will increase. These times will be especially difficult and disheartening for God’s true servants.

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TAKE A STEP OF FAITH – IN GOD’S TIMING

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” – 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
When God gives an idea — a rhema — he gives it in three parts.
First, he says what he’s going to do, then he says how he’s going to do it, and then he gives you the timing. The biggest mistake people make is getting the first part but forgetting the other two. We take God’s idea and go out and try to do it as if he doesn’t care how it should be done. We try to do it our way, and we usually fall flat. We don’t know the timing, so we try to rush things.

How do you know God’s timing? God starts bringing all the pieces together. But you have to wait for it! Then, when God says, “Go,” you move into action. At that point, you have to take a step of faith.

Taking a step of faith may seem impossible for you today because you’re facing a big problem. Maybe you’ve got some difficult decisions to make. In 1975, I had some major health problems that had sent me to both a heart specialist and a neurosurgeon. I was fearful, discouraged, and depressed. One morning, a stranger called me and said, “I don’t know you, but I understand you’re having some health problems. I called because I really feel like God wanted me to share this verse with you.” Through that man, God gave me a rhema and reminded me how he was working in my life.

That verse was 2 Timothy 1:7, and it’s a verse some of you need right now. God’s promise to you is this: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (NLT).

God wants to work in all of our lives — that’s a logos. But he also wants to work in your life with a rhema. Does God still do miracles today? You bet he does. But he does them in his timing, according to his sovereign will. Believe that God is working in your life, claim his promise, and move forward with his power!

Source: Culled from Daily Hope with Rick Warren.
STAY BLESSED

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A LIFESTYLE OF FORGIVENESS

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:29-32

Showing mercy to those who hurt us does not come naturally— it’s easier to get angry at them and remain that way. We justify our lack of forgiveness by pointing to the injustice that took place or harm that was done. But God commands us to be merciful (Luke 6:36). We who have been shown divine mercy are to practice a lifestyle of forgiveness. –

So why don’t we obey? Sometimes our Continue reading “A LIFESTYLE OF FORGIVENESS”

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A CONFIDENT RELATIONSHIP

“Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me… Alexander the copper smith did me much harm… At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me… But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” – 2 Timothy 4:10-17 NASB

Paul began his Christian life when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Others were present, but no one else heard Jesus’ voice. They just knew something dramatic had taken place, that Paul had become blind. In Damascus, Paul met with Ananias, who gave Paul perspective, praying for him and giving him direction. Perhaps most importantly, he introduced Paul to the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:1-18). Continue reading “A CONFIDENT RELATIONSHIP”

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FEAR OF REJECTION

‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’ – Hebrews 13:6 NIV

When we become insecure in our identity, we can starting fearing nonacceptance. We become people-pleases who want other people to like us and approve of us. We think that approval comes from what we do, and we constantly strive to be good enough and acceptable. Sometimes this happens in our relationship with God too. We start thinking that we’re unacceptable to Him, that we have to prove our worth through our actions and then maybe He’ll accept and love us. But we don’t need to let the fear of nonacceptance control us. It’s true that people aren’t always going to like us, we’ll face rejection, but we can be confident that we’re already accepted by God. We don’t have to look a certain way or do certain things to earn His approval. God looks at our heart. ‘The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). So if our heart is fixed on God, we can be sure that we’ve got His acceptance, even if we haven’t got it from other people. The Bible tells us that Jesus faced rejection too: ‘the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him’ (1 Peter 2:4 NIV). And that’s also true for us, we may be rejected by other humans, but God’s chosen us and we’re precious to Him. So when we’re feeling fearful that we’re not good enough and we start striving to be accepted by others we need to remind ourselves that God accepts us and loves us. And it’s His opinion of us that matters.

What Now?
Write a letter to yourself, as if you were writing to a friend. Tell yourself all your good points, how much you’re loved by God and include some of your favorite Bible verses. Every time you feel you’re not good enough, read the letter.

Source: Culled from United Christian Broadcasters Ltd.
STAY BLESSED