Answer The Call

Acts 2:39 - This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles - all who have been called by the Lord our God.

As Peter illustrates here, God's promise of salvation is for everyone who answers His call - to all who accept it.  God wants that NONE should perish.

I have been so blessed since I finally answered God's call.  He was so patient with me.  I kept Him sitting on hold for a long time, and He waited.  That's how I know that He has special plans for me.

Dear Lord, thank You for waiting for me for so long.  I don't know what it was that You saw that made You want to wait, but I trust in Your plans and will for my life.  I pray that Your light will shine through me so that others will see there is hope for them if they answer Your call.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

A Reminder

Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

We are given a great reminder here of one of Jesus' last commands to His disciples and to all of us.  We are to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  A heavy task no doubt, but one worth taking on.

Have I been following this command?  Somewhat.  I have never shied from sharing the Gospel when it is brought up or I am asked about it.  But I believe I need to be better about creating the opportunities to share the Good News of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, I ask You to use me according to Your will to spread Your Gospel.  Shine Your amazing life-giving light through me, so that everyone I encounter will see what a beacon of hope and love You truly are.  In Jesus' name, Amen!

God Bless!!!

Total Confidence

Psalm 146:3 - Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.

Powerful people are just that - people.  Everything they possess or are capable of doing is temporal and will pass away with them.  Our only confidence should be in God, who is eternal, and makes all things work together for good.

Have I put my confidence fully in God's hands?  Yes I have!  For a long time, I struggled with the concept of Total Surrender.  I always felt that I needed to maintain some control over my life.  But I have seen too often how much God blesses those (myself included) when they are surrendered to His will.  I will forever trust in Him.

Dear Lord, thank You for humbling me with Your amazing blessings, and for teaching me that no matter how much I may want to have some control over my life, that I do not, and it is all up to You, and You only work for my good.  I will forever be surrendered to You, my Lord and Savior.  In Jesus' name, Amen!

God Bless!!!

Turn & Live

Ezekiel 18:23 - "Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?  says the Sovereign Lord.  Of course not!  I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live!"

A common misconception of God in the Old Testament is that He is vengeful and mean-spirited and that He only wants to punish us for our transgressions.  NOTHING could be further from the truth as shown in this passage.  If God really wanted us to be gone, all He would have to do is snap his fingers (figuratively speaking) and it would be done.  His plan for us has always been about our redemption.

Have I accepted God's redemption for me?  Yes I have.  Do I show that in my life every day?  I hope I do.  I pray every day for God's guidance and wisdom so that all I do will bring Him the honor and glory that He deserves.

Dear Abba Father, I cannot say thank You enough for redeeming me when You didn't have to.  Thank You for setting me free from my bondage to sin through the death of Your Son Jesus Christ.  He died so that I may live, and I will forever be grateful for that.  I ask that You use me in whatever way Your name will be glorified.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

God Bless!!!

Honest Prayer

Luke 22:42-43 - "Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine."  Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him.

In addition to being fully God, Jesus was also fully human.  He had fears just like us, but He is perfect, and did not let those fears control Him.  His prayer here is so honest, asking if it was possible to pass the cup of suffering away from Him.  He knew the pain He was about to endure, and his human side was afraid.  But his honesty and trust in God's greater plan rewarded Him when God sent an angel down from Heaven to strengthen Him.

God knows our hearts, and He knows what we are going to ask for before we do it.  If we are honest with our prayers and confessions to Him, God will happily strengthen us to persevere through the challenges we will face.  I love that promise.  I will work harder to make sure that I am being completely honest with God.

Dear Lord, thank You so much for showing me Jesus' humanity.  Please do a work in my heart so that I may be completely honest and forthright with You.  In Jesus' name, Amen!

God Bless!!!

Remembering

Ezekiel 16:60 - Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

Through most of the first 16 chapters of this book, God is talking about how bad and unfaithful Israel has been, but yet here He promises to remain true to His Chosen People regardless.  Redemption has always been His plan for us.  That's true love.

I have stumbled and fallen a lot.  And I'm quite sure I will do so again.  I have learned that God is not as worried about the stumbles and falls, as long as I get back up and turn directly to Him so He can dust me off.  How could I not be in love with a God like that?!

Dear Lord, thank You for showing me what true love is all about.  Thank You for helping me back up and dusting me off and allowing me to serve You.  I cannot imagine where I would be if I didn't know about and experience Your true love for me and all of us on this earth.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

God Bless!!!

Praise & Honor

Ezra 7:28 - And praise Him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles!  I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me.  And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.

Ezra knew that everything that he was being given by the king was God's will and that God was blessing him because of his faithfulness.

Do I thank God for all that I am, and all that I have?  I know that everything that I am given and everything that happens, good or bad in my eyes, is God's will.  I have to remember that God is not punishing me for my sin by sending bad things to happen to me.  He is using the bad things to teach me, build me up, and to make me stronger through His grace.  I must be sure to give Him the honor and praise He deserves.

Dear Lord my God, thank You so much for teaching me that all things come from You.  Please help me to understand what You are teaching me, so that I may be stronger for the great work You have set ahead of me.  All that I am and all that I have I owe to You and Your unending grace and love.  Help me to keep that in mind so that I appreciate it even more.  Amen!

God Bless!!!