“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV).
Don’t give up. Sometimes it seems like you are trying so very hard to do the very best job you can do, and nobody appreciates it or acknowledges it. It is difficult when it seems that nobody cares or maybe even notices your hard work, but God does see it. He knows your very thoughts and sees everything you do because Christ is in you. Our human nature wants to be noticed, but Jesus wants you to do everything for Him and not men. We are to totally humble ourselves and lay down at His feet all of our life’s work. Our will and God’s will must be one. It isn’t about you….it is what God can do through you.
Think about it…God used men and women of no great importance to do mighty things. David was a shepherd and became king. Gideon was hiding when God called him to lead an army and defeat the Midianites with just 300 men. Jeremiah was a boy when God called him to be a prophet. Esther was a young Jewish girl of no great importance who became queen and saved her nation from being destroyed. Joseph was a young man who was sold as a slave and later saved many people from famine because he trusted in God. Daniel was a hostage in Babylonia who interpreted the king’s dreams and rose in power. He showed the king that God was the only true God by taking a stand and not bowing down to an idol.
God has a purpose for you just as important as the men and woman listed. They did not do their deeds to be honored by men, but to show men that God was the only God to serve. You are God’s voice and His witness to others on this earth. You have a responsibility to do the work He has planned for you in spite of obstacles and stumbling blocks. There are people that need you to tell them of His great mercy and love. The people you work with or the people who surround you daily need to hear about the Lord’s love for them. Take this responsibility seriously. Don’t be discouraged. He will never leave you. Paul offers encouragement to those who are doing the Lord’s will. “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith” (11 Thess. 1:11 NIV).
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the job and the purpose you have provided for me. Give me strength and courage to do your will even when it is very difficult and nobody seems to notice. Help me to humble myself and believe that you can work through me when I feel I can’t do it. You are mighty and can accomplish anything. I am your humble servant.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Resist the Devil by Ann Elaine Broughton
Resist the Devil by Ann Elaine Broughton
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord. “and will bring you back from captivity” (Jeremiah 29:29:13-14 NIV).
Did you know that you can become a captive? Paul gave some instructions to Timothy about helping people who have been taken captive by Satan. Paul advised Timothy about the people who would oppose him. “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (II Timothy 2:25-26 NIV). Scary thought isn’t it? Satan can take you captive to do his will. How can he do this? Satan is prowling around watching to find your weaknesses. It is tremendously important that you pray to God to ask Him to reveal to you any weakness that you have so that you can be aware of it and not give in to temptation. Satan is like a lion. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith….” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV).
Saul is an example of someone who had it all….he was a king and found favor with God. But you see he had a little weakness that in the end destroyed him. He was jealous of all the accolades David was receiving for killing the giant. The Bible says that God allowed an evil spirit to come upon him. Saul tried to kill David because he knew that the Lord was with David. Jealousy had destroyed Saul. So you see how a little weakness can totally take you captive by Satan.
Be of good cheer. You can overcome Satan’s attack. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:7-8 NIV).
Pray to God on a daily basis and trust Him to help you. Read the Bible daily and pray that God will guide you through his word to be a better person. None of us is perfect so we must be aware of our faults and give them to Jesus. Trust the Lord to help you and humble yourself before Him. He will lift you and protect you from the evil one.
Dear Lord,
We know in this life that Satan wants to take captive anyone who believes in you. Help us to search for you every day and take time every day to read your word so that we can be better Christians. Keep us from evil and help us to walk in your ways.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord. “and will bring you back from captivity” (Jeremiah 29:29:13-14 NIV).
Did you know that you can become a captive? Paul gave some instructions to Timothy about helping people who have been taken captive by Satan. Paul advised Timothy about the people who would oppose him. “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (II Timothy 2:25-26 NIV). Scary thought isn’t it? Satan can take you captive to do his will. How can he do this? Satan is prowling around watching to find your weaknesses. It is tremendously important that you pray to God to ask Him to reveal to you any weakness that you have so that you can be aware of it and not give in to temptation. Satan is like a lion. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith….” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV).
Saul is an example of someone who had it all….he was a king and found favor with God. But you see he had a little weakness that in the end destroyed him. He was jealous of all the accolades David was receiving for killing the giant. The Bible says that God allowed an evil spirit to come upon him. Saul tried to kill David because he knew that the Lord was with David. Jealousy had destroyed Saul. So you see how a little weakness can totally take you captive by Satan.
Be of good cheer. You can overcome Satan’s attack. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:7-8 NIV).
Pray to God on a daily basis and trust Him to help you. Read the Bible daily and pray that God will guide you through his word to be a better person. None of us is perfect so we must be aware of our faults and give them to Jesus. Trust the Lord to help you and humble yourself before Him. He will lift you and protect you from the evil one.
Dear Lord,
We know in this life that Satan wants to take captive anyone who believes in you. Help us to search for you every day and take time every day to read your word so that we can be better Christians. Keep us from evil and help us to walk in your ways.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
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