I Have No Fear of Dying!

Do you ever struggle with the fact that one day soon you will die? Do you have a fear of death? Do you fear the hereafter? Maybe you are one who simply doesn’t believe in a hereafter so you give it little or no consideration?

Perhaps the one thought that haunts more people than any other is their fear of death—be it a fear of what is on the other side, a fear of the crossing over, a fear of the possible “aloneness” that must be endured during the transition from here to wherever. I personally have no fear of dying. The simple fact is, I have already died and therefore have no need to fear a death that I will never face again.

Call me crazy, but keep on reading! Paul told the Galatian church: “I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (2:19-20 HCSB). Crucifixion always ended in death. No one came off a cross until they were deemed dead. When Jesus died, I died.

Paul told the Romans: “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him” (6:8-9). As a child of GOD, a believer in Jesus Christ, I am comforted by the fact that I must never face death because Christ has already died for me.

When I came to the place in my life where I recognized my need for something I could not attain otherwise—eternal life—I fell on my face before my Lord Jesus Christ seeking forgiveness for my past and His free gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). At that moment, my old man died (Romans 6:6-7), thus my first death, and I was raised to new life, eternal life, in and through my new found faith in the death, burial and resurrection of my Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul told the Corinthian church that for believers to be absent from the body meant they were present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Certainly this old fleshly body must one day pass away; but, the real me, the real you, will continue to live on forever. The real me has already died when Jesus died because I put my faith in Him; therefore, I rest assured in total peace that I have no need to fear the crossing over. Paul clarified that experience as simply being gone from here and present there with the Lord.

Humanity was created to be with our Creator. When the relationship was broken in the Garden of Eden by man’s first sin, the earthly body was deemed for destruction—man’s physical body began the process of dying. But Paul tells us GOD has something special in store for us. He wrote: “For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1 HCSB). This body is not our real home. GOD has something more.

Heaven awaits all who have prepared themselves by faith in Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that “we groan in this one (this physical body), longing to put on our house from heaven (our glorified body)” (2 Corinthians 5:2). Our spirit man is groaning to be loosed from the confines of this physical body in order to be free to worship GOD and to enjoy everything He has prepared for us since the very beginning of time.

Paul then exclaims with great excitement: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). I died with Christ so I can inherit the coming kingdom of my Father GOD who loves me and cares for me. Therefore, I have no fear of dying!

Scripture Reading: “Brothers, I tell you this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. Because this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. Now when this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:50-58 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I do not want to fear death any longer. I want to rest assured in Your promises of life—life eternal! I confess my sins and sinful ways and ask You to forgive me. I ask Jesus to become Lord over my life, to take control of my life as I surrender fully unto Him. Thank You, Jesus, for dying for me and rising to new life that I, too, may experience the free gift of eternal salvation. I love You and praise You, O GOD, for making my salvation possible…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Pride’s Destruction Desires to Overtake You!

Perhaps one of the greatest enemies you and I will ever be forced to confront in this life is our own pride. Pride rises up within us and prevents us from being able to admit our mistakes, to take blame for problems we’ve created, and to step up and confess our faults and failures. Pride has been the downfall of many a great leader who refused to take the blame and clear the air.

We are told in the Scripture that: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 HCSB). We also find that: “When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). Again, we find the warning that: “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

It’s interesting to note the Scripture’s ongoing warnings concerning pride and its end product of absolute destruction. Maybe you have a problem with pride in your heart and life. Maybe your pride is preventing you from confessing your faults and sins thereby preventing you from discovering God’s forgiveness? (James 5:16).

Perhaps the single most significant Bible character we find whose pride brought him very low would be King David. Certainly, it is difficult to believe that a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) could fall under consideration of such a failure, but he did! Now certainly there were a great many other sins involved at the time in David’s life, but it was his great enemy, pride, that prevented him from admitting his wrong before God and others.

The story begins in what would appear to be a very harmless situation. The Bible says: “In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel…but David remained in Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1). While it was not a common practice at the time for kings to stay behind during a battle, it was not necessarily unheard of.

So, “one evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing-a very beautiful woman” (v. 2). It wasn’t necessarily the first look that created the problem for David but the extended stare provoked by a deep lust in his heart that led to an invitation for her to join him in his chamber.

Some things we should know about this woman; she was married and her husband, Uriah, was away fighting battles as a soldier in the king’s military. So, to complicate any already despicable situation, she became pregnant. David, rather than admitting his great failure and sin, sent for her husband in order to try to coerce him to lie with his wife, which he refused to do.

So, to make matters even worse, David sent word to the commander to put Uriah into a place in the battle where he would be killed which is just what took place. A short time later, David married Bathsheba. No doubt, David was enduring a tough time in his life at this point. His sin had separated him from GOD. In his heart, he knew he had committed a great many sins; but, his pride prevented him from attempting to make things right.

But, a loving GOD was not willing to just write David off. He was not willing to allow David’s enemy of pride to win this battle. He stepped into David’s situation through Nathan the prophet. Nathan, risking his own life, willingly went in before the king and exposed his sin.

At that moment of exposure, David stood at a crossroads in his life. He could continue in his prideful way and have Nathan executed or he could take back control and win the battle over his pride by humbling himself in the presence of GOD. David chose to claim the victory. His heart broke and the peace of GOD began to flow over him as he humbly confessed all his sins, faults and failures.

He cried out to GOD: “Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You-You alone-I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge” (Psalm 51:1-4 HCSB). Probably the single most humbling experience David ever passed through and yet it became a doorway to victory over his enemy and a restoration of peace with GOD.

Then David went further in his prayer recognizing a need for a complete cleaning and purification. He said: “God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit” (vv. 10 -12).

Perhaps you are going through life with a great deal of pent-up pain from past sins and failures that are holding you in bondage? Perhaps the enemy of pride has prevented you from letting go and letting GOD take over. Maybe you need to be broken before GOD today? Maybe your heart has hardened due to the influence of pride and sin preventing you from discovering GOD’s peace? It is time to come home. It is time to make peace with GOD by humbling your heart, confessing your sins and renewing your relationship with the Father.

Is there a battle raging in your heart? Has pride almost won the victory in your life? Give it to GOD today. Find His peace and restoration!

Scripture Reading: “Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You-You alone-I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart. In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar” (Psalm 51).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I have sinned against You! I acknowledge to You that I have allowed my enemy of pride to influence my life and decisions to the point of my near destruction. Please forgive me. Give me the victory over my prideful spirit. Humble me in Your presence that I may worship, praise and adore only You! Forgive all my sins and failures and help me to walk in purity and holiness before You. I love You and thank You…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Turning Your Difficulties into Victories!

How often do you find yourself going through life feeling bogged down by all the hardships and difficulties? It seems you finally gain one victory only to discover another problem staring you in the face? You begin to wonder if GOD really cares about you or has any concern about your problems and hardships?

Life is certainly filled with problems for all of us—it just wouldn’t be life otherwise. We can choose to accept the path we have been chosen to follow after and make the very best of it, learning as we go; or, we can continue feeling moving along bogged down by all the problems and difficulties.

James has a word that should encourage our hearts in these times. He tells us: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 HCSB).

Now, I know that none of us takes pleasure in difficulties or considers our difficult times as something to find joy in. However, we can rest assured knowing that GOD can use these times to build us up, strengthen us and better equip us for the battles this life throws at us if we will only submit ourselves fully over to Him.

Paul dealt with this issue in his own life as well. He discovered there were some great positives to be gained through his personal experiences with difficulties. He said: “We also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4 HCSB).

Paul recognized the fact that he wasn’t here for himself or for his own pleasure and self-gratitude. He recognized that life is all about bringing pleasure to GOD, pleasing GOD and helping others in order that they too may discover the saving power of Jesus Christ in their own lives. Whatever you are going through today, seek to discover the good that will come out of it. Allow the struggles to become victories. Turn your mountains of troubles into faith-building experiences.

Every new step you take, in faith, is a victory for you. Every giant you stare in the face and take authority over, in Jesus’ name, is another battle you have won. You have habits that need to be broken? You have changes in your life that really need to be made? GOD is willing to step in and help you through them all. Don’t allow your past failures to dictate your present world, move forward in the name and power of Jesus Christ making every day a new day and a new experience.

No matter how difficult your day appears, or how high that mountain has grown, or how loud that giant roars—victory is yours through Jesus Christ! Paul had his struggles, his difficulties, his hardships but he hung on to prize that was before him. Hang on to al GOD has in store for those who persevere to the end.

Think about what Paul said: “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14 HCSB).

Scripture Reading: “Lord, how long will You continually forget me? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me? Consider me and answer, Lord, my God. Restore brightness to my eyes; otherwise, I will sleep in death, my enemy will say, ‘I have triumphed over him,’ and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously” (Psalm 13 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father, I thank You for always being near me. I thank You that in the midst of my trails and difficulties, You are always there for me. I pray that You would give me the strength to keep going, the faith to keep trusting, the desire to keep serving You regardless of how tough life may be. Please forgive me when I fail and fall. Help me to get right back up and do it all over again. I love You and praise You for the promise of my salvation and the promise of an eternal heavenly reward awaiting me for my faithfulness and perseverance. Thank You, LORD…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

The Destructive Nature of Ungodly Choices

I remember well as a teenager my choice of closest friends was not always the best—okay, it probably wasn’t even good. It wasn’t that I necessarily had “bad” people for friends, it’s just their ideals and morals were unlike mine. Having been raised in a Christian home and environment, I had been “sheltered” to say the least. Given the opportunity to spread my wings as I moved into junior high and high school, I found myself drifting further away from my Christian beliefs.

I also remember well how my parents spent a great deal of time “railing” against my choice of friends. To an individual growing into a state of rebellion, as was taking place within me, a negative effect was unleashed. The choice was made to dig in and gravitate more toward the friendships and the moral decay they were producing.

In my heart, I knew I was doing wrong. I was well aware of Paul’s strong warning that: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV). But, the good, Godly character that had once held a position of strong influence in my life had slowly eroded away as the waves of worldly influence were allowed to cycle in.

I actually had that verse memorized, quoted it to myself often and definitely recognized the destructive nature that I was allowing to course through my being through my poor judgement and choices. I was also keenly aware of the fact that my life had drifted away from the truths of God’s Word that I had once treasured into a world of deception, lies and deceit from the enemy.

Having had a call of God upon my life to be a preacher by age 13, Satan was determined to prevent such a thing from happening. He utilized my own lack of sensible choosing to continue drawing me down the wrong path—ultimately preventing me from fulfilling God’s call. Life became more and more like a roller coaster ride of choosing right for a time but quickly slipping back down the old path.

It seemed every time I would pull my act together for a time, I soon found myself slipping back into the old rut as the old friends appeared out of nowhere to beckon me back. The simple fact is I had choices to make. No one made me choose to follow a right path or a wrong path in life; I was given the freedom to choose. I understood there were consequences for my choices but my desire to follow after that which was conceived by my rebellious heart won out much too often.

I am certainly not happy nor do I glory in the outcome of my bad choices but through it all, God never left me. His Spirit continued to speak to my heart and gently nudge me to right choices. What I have become today is because God didn’t give up but helped me by His Spirit to make sound, right choices. As Paul said: “As for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14 HCSB). Definitely nothing I had done, but all what He had done for me!

We are all given the freedom to choose—to choose right from wrong, good from bad—and ultimately those choices result in an individual’s life outcome. Poor choices result in poor outcomes. You cannot blame anyone else for what you have become. Certainly your past, and situations in your past, can create barriers and obstacles to be overcome. Certainly, your upbringing lends a great deal to challenges you may have to overcome; but, with God’s help, a right attitude, and a desire to go the distance, you can become whatever you desire to become.

Choices confront you every day. Some offer only momentary satisfaction or meet a temporary need while others lend themselves to molding and shaping the rest of your life. I thank God that with His help, I eventually came to my senses, began making the right choices and got my life on track. Oh, I have still had my share of ups and downs, based on the choices I continued to make; but, God has helped me to find my direction through following Him, ingesting His Word into my life and fulfilling His call for my life.

Choose wisely! Choose your close friends and confidants wisely. Choose to worship God in a house of worship that offers strong Biblically-based discipleship training in the Word and offers Christian fellowship with people who have an intense love for God and for one another. Your choices will make or break you and the final outcome is based upon your choices from the very beginning.

Scripture Reading: “How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin” (Psalm 1 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I have had my ups and downs. I’ve been through valleys I should’ve never trekked through. I have taken paths that You never intended for me to go down. But, in and through it all, You are with me. Please help me to submit my will over to You. Help me to base my decisions upon Your will, purpose and plan for my life. Help me to choose that which is right. I desire to please You, to honor You and to do Your will in all things. I love You and thank You for always being there for me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Not Finished with Me Yet!

Have you ever heard the little song kids sing that goes: “He’s still working on me to make me what I oughta be….”? Although it is but a child’s jingle, the meaning in the song is immense. Coming into the family of GOD, we have a great many rough edges that need special care. We have past hurts and failures that need to be dealt with. There are always the bumps, bruises, and of course the strong will that simply says “I’m gonna do it my way no matter what!”

We look around the church and we see smiles on many faces but a great many of those are covering up deep pains on the inside that need to be cared for. But, it is hard to do! It is hard to get into other people’s problems and issues and help them to work through them. You know, I have enough problems of my own without having to deal with someone else’s.

We are instructed to help one another. Paul instructs us to: “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 HCSB). In verse 14, he continues by telling us to: “warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” The writer to the Hebrews tells us we should: “be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

As I look back over times in my life when I was going through something tough or difficulties were prevailing in my life, I can see where GOD stepped in through a willing individual who offered up a word of encouragement or gave me a helping hand. I can see when difficult times confronted me that GOD would have someone standing close by with just the right word to pick me up.

It is important that we recognize not a one of us has topped out. We all face problems and difficulties at one time or another. Some will show they are going through things; others will just hide it inside. But, the fact remains; there are problems that are burning within the hearts of so many sitting in the pew today. So many that need a hand extended to them, a word of encouragement, or a kind act of love displayed.

Maybe things are going great for you today! Life has been treating you well. GOD can use you to reach into and to touch another individual’s life. GOD can use you in a special way today, if you simply make yourself available and be sensitive to those around you. Rather than condemning, try building up. Rather than judging, consider loving.

Maybe things have been rough for you lately? Maybe you are going through a really difficult time? GOD loves you and wants to bring you safely through your problem. He is right there for you desiring that you trust Him completely.

Work together, Church, at encouraging and building one another up as we go through this thing called life. Find someone you can speak words of life into today. Discover that GOD can use you to help someone get rid of the rough edges and the problem areas, to heal up the brokenness and hurts. Be sensitive and be blessed as you do so always recognizing that He isn’t finished with any of us yet!

Scripture Reading: “Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.’ As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips. Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I will praise the Lord who counsels me- even at night my conscience instructs me. I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit. You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures” (Psalm 16 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I pray for Your help in my life today. Please help me to work through the problems I am facing. Help me to deal with the overwhelming issues. Relieve the stress that is so heavy upon me. Help me, O GOD, to be free to serve and worship You without the weight of my past and the burdens of my failures. Lord, I also ask You to help me to reach out and touch others today. Help me to be sensitive to the needs others have, the hurts they are going through, so that I may offer the right word or the simply show Your love and mercy to them. Lord, I love You and thank You for giving me peace in my life in the midst of life’s storms…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

I’m Only Passing Through!

As you look around at the ever-worsening condition of our world, it’s easy to grow discouraged and disheartened wondering if there is any hope left for humanity. The willful sickness of sin that has laid siege upon our world is draining mankind of all his strength.

Everywhere you turn you see people hurting, deep in pain and suffering, wondering about as though lost—while the powers-that-be continue pouring out their vials of wrath on those they consider mere subjects—individuals to be trampled all over for their own pleasures, whims and gains.

Certainly, you may face these situations daily just like everyone else, but they need not rule your life and keep you down. As a child of GOD, you are given the opportunity to rise above these things as you rest securely in GOD’s promises of protection and the assurance you are given of an eternal home beyond your imagination. You can hold fast to the promised blessed hope of the soon “appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 HCSB).

GOD has prepared a place for you so far beyond your ability to understand or comprehend—a kingdom of hope, love, peace and abundant blessing. Paul re-enforced this thought when he wrote: “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NET). This world is not your home; it is but a foreign land we each must pass through on our journey to a heavenly kingdom that surely awaits us.

The excitement of things to come should overwhelm your every day. The joy of the hope you have in Jesus should create an abundance of praise and thanksgiving continually. In the midst of the utter chaos of this world, you can look beyond and by faith grasp ahold of the kingdom that awaits us and out of this will flow praise without ceasing.

Paul wrote an exciting piece of instruction as to how we should be conducting ourselves as we wait in excited anticipation for our Lord’s return. He said: “For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works” (Titus 2:11-14 HCSB).

The excitement created by realizing the grace of GOD that brought salvation to your soul should be evident in every facet of your life. The knowledge you have of how far GOD was willing to go to save you should motivate you to refuse living according to the standard of this world—denying godless living, worldly desires—choosing rather to live sensible according to GOD’s standard, living right according to GOD’s Word and living Godly according to the direction of the Spirit that is living within you.

Why, you ask? Because this world is not your home! Jesus paid the ultimate price for your redemption from the consequences of eternal punishment for your sins. He bought you out of your past worldly lifestyle with His own blood and has made you clean and pure so you may enter into the throne room of Almighty GOD with boldness and security (Hebrews 4:16), assured He will accept you based upon your obedience to follow Christ (1 John 3:23-24).

Friend, as you pass through this mess, GOD has an assignment for you—to impact your world every moment of every day for the cause of Christ—sharing Jesus through word and deed—so others may discover the same path you have found, Jesus Christ, leading to their eternal security in the heavenly kingdom.

Scripture Reading: “Sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful works among all peoples. For the Lord is great and is highly praised; He is feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and enter His courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations: ‘The Lord reigns. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. He judges the peoples fairly.’ Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. Let the fields and everything in them exult. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for He is coming- for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His faithfulness” (Psalm 96 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father, I praise You for calling me out of this world! I praise You that You did not give up on me as I wondered about, but You remained faithful in Your endeavor to draw me safely into Your arms of love. Thank You for sending Jesus to pay a price I could never pay. Help me to live in obedience to Your standard, Your Word and Your Spirit’s guidance. Help me to share Jesus everywhere I go. May every facet of my life reflect Jesus Christ so all may know that He is living in me. Help me through every day to rejoice in You regardless of the situations I may find myself in knowing that all of these things are working together to produce in me what You have for my strength and maturity in the faith. I love You and thank you…in Jesus’ name I pray all these things…AMEN!

Released from an Overbearing Burden!

Rarely does a day go by that someone doesn’t make contact with me seeking relief from the weight and consequences of sin in their life. Certainly, most don’t recognize the seriousness of their issues or the true basis for their problems; they simply know they have a nagging weight they can’t shake that seems to be dragging their life, joy, happiness, peace and contentment down. From those dealing with addictions to those caught up in issues and problems they simply can’t seem to get rid of—the weight and struggle for each is real!

The fact is we have all dealt with this struggle at one time or another. We have all come to a place where the weight we were carrying was overbearing and we needed relief. We felt as though our life was being slowly sapped from us. Have you been there? Have you felt that at some point in your life?

We finally arrive at the place in our lives where we realize that the only relief we will ever find is at the foot of the cross of Christ. It was at the cross that sin’s heavy burden and cost was paid. It was at the cross that Jesus did for you and me what we were incapable of doing for ourselves—paying the ultimate cost for the forgiveness of sins. It is at the cross that you will find peace, assurance, and discover the weight and burden of your sin lifted from your shoulders.

There was a time when access to the presence of God was extremely limited. Entrance into the Holy of Holies—the place of God’s presence and mercy—was limited to the High Priest of Israel and then to only one day a year. When the temple was built in Jerusalem, a heavy, thick curtain was hung as a barrier to restrict access to God to this one person and only one day a year.

When Jesus was crucified, the Bible tells us the final words He cried out from the cross were, “It is finished!” (John 19:30 HCSB) indicating the work of the cross was completed—payment for the sin of mankind had been made in full. Luke records that at that moment “the curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle” (Luke 23:44) indicating God’s acceptance of all humanity into His presence through the blood of Jesus. No longer would there be any barrier, whether it be a man or an object, preventing man’s direct entrance to and interaction with God.

Hebrews 4:14-16 puts it this way: “Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens-Jesus the Son of God-let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time” (HCSB).

We now have personal access to the Father through Jesus Christ. There is no need whatsoever for a pastor or priest to pray in intercession for us or our needs—the door of access was opened to all—mankind could now can go to God for themselves—not only do we have that access available to us now but we are encouraged to utilize it boldly.

Do you need release from an overbearing burden today? Is your life weighted down, heavy with sin or the consequences from a sinful past? If you have never done so, you need to go to the foot of the cross today and accept God’s forgiveness for your sins. Discover “the peace of God, which surpasses every thought” and find out for yourself the power it has to “guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

If there are things going on in your life right now that you know are not right, approach God’s throne of grace and mercy and find release from those things as you lay them before Him and walk away from them for good. Discover that overbearing burden you are carrying around is not God’s plan for your life today. Get rid of it through Jesus Christ!

Scripture Reading: “Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer. How long, exalted men, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie? Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call to Him. Be angry and do not sin; on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still. Offer sacrifices in righteousness and trust in the Lord. Many are saying, ‘Who can show us anything good?’ Look on us with favor, Lord. You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety” (Psalm 4 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I feel so overwhelmed by life. It seems every day more stress and burdens are added to my already weighted-down life. Please forgive me of my many failures and short-comings. Please forgive me for allowing things to come into my life which are not right or simply don’t belong here. I give myself wholly over to You. Please flood me with Your mercy and grace and give me Your peace. I love You…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Struggling with Destructive Addictions?

I often receive email and Facebook messages from individuals begging for help as they struggle with destructive addictions. Truth be told, no one sets out to become addicted to any vice—whether it be drugs, alcohol, pornography, food, or any other thing that can eventually take control over an individual’s life.

“I just drink a little when I’m around my friends.” “I like to smoke a little pot because it calms me down and helps me to relax.” “It doesn’t hurt anything for me to take a little look at a girly-magazine every now and then.” “I like my food, leave me alone about it!” Just a few of the many possible responses one may get when confronting an individual about their vice.

Certainly, a little drink may be just fine as Paul encouraged Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake (1 Timothy 5:23). A little pot may help calm you down but other things can too. Food, of course, is a necessity but can be dangerous in excess. Everyone has their excuses for why they choose to allow various practices to be a part of their life but few fail to see the tunnel that vice will eventually take you down that you had no intention of ever being in.

Paul sounded a warning cry when he said: “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT).

Understanding the eventual consequences of bad choices that can lead to one’s personal destruction or destructive behavior is paramount to our understanding of why Paul was so adamant that we not even give these things a second thought.

A man does not wake up one day and say I’m going to go out and drink with my buddies this evening and then come home and beat up my wife and frighten my kids almost to death, but it happens all the time. A man does not just leave work, go have a drink or two, and then drive off intoxicated, and simply hit another car and kill its occupants. These habits are developed over time as one runs toward instead of away from destructive addictions.

When an individual flirts with temptation, consequences will eventually come. Satan’s ploy is to bring destruction upon anyone who falls into his many traps as we read in John 10:10: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy” (NLT). The Scripture instructs us to bring up our children on the right path and they will not falter from it (Proverbs 22:4). We not only do that by our words of instruction but by the lifestyle we choose to live out in front of them.

If you are struggling with destructive addictions today, give it over to Jesus. Remove yourself from situations that encourage such behavior. Change your friends. Change the places you go. Change your mind set by filling your heart and mind with God’s Word. David said: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 WEB).

If your life is free from addictions, stay that way. Stay away from places and people who would encourage you to try new things. Keep your heart and mind pure by centering your affections upon things that are right and pure. Flee from the things in this world that would seek to take your heart and mind captive. Don’t test the waters. Don’t waste your time checking out what you might be missing out on. You aren’t missing out on anything but eventual destruction. Live your life centered upon Jesus.