Tag: Faith

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Make a List

AUGUST 31

MATTHEW 6:34_for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself…

Jesus says each day is able to take care of itself. Tomorrow doesn’t need you to worry over it. Eventually today becomes tomorrow. No power on earth that can stop that. 

Since you can’t stop tomorrow from coming, why spend all day today in worry? If God is with you today, won’t He be with you tomorrow? Of course He will!

Learn to live one day at the time; you will accomplish a great feat in your Christian walk! One day at a time helps abolish anxiety and increase faith. It also helps you learn to focus – which is an awesome feat in itself! Just focus on today’s business!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV), “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

The fact that you are alive today and able to read this blog is a result of God’s vast mercy! His mercy is beyond measure. Something too great to be measured. God’s compassion cannot fail because it has no end. 

Begin to incorporate praise into your prayer time . Make a list, including the smallest things, that you are grateful for today. Praise God for them, knowing that every good gift comes from His hand.    

PRAYER

True God, Praise You that this day You give me strength! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ is faithful—His compassions never fail me!

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The Believer Has the Bread of Life

AUGUST 22

MATTHEW 6:32_For after all these things do the Gentiles seek…

It is easy to say don’t worry, but it is not easy to do. Jesus leads to a place where it becomes easier, according to His design. Faith and trust. Faith and trust come from being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches truth. Truth leads to freedom! Even freedom from worry.  John 8:32 (KJV) is worth repeating several times, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free .” 

Remember, Gentiles are considered non-believers. Ones who do not put faith and trust in the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Without faith and trust, opportunities for truth and freedom are reduced. John 8:36 (KJV), “If the son [Jesus] therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”  

Worry fits into the design of a non-believer. When unbelievers fall upon hard times, they are without a source of overcoming power. Suppose a financial depression hits the country. Any money that may have gone toward comforts is now applied to the essential of food. It is a difficult time for believers as well as non-believers. The believer hurts during this time just as the non-believer.

But, the believer has the Bread of Life – in which to find hope.

PRAYER

Living God, Help me find hope by trusting in You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ wants to give me hope—I will accept it!

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As Many Times As It Takes

AUGUST 17

MATTHEW 6:31_Therefore take no thought…

How many times will Jesus teach to stop worrying? How many times will He point out it begins in your thought process? 

As many times as a parent teaches a child to tie a shoe, or ride a bike – as many times as it takes.  

Jesus’ repetitiveness is for you to follow. The longer you follow, the more you understand the heart of God – which increases faith. Eventually, it will make sense that God takes care of you! You begin to see that when you go through tough struggles, not only is Jesus with you, but a host of other believers have followed the same path. (Study George Washington at Valley Forge for one example).

Rather than allowing the deceiver to fill your thoughts with doubts and fear, begin to take Jesus at His word.  Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV), “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Simon Peter caught on to how to deal with worry: I Peter 5:6-7 (KJV), “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

PRAYER

Loving Jesus, Please teach me how to wear Your yoke and not worry. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ gives His followers rest—He will give it to me

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Doubts

AUGUST 16

MATTHEW 6:30_shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

The basic purpose of Bible study is to get to know God, to learn how He thinks, to learn His heart. The last part of verse 30 teaches something about God. Another part of the I AM. The words much more describe God’s heart perfectly.

A heart which not only sends grass what it needs to survive, but dresses it up as well. Wouldn’t that heart care much more for a human – created in His own image? This is a heart you feel safe to trust. A heart that makes you feel more than just loved, but special.

You can gain understanding of God’s love and provision for His creation right from the get-go – in the very beginning. Genesis 1:28 (KJV), “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

God loved all of His creation and considered it good, but He set people above anything else. Just like with the animals, God had already created what people would need to live and enjoy the earth. 

Life brings confusing days of doubts. Doubts come from the devil. Don’t listen, don’t be of little faith. 

PRAYER

Omnipresent God, Thank You that if You care for nature, You care more for me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ gave people dominion on earth—He cares for me!

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Can You Trust God?

AUGUST 15

MATTHEW 6:30_which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven…

The life span of grass sounds pretty brief – maybe it is. Regardless of how brief, during its time on earth, God gave it soil, rain, and sun. And beyond the basic needs, God added beauty. This is not to say a field of grass does not have beauty of its own – it surely does. But, God loves to add beauty in life. This kind of beauty is a fringe benefit of a life of faith. Faith in the true God – not just a god.

This is the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The God who gives provisions. God’s supplies to His creation include beauty – amazing beauty. Even the wealthy, resplendent King Solomon had no match for God’s beauty in nature. 

Jesus wants you to see how much God cares for and about you. Jesus helps with trust. Can you trust that the God who takes care of grass is concerned about every aspect of your life? Psalm 16:11 (KJV), “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

God wants you to stay on His path. He wants to fill you with joy. God wants to stretch forth His hand and give you pleasure.        

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I praise You that only You can give me fullness of joy. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ is the fulfillment of joy—He fills me with it!