Tag: Soul

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Thrive!

AUGUST 9

MATTHEW 6:29_And yet I say unto you …

This verse begins with another of Jesus’ pay attention proclamations.

Previously, you were meditating on the beauty of the lilies of the field. All they do to acquire their beauty is to be in good soil, and take in some sunshine. But something is missing. Rain. All life is dependent upon water.

Rain is another part of the lily’s effortless beauty. Lilies do not make rain any more than they make the sun or the soil. In order for a lily to be a lily, it requires all three. All three come from God.

If you’ve done any gardening, you know during dry spells you must water plants to keep them alive. Earth water will satisfy your plants’ thirst.

If you’ve done any gardening, you know something else. Earth water keeps plants alive, but rain from heaven causes them to thrive.

Human life is made of three parts, a body, a soul, and a spirit. For a life to become the beautiful, fragrant creation it is intended to be requires three ingredients: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These life sustaining ingredients make the difference in a life that survives and one that thrives.

Don’t miss what’s coming. Jesus’ and yet means that after all you’ve learned about lilies—there’s something deeper.

 PRAYER

Dear Jesus, Help me to thrive in the power of the Triune God! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ calls me to thrive—He has made a way!

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Chaos Is Just Around the Corner

JULY 25

MATTHEW 6:24_No man can serve two masters…

Who do you listen to when you need to make a decision? Who has the final say? Who is ultimately in control? Whose lead will you follow when two voices call? Who is the master of your heart?

Without a final authority—chaos is just around the corner.   

From childhood, to youth, to adulthood, to old age, you serve many masters. On a sports team there is generally more than one coach. In a theatrical production there is more than one instructor. But, ultimately there has to be one who is the head—one who demands total allegiance. One the team pledges their obedience and respect to.

Jesus teaches you cannot serve two masters. A decision must be made in the heart.

The Bible offers some advice. Deuteronomy 6:5 (KJV), “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” I Corinthians 10:21 (KJV),“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”

At the end of the day it’s a decision you alone must make.

PRAYER

Only True God, Help me pledge my allegiance to You alone. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ wants my allegiance—I will give it to Him!

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Love Conquers All!

JULY 24

MATTHEW 6:23_therefore if the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Darkness can be dangerous to: the body, the soul, the spirit.

Darkness of soul causes deep depression: absence of hope. Hope gives light.

Without hope there is an absence of security. Security overrides fear. 

Without security there is an absence of power. Power defies weakness.

Without power there is an absence of peace. Peace prevails over despair.

Without peace there is an absence of confidence. Confidence resists doubt. 

Without confidence there is an absence of love. Love conquers all!  

Darkness of the spirit is to be void of Jesus.

Without Jesus: Giants cannot be slain. Mountains cannot be moved. Waters cannot be parted.

If you allow your light to become darkness—it will be dark indeed!

PRAYER

Jesus Who Conquers, Praise You there is no darkness You cannot conquer. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ has already conquered darkness—I must believe!

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Freedom Breaks Bondage

JULY 21

MATTHEW 6:22_thy whole body shall be full of light.

Jesus gives courage and light to face every day.  Only the truth can give that. Lies give fear and darkness. God says to Joshua in chapter 1 (KJV):“6 Be strong and of a good courage …,’ and in verse ‘7 Only be thou strong and very courageous …,’ and in verse ‘9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

The single eye Jesus refers to here means focused on Him, only. Singleness of vision on Jesus keeps you on His path. Never forget, His path leads to freedom.

Freedom breaks bondage. Nothing in bondage is free, and nothing free is in bondage. With your spirit as the mainspring, shackles corrode. The mainspring creates the function of whatever it is operating. For everything to function properly the mainspring has to be free from any encumbrance. An encumbrance is a false part that does not belong.

Jesus wants your focus on Him alone.

Your whole being (body, soul, spirit) will be full of light.     

PRAYER

God of Courage, Help me be strong and of a good courage every day. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ wants me to keep my eyes on Him—I will!

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Don’t Give Him the Satisfaction!

JULY 20

MATTHEW 6:22_if therefore thine eye be single…

When Jesus refers to the eye being single He does not mean a person with just one eye. Neither does He mean a person who has sight in only one eye. Jesus is teaching a principle here, not a lesson in physical science.

If you are a person who only has sight in one eye or if you’re totally blind—don’t you dare think you are in some way inferior! Thoughts of inferiority come from the devil—never from Jesus. As Creator, Jesus understands the body, soul, and spirit. He understands the principles by which they operate. He created them to function together, with the spirit being the mainspring.

The devil has no understanding, or even knowledge of how Jesus’ principles of life work. He is the deceiver.  It doesn’t really matter to him how Jesus’ creation works, because he plans to deceive you into believing his lies and not the truth. He knows how to discourage. He knows how to intimidate. He knows how to tempt.

The devil wants to deceive you out of your hope. He knows if he can get your focus off of Jesus, and into a defeated, giving up, I-don’t-stand-a-chance attitude, he’s won a major battle in your life. Don’t give him the satisfaction!

Remember: light expels darkness.

PRAYER

Holy God of Heaven, Help me not to be discouraged by the devil’s lies. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ knows the devil’s lies—He helps me overcome!