christian living

Today’s Encouragement 5/12/22

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Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:36 NKJV).

With our nation being as divided as it is in almost all areas, we may be upset that others don’t see or feel like we do. We may become so focused on all the depravity, greed, corruption and deceptive news and feel frustrated that others aren’t seeing it for what it is. This, too, is a tactic of the enemy. He is an attention hog and the more attention we give to what he’s got going on, the less we will pay attention to what Papa is saying and doing. This will cause us to pray from a fearful position and not our rightful authoritative and victorious one.

It does not matter how many times we write, speak, watch documentaries or quarrel with each other or those with opposing view points. It will be of no avail because it is earthly reasoning at work and that does not penetrate the spirit. It is the Gospel that sets people free and dissolves the veil of deception. We must remember that our fight is not in the natural but in the spirit and we must stay focused on the spiritual things of heaven.

It is the influencing spirits behind the people that we need to battle,but the people themselves need the Gospel. Not the happy clappy, diluted version that we have become so accustomed to, but the Holy Spirit infused truth. Where the demons gather, we must also gather to preach the gospel and resist the devil and make him flee in terror. We must remember who we are and walk in that authority and power to see people truly set free.

Today’s Encouragement 5/10/22

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Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:22-24 NKJV).

Whether an employee, volunteer, caretaker, or homemaker we each have jobs to do. We also will have days or moments when we don’t really feel like or want to do those jobs. We may slack off or do the bare minimum, all while thinking no one is watching. Well, Papa is. And while He knows our motivations and reasons for doing, or not doing, what we are supposed to do, He desires to reward us for a job well done.

Ultimately, Papa is our employer. When we understand that there is nothing He does not see we can strive to please Him with our work. And as we please Him, we will find favor in the eyes of our earthly employer or led to a better opportunity.

Matthew 10:10b says a worker is worthy of his food. To eat we must work, to eat well, we must work well. We must shake off the cultural definition of work as drudgery and necessity and see it as a service to the Lord. Ministry is not just serving a local church, it is also serving God in the workplace, as a volunteer, as a parent, etc. Ministry is serving people.

As our perspective changes regarding the work we do, we will begin to feel contentment and satisfaction and peace. We will see the blessings our work produces, encouraging us to keep going. Work is not a bad thing, it is a blessing.

Our bosses or supervisors may not see all we do, but Papa does and He rewards accordingly. Bless Him with your work!

Today’s Encouragement 5/9/22

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Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm (Proverbs 13:20 ESV).

We have all heard “You are what you eat.” If we eat unhealthy food, our bodies will become unhealthy. This principle applies elsewhere as we can see from today’s Scripture. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15, says “Bad company ruins good morals”. We behave most like who we hang around with.

It is often easier to lower our standards when we seek to please those around us. We must be wary of doing so as when our standards begin to fall, it can be difficult to raise them up again. Pay attention to the people you are with and how they affect your spiritual health and growth.

If you want to grow spiritually, surround yourself with people who are spiritually strong and healthy, who encourage your growth and cheer you on. Do not allow someone to bring you down, instead offer to elevate them to your level.

Today’s Encouragement 5/6/22

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I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore (Psalm 121:1-8 NKJV).

Papa is a very present help in our time of need. He is always there and can always be counted on. He will never let us down. Where people may disappoint, He will not. There is nothing we face that He is not aware of and provisioning for; He never leaves nor forsake.

Whatever situation or circumstance we find ourselves in, we simply can turn to our Heavenly Father to help us through. When life wants us to drag our eyes down to what is in front of us, Papa is gently calling us to look to Him.

Stay focused on Papa no matter what and He will see you through. Look up!

Today’s Encouragement 5/4/22

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“But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me”” (Jeremiah 35:18-19 ESV).

The background on this was the God sent the prophet Jeremiah to the Rechabites and had him offer them wine with their conversation. The Rechabites refused to drink the wine because their father Jonadab had charged them to drink no wine, build no houses, nor grow crops or vineyards. This pleased God and he gave Jeremiah a word for Judah and Jerusalem that basically said He would bring disaster upon them because He had repeatedly told them to obey His commands and they did not listen. But for the Rechabites obedience to the command of their father, He told them they will always have a man who serves Him.

Obedience is key to living in abundance and peace. In the natural we have laws and rules we must follow in every area of our lives, and as we can see the Rechabites followed the instructions given by their earthly father. Yet, these bring spiritual reward! God has said obedience is better than sacrifice. Being mindful and doing what God has told us brings us the blessings He promises in His word.

Be obedient and be blessed!