Our Image in Christ

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work.”  -John 14:10

Have you ever found yourself lost in something?  We can often find ourselves lost in movies, entertainment, work, or other activities.  It isn’t wrong to be completely focused on something; in fact God calls us to work diligently and faithfully.

But when something consumes us before God, it can cause identity issues, limiting us from God’s unlimited power and presence in our lives.

Recently I was sitting in church during worship asking God some questions about certain things that were going on in my life.  "Look to Me," I heard Him say. At that moment, a gush of revelation about being "in Christ" came over me. 

"Your image in Me is going to look different than anybody else.  Don’t look to others - look to Me.  I am the source of your true identity."  When we look to Jesus, we don’t look to anything else to find or define ourselves.  We are defined by God and His plan for our lives. We can’t look to others for our identity because God has made us each unique.  It is okay to honor someone who has helped you in your walk, and it is okay to look to an admirable person as a good example.  But, when we cross the line into comparing ourselves and trying to live exactly how they live and do the things they do in order to earn acceptance by others, we are headed for trouble. God made us each uniquely, with a unique call and a unique set of gifts for our life.  This is not to say we do not live blameless, holy lives. 

When we look to Christ, the old image of our old self passes away.  (2 Cor 5:17) We become a new creation in Him.  We are no longer bound by old ways of thinking - we are released to live life to its fullest potential.  Our faith in Christ releases us to pursue all we’ve been given with everything we are.  Our weaknesses are overcome by His image being released in us.    If we are in Him then He is in us - and our true identity with shine through.  We find ourselves in Him.  "Lose your life to find it," (Matt 10:39) means when we lose ourselves in Him we find all we were really meant to be. 

Do you find your image in Christ?  Let Him help you discover all you were meant to be in Him today. 

Having Faith for Today

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. -Matthew 21:21

Faith is difficult sometimes. When we're in a tough spot, when things are hard - it's challenging to have faith for situations. Sometimes our problems look so big compared to God, although we know in our minds that God is bigger. That's because our knowledge hasn't translated into faith - into real belief. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
 
Faith is not just saying we believe - it's having a sure conviction in our hearts that this or that thing will be accomplished. It is moving past our natural circumstances and into a supernatural dimension, where God's words resonate. Faith is belief we feel in our hearts when we have decided put our complete and total trust in God.
 
Just as we can't live on other people's faith, we can't expect to live today using yesterday's faith. Each day, situation, problem is different, with its own set of challenges. We need new faith every day, for every situation, to get through the tough spots in life. We need God's words to guide us for today. Have you ever thought about it? The Bible says God's mercies are new each day... and we need our faith to be that way too. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." -2 Corinthians 4:16
 
If you need faith for today, I invite you to pray this prayer: "God, give me faith for _______. I believe that you are bigger than my situation, and you able to do anything!"-and believe in your heart that God is bigger. He will honor your faith - for whatever you encounter!
 
"These (trials) have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." -1 Peter 1:7

Discerning Right from Wrong

"Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:9
 
King Solomon was a wise king.  The Bible says that he was the wisest man who lived during that time!  (1 Kings 4:31)  God was pleased that Solomon did not ask for wealth and riches at the beginning of his rule - instead he asked for wisdom to govern God’s people well and to know the difference between right and wrong.

Many times when we are just coming to know God, we are not really aware of sin in our lives.  We may not think a lot about what we do may that may not be good for us.  More often than not, through life experience, the influence of culture, and our upbringing we become desensitized to sin, without us even realizing it. 
 
As we get to know God more and get a revelation of His ways, certain things that were once okay just don’t feel right anymore.  This doesn't mean we're immune to sin - but it means sanctification becomes a part of our walk with Him, leading us to paths of righteousness, or right living.

"He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name." -Ps 23:2 & 3

One of the biggest roadblocks you and I will run into in life is discerning between right and wrong.  I’ve heard it said this way: “Being a Christian has two pillars - one is a relationship with God and righteousness - the other is a non-relationship with wrongdoing.” 

Can you discern right from wrong in your life? Pray today that God will give you a discerning heart and mind, and so that you can be led by the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life.

Identificational Repentance

"Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."  -Luke 23:34

There was a lady who felt very called to prayer who experienced something unusual one day.  All of a sudden, she began to feel very depressed and hopeless, and felt very angry toward her spouse and her children.  This was very out of the ordinary for her, and couldn't explain the reasons for her feelings.  The woman confided to her husband how she felt.

“Hmm,” he said.  “Do you know anyone who may feel that way?”

The woman began to think and a lady came to mind in her small group at church. 

“Yes, actually, I do,” she said.  Her husband said, “I’m wondering if maybe the feelings you’re experiencing aren’t really yours, since there is nothing you can think of that might have caused them.  Let’s pray together for this person, that God would turn their heart to forgiveness for whatever might be happening in their life during this time.”

So, the woman interceeded for the lady she knew, pressing into God and asked forgiveness for any feelings of bitterness, resentment or anger the woman might have been feeling, especially toward her spouse and children.  She knew she could not do what Jesus did and take away the sin or take the feelings away completely, but she knew that by her standing in prayer on behalf of the woman she could shift the spiritual atmosphere around her life and hope to create a fertile ground for openness, blessing, and healing.

A few weeks later, she met the woman at the Bible study.  “How are you doing?” she asked.  “Oh my gosh, I’m a lot better,” the woman confessed.  “I had had a lot of anger going on against my husband and children and I was very overwhelmed.  But something changed in me a couple weeks ago and I began to thank God for the things He had put in my life, trusting Him for the outcome even though I can’t see the end right now.

The woman smiled but didn’t say anything, knowing there was a reason for her feelings and for her heartfelt prayers.*

Is there anyone you feel called to interceed for today?  Pray that God would give you the discernment and grace to know how to pray for those He brings to mind. 

*Story adapted from the book "A Royal Priesthood" by Dennis Wiedrick

Being Under the Influence

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." -Acts 2:4
 
So what does it mean to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit? It doesn't have anything to do with drugs or alcohol. It means, in part, that we submit every thought, every action to God. When we get good at this, it happens without us even having to think about it. It means we have open ears, that we seek him continually. It means that we 'pray without ceasing', meaning, we never cease to be in an attitude of prayer. It means we read the word, and live by it. It means that we keep our attitudes in check, and we treat others with love and respect.
 
'Being under the influence' may seem like a hopeless list of to-do's. But, simply stated, it involves being gently led by the Holy Spirit, in freedom, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. It is more caught than taught. I went to a Bible school where we learned to 'abide' in the Holy Spirit, in every area of our lives, and submit those areas to Him. It was more about learning to walk under the anointing of God then it was about basic book knowledge. We learned scripture, but we learned it with its physical application.
 
Are you under the influence? If you're having trouble 'catching' what that means, get around someone you know is influenced and led by the Holy Spirit. You will experience such new degrees of freedom and revelation than you ever imagined possible. And you will be able to do miraculous things because of it.


Do you feel and hear God? How would you describe how God works in your life? If you have a story or testimony of how God has worked in your life or the lives of those around you, send it to us! We'd love to hear from you - and you might even have a chance to have your story published! charis@marketplaceleaders.org

The Work Behind the Scenes

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." -Matthew 6:5&6

 

J. John, a gifted and creative Christian speaker told a story once about preparing the way for a sermon he was going to preach. He felt the Lord impress upon him to pray fervently the night before the meeting. In the morning, as he began to think about what he would share, the Lord told him, "The work is already done." 

"How could the work already have been done?" he asked God. But as he got up to speak, he only needed to speak several words that the Holy Spirit had impressed upon his heart, and the entire place was completely overtaken by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because he had been obedient in prayer in the secret place, God moved mightily in the meeting, with many coming to repentance that day. 

Banning Liebscher, a youth preacher for Bethel Church and Jesus Culture music, describes the importance of meeting with God in the "secret place": 

"The first call on our life is to be with Jesus. The foundation of a leader is intimacy. It is the 'secret place' lifestyle. You're called to give yourself to a life of prayer; to a secret place lifestyle that no one else knows about... What you put in at the beginning greatly impacts what comes out at the end." 

Sharon Gerlach, intercessor for Divine Exchanges prayer ministries describes this phenomena as being like an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg is the ministry we see. But the other 80-90% of the iceberg, the part beneath the surface, is the spiritual work in prayer that makes a big difference. 

Are you engaging in your worship, prayer, reading God's word, and building your relationship with Him behind the scenes? This is the first call on our lives. The quality of everything else in our lives rests on this. We need to be sure we are building our relationship with Him in the secret place, so that we might have maximum impact in the world.

Spiritual Tact

"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." -Titus 2:6-8

Have you ever been around someone who believed slightly different than you? Every day we encounter those with different beliefs that us.

In an age where the idea of relativity and absolutes co-exist, it is essential that we speak other people's language. If we act in an inflexible or graceless manner, we can easily turn people off to the gospel. Likewise, we cannot speak "Christianese" and expect other people to understand what we mean.  

Rather, if we use discernment and ask the Holy Spirit what the person needs, there is a far greater likelihood we will speak their language and meet their need, even if the door is not fully open to share the message of Jesus.

I met with a lady one day who expressed that her gifts were a bit out of the norm.  She had learned to temper her gifts (the spiritual fruit of self-control), so that people could effectively receive what she was communicating.  We must remember it isn’t about our gifts and talents - it is about what God wants to say to His beloved creation, in a manner in which they can receive it.

There is a time for speaking boldly; there is a time to stand up for the truth.  But, in order to model the love of Jesus, we always need to ask ourselves, "Will my actions draw people toward Him, or will they repel them from Him?" 

If we can answer that our actions will draw people closer to their heavenly Father, then we are  truly putting His kingdom first.

Absolute Truth

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'". – John 1:6

Sometimes I have a difficult time talking to friends who question God’s goodness because they believe in something other than, or in addition to, the gospel. 

“Why would God send good people to hell?” they query.  “Why won’t Muslims or Buddhists go to heaven? Your God is so close-minded!”

The sad thing is the lack of understanding of God’s goodness.  God doesn’t send people to hell – we choose where we go.  He provided a way out through His Son, Jesus Christ, so that, “none would perish, but could have eternal life.”- John 3:16

Imagine that a friend of yours was telling you how to get to their house.  They gave very specific instructions as to the way to get there, but you said, “Oh no, that’s alright – I can get there myself my own way.”  You would never get to the place your friend intended for you to go.  You would, in fact, be lost. 

Our generation is the biggest believer in relative truth.  “Do what feels good, as long as it doesn’t affect someone else,” we say.  We rely a lot on grace.  Now, I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with freedom in Christ - that is one of the main benefits of our salvation in Him.  But, when we believe in something other than, or in addition to, the truth, it sets us up for yokes of bondage limiting us to the full potential of God’s grace and power to accomplish great things in our lives.

Do you believe in an absolute truth?  If you are uncertain, ask God today to reveal it to you, and reveal the reason why.  Often if we do not have the why behind the truth, we are less likely to know how to tell others why we believe the way we do.  Ask Him- He will show you. 

God Is My Source

 

"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein." -PSALM 24:1 NKJ

Not a job, not an opportunity, not a relationship, and not a circumstance.
 
I was offered an opportunity at a global company known for excellence in advertising. They had won many awards, and were highly respected in the industry. The position I was applying for would not have been the most appealing job in the world, but I applied anyway since friends and family were excited and the company was highly respected and well-known.
 
Somewhere deep down I knew however that this opportunity was not the best one for me. The money was appealing. So was the location. The company was part of a beautiful highrise in downtown Atlanta. And, after a time, I began to justify all the reasons why I should be working there. I thought for certain they were going to offer me the position, especially since they had been the ones who had asked me to apply!
 
But then, a strange thing happened. A week went by. No response. Two weeks went by. Nothing. At the end of the second week I thought, "Maybe I should send an email, just to follow up." But, my quiery was answered before the email was sent. "I'm sorry, but we are writing to let you know the position has already been filled." "GEEZE!" I thought, "After all that!"
 
Their response really affected me. But what I realized through the experience was that I had come to place my faith in the JOB and not in GOD to make the right thing happen. If I had placed my faith in God I probably would have moved on sooner and had recognized my initial gut-response, but because I had placed my faith in the job I considered the opportunity the "be-all-end-all" of my future.
 
The same is true in many other aspects of life. Meeting goals at work, relationships, opportunities, circumstances -- God must be our source. If He's not, we end up worshipping the "thing", and our livelihood becomes dependent on that thing, instead of on God. It's a dangerous way to live.
 
Let God be your source today. When we place our trust in Him, we can rest assured that He has everything under control, and outcomes are determined by Him alone.

Embracing His Lordship

"Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." -Phil 2:9-12

Each of us comes from a different spiritual background, with perhaps a different perception of who Jesus is.  Some of us have only known God as our all powerful God, a God to be reverently feared, while some say that through Jesus we can be friends of God. Both are true, however sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that because we are God's friend everything (including our sin), is accepted by Him. This is a dangerous presupposition.

If we were to think about a romantic relationship, the two parties of the romance must decide at some point, that if they are to go further in relationship, they will be choosing each other and not another people who could have held their interest before.  Now their relationship is exclusive - with one choosing the other, and not someone else.  It is much the same in our relationship with God.

Sometimes there will be things we'll need to sacrifice in order to make Him Lord of our lives. The Bible says those who practice "sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these" (Gal 5:19-21) will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Don't let this be you!  

"You say, 'I am allowed to do anything' - but not everything is good for you. And even though 'I am allowed to do anything,' I must not become a slave to anything." -1 Corinthians 6:12
 
It all comes down to what we are following. Are we following our sinful desires or God's Holy Spirit? As sons and daughters of God we are called to a higher standard. And although we need to live in "God consciousness" vs "sin consciousness", we need to be sure that there isn't any sin that is holding us back, or holding us hostage.

Have you embraced Jesus as the Lord of your life today? 

A Spirit-Fueled Life

“...and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”  -Luke 3:22

Pastor Dean Sweetman, senior pastor of Christian City Church Atlanta, wrote a book called “Direct Connect:  Understanding and Getting to Know the Holy Spirit.”  In this book he describes the “most misunderstood” person of the Trinity:  The Holy Spirit. 

He says of the Holy Spirit, “A vital relationship with the Holy Spirit is, without doubt, the most potent weapon any believer can have today.” (p. 7)

Many in the body of Christ believe that the infilling power of the Holy Spirit was just for New Testament times, for the purpose of birthing the church that exists today.  Some people even believe He is New Age!  However, this belief leaves Christians devoid of power.  It renders us helpless to minister the very thing that can change people’s lives:  The presence of the Holy Spirit. 

How can we live a Spirit-fueled life? Here are a few ideas:

• Hang out with others who have the Spirit working in their lives
• Go to services that teach about the Holy Spirit
• Spend alone time with God - worshipping & seeking Him

The Holy Spirit, God’s presence in our lives, is the oil that keeps us fueled.  Before Jesus began His ministry, He was filled with the Holy Spirit.  We cannot effectively minister to others without the Holy Spirit.

Are you a vessel that is filled with the Holy Spirit’s oil?  Make sure you are filled with God’s presence, so that you can be a reflection of His glory in your life. 

Caught vs. Taught

"Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." -Matthew 4:19

 

When I first started going to church where I am going now, I was struck by their emphasis on relationship. I, being a super melancholy (personality type) only child couldn't wrap my head around all this relationship stuff. We were there for God, right?

But this emphasis on relationship was because they knew the Christian life was better caught than taught- meaning: you can't really know how to do something you read out of a book. You have to be shown. Then you have to do it. Then you'll know.

Now, there's nothing wrong with reading books. And there is certainly nothing wrong with reading the Bible. In fact it would be wrong not to. But the cool thing was the things the people were doing were lining up with the books I was reading about God (including the Bible). I now get my coolest revelations by hanging out with people, either by something I am saying to them that I hadn't thought about before, or something they say to me, that may not necessarily be meant toward me.

Jesus said "Come and follow Me". The disciples walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, ate with Jesus - they did everything with Jesus. They did life together. In this process, the disciples were able to 'catch' what it was Jesus was showing them. This is why it's soooo important that our actions match our words as Christians. Verbal communication encompasses just 10% of communication. The majority of our communication lives within our actions.

There is a transfer that occurs in relationship with others who love God that shapes the course of our destiny for good.

No one should be an island. Is there someone you can think of who could help you further in your faith, or who excels at something you want in your life? Try to get around that person. Life is better caught than taught.

Information vs. Revelation

“I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.”  -Galatians 1:12

Have you ever gotten a revelation before?  A revelation is different from just receiving information. I remember when I got the revelation that God really did love me... my life has never been the same!

There is plenty of information going around in the world, and in churches too.  But what about revelation?  How do we know when we’ve received a revelation?  You’ll know that you’ve received a revelation on something when you receive something powerful in your spirit, along with the words that are being expressed.  Revelation comes through the heart, while knowledge comes through the mind.  However, revelation, if it’s truly revelation, will not only change our hearts, but it will also renew our minds. Getting a revelation transforms us, helping us become more like Christ.

How can we get revelation, or - how can we give it to others?  In the Bible, it says revelation was given by the spirit.  We can share the revelations we have received with others, so that they will receive the same revelation too.  But, there will be people in your life that may not get the same revelation even if you tell them about it.  Revelation is caught, not taught - and can be received in church services, in prayer, or at any time we are attune to God’s voice in our lives. True revelation will always align with the plumb line of God’s word. 

Have you gotten a revelation lately?  I pray each of us receive regular revelation, not just information, concerning the things of God, so that we and others might be truly transformed.

Having a Biblical Worldview

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." -Hebrews 4:12

According to research, the majority of Americans consider themselves Christians.  (Seventy-six to eighty percent, respectively.)  But, very few of us have a biblical worldview.
What is a biblical worldview?  By and large, it means that our beliefs align with that of the Bible.  Barna.org defines a biblical worldview as the following:

• Believe that absolute moral truth exists
• That the source of moral truth is the Bible
• That the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches
• That eternal spiritual salvation cannot be earned
• That Jesus lived a sinless life on earth
• That every person has a responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others
• That Satan is a living force, not just a symbol of evil
• And finally, that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful maker of the universe who still rules that creation today

According to Barna.org, just five percent of us have a biblical worldview. Why is it important to have a biblical worldview?  When we believe with all our heart the truth about Jesus, and we are aware of the enemy’s plan to steal our destiny, we are much better equipped to fulfill the call God has placed on our lives.  There are wonderful depths to God that we may never know, but believing these truths sets us up to live out a passionate faith, versus a luke-warm religion.

Why not seek God at a deeper level today?



Source:  http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/174-most-adults-feel-accepted-by-god-but-lack-a-biblical-worldview?q=biblical+worldview


 

Religion Trips Us Up

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses."  Galatians 5:16-18

Have you ever heard the story of the big red button?  I used to see it often in cartoons as a kid.  The cartoon character is presented with a situation in which there is a "big red button" he or she was not allowed to touch, and sooner or later they can't help themselves. 

I think this is a lot like religion versus a relationship with God.  When we're living in religion, we’re bound by a set of rules that we have to live by in order to be accepted by God and others in our faith.  The success or failure of our religion is based upon our ability to perform certain activities or refrain from certain ones based on the nature of what our faith law says.  But Jesus came so we wouldn't have do that at all on our own.  He was the fulfillment of the law, and yet set us free from it.  He came first so that we might have life, and life more abundantly.  He came to set us free! 

"When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit."  Romans 7:5&6

If we feel bound, I think it means we have not fully embraced the resurrection life that God desires for us.  Jesus sets us free from a list of rules and regulations, but we learn how to follow them when we simply place our trust in Him.  Our sanctification is God-birthed, versus self-birthed.  Sooner or later, we have no desire to press the big red button, because Jesus fills our hearts in every area that lacks.

Are you living under religion or are you led by the Holy Spirit?

Battleground of the Mind

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” -Romans 8:6 

Has your mind ever gotten the best of you?

Every day, there is a great temptation to believe the worst about someone or something that has happened to us.  Even greater, is the temptation to believe the worst of God, that due to something that has happened or not happened; that He is not good, and He is not on our side.

It is so true that our minds are a battlefield.  The enemy uses this battlefield to gain ground - to try to use things and situations that have happened to us to turn us away from God.  He reminds us of our past, brings up regrets, and brings others to mind who we think have it better than we do, all to get us off track.  He tries to discourage us from the things that are important to us.  The enemy wants us to be nothing more than worms, thinking negative, discouraging thoughts, all the time!  He doesn’t want us to inherit the destiny that God has planned for us.  His greatest weapon is to knock us out of faith and trust, straight into doubt and discouragement.

Perhaps there are people who do have it better than us.  Perhaps what happened to us was indeed really bad! But when all we can think about is the fact that everyone has it better than us, we are letting our mind and the enemy get the better of us.  Therefore, it is essential that we thank God every day for the thing or things that are good in our lives, (even if it doesn't seem like a lot).  Even if it doesn't seem good to us, there is always someone who is going to be worse off than us. We have to train our minds to think faith-filled thoughts, instead of negative ones. We have to fill our minds with scripture. We need to put ourselves around people who can encourage us, and whom we can encourage too. 

Don’t let your mind get the better of you.  Pray that God will help you fill your mind with good, helpful, and encouraging thoughts - and that this would propel you into the very places that God has ordained for you.

Time to Pray

"But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer."  Luke 5:16

There is no doubt that prayer (or talking with God) is an essential component of a believer's life.  But often we can get caught up in the demands and interruptions of life, and we may or may not spend enough time in prayer.  Truthfully, how important is prayer?  Is it a make or break situation if we don't pray?  How much time should we devote to prayer? 

The truth is, prayer is very important.  Talking with God refocuses our minds, gives us peace, and helps us hear from God on important matters that we could otherwise miss if we did not take time to talk to God, and be still and listen. I know of many successful men and women who book a time for prayer directly into their schedule, usually during the first moments of the day.  Prayer keeps us in communion with God, and keeps us in belief for the things we are hoping for. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says that we should pray without ceasing! 

Jesus made it a habit of praying - all of the time!  It wasn't until I read the Bible from cover to cover that I realized how much Jesus prayed: 

• "One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night." Luke 6:12 (Just before choosing the twelve disciples)
• "After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray." Matthew 14:23 (Just before Jesus walks on water)
• "After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray." Mark 6:46

"I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours." -Mark 11:24 

Is prayer a daily habit in your life?  

As It Is In Heaven

"And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." -Matthew 16:19
 
You know, God gave us quite an incredible gift when He sent His son Jesus to die for us.  In addition to this free gift of eternal salvation, He also gave us many keys that, when activated, can move mountains on our behalf.  All He said we needed to have was a mustard seed of faith, and to keep asking (Matt 17:20, 7:7).

Recently a friend was going through a really difficult situation.  Something had happened with her place of residence, and she was facing undue eviction!  Understandably, she was very upset.  I said, "You know what?  God doesn't want you to be evicted.  He wants you to have a place to live that is safe and secure.  So since that is His will for you, we should pray that His will be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven." (paraphrase)  So that is exactly what we prayed!

It took several days for a decision to be reached about her eviction, but thankfully, the landlords decided to let her stay!  After she discovered that the motion was halted against her, she told me and we prayed and thanked God for His moving on her behalf.

Is there anything in your life that needs to be, "on earth, as it is in heaven?"  Pray with firm belief that the things you are hoping for will be manifest on the earth.  God can do incredible things through us, if we will believe.

Salty Sweet

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." -Proverbs 16:24
 
What does it mean to be salty or sweet? A friend of mine put together a website that parallels the internal state of our hearts with flavors. I thought it was such a great way to think about guarding our hearts and making sure we stay at a good balance of "salty" and "sweet"! 

I love being around salty sweet people. To me, this means a person who has an understanding of the love of God in their life, (sweet) and also an understanding of His boundaries and revelation (salty). These two words can also parallel spending time with God, as Mary did, (sweet) and also doing the work of God (salty) - as Martha did. Both are essential components of the Christian life. 

However, sometimes when situations get us down, they can allow us to get bitter or sour, instead of salty or sweet. There are many people in the world who are still dealing with past hurts or wounds unable to get past them. (Unfortunately, many of these people are Christians!) When our circumstances are continuously negative, it is easy to question the good nature of God, and allow our hearts to get bitter or sour. But the truth of the matter is, we must learn to forgive and let go. We mustn't let outside circumstances, people, or things dictate our faith or keep us from experiencing God's love in our lives. If we allow Him to, Jesus can heal those things that can turn us bitter or sour so that we will be cleansed and become salty and sweet instead. We don't need to leave people with a bad "taste" in their mouth! 

Are you salty and sweet, or are there any areas in your life where you are sour or bitter? Pray and ask God to cleanse your heart from any form of sourness or bitterness. He desires that we be continuously filled with His overflowing love and light.



You can check out my friend Toya's website at http://31flavours.weebly.com/what-flavour-are-you.html!

Preparing for Eternity

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”  -Ecc 3:11

Have you ever noticed how much time we spend planning for our education, planning for weddings, or planning for retirement?  And yet, we rarely think about planning or preparing for our eternal lives - and those will last forever! 

We have such a small amount of time on this earth compared with eternity.  We will spend eternity somewhere, but the question is, where, and also, how? 

If we’ve accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior the first question has been answered. However, there is a difference in how each of us will spend our lives in heaven.

The Bible says we will receive rewards in heaven based upon our works and faith during our time here on earth.  (1 Peter 1:17, Matt 24:46 ) This has a lot to do with fulfilling the calling God gave to us, (Luke 12:43, Luke 19:17) taking care of the people around us, taking care of the poor and orphans, (Mark 9:41) (and whether we do this for the applause of men, Matt 6:1), loving our enemies, (Luke 6:35) the persecution we have undergone because of our faith, (Matt 5:12) and living out His word.  (2 John 1:8)

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” -Matthew 5:11-13

Some people think we are physical beings headed for a spiritual place.  But, the reality is, we are spiritual beings living temporarily in a physical place. Are you busy preparing for your reward in heaven?