"Pray about it"

We pray in all circumstances, situations, and decisions. God does not want us to act as people filled with worry, fret, and fear over the impending decisions of life. When we worry we take the focus off God and place it on ourselves. Because we fear that we will make the wrong decision, the situation will turn out horrible, or the circumstance will take a turn for the worse. But prayer places our trust back in the hands of God knowing the whatever the outcome of the circumstance, situation, or decision God will receive the glory. 

We pray before we do anything because we are not seeking to do our will but seeking the Will of the Father (Matthew 6:10). Every decision should start with prayer because we are waiting for God's Spirit to give us guidance on what we are to do. He will direct us on how to handle a particular situation in a way that will bring God Glory. He will keep us content in Christ regardless of our current circumstances.

Prayer should lead us to give thanks to the Lord for His Goodness, Kindness, and Mercy towards us. Thanksgiving acknowledges that regardless of the outcome our God will get the glory. Thanksgiving replaces our complaints with praise and changes our despair to hope.

When we go to the Lord in prayer and give Him the praise we are overcome with an unshakable peace. God's Peace captivates our hearts and causes our worries to end. Even if our circumstances have not changed, our situation continues to persists, and we still do not know what to do God's Peace is His Spirit giving us the assurance that we are not forgotten or forsaken. But if do not go to Lord in prayer we will never experience His unfathomable peace. So whatever decision you must make, whatever your circumstance are, and whatever situation you are in take to the Lord in prayer and give Him the praise.

Philippians 4:6-7


"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable.

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Trusting a quiet God

Silence does not mean God has not answered you. I often find when I pray for God to be glorified in a situation in my life I have no need for a sign or to hear audibly from God. Because I am confident that regardless the outcome, God's Will, will be done. And the method He chooses to do His Will is of no concern to me. I give God thanksgiving through praise and I feel an unfathomable peace that over takes me. When we seek God for an answer He is under obligation to answer us but when we seek to know God and bring glory to His Name, He responds with His Peace and directs us by His Spirit.
Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 46:10, 62:1-2,5-6

"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable.

http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/

"The Biggest Loser"

Romans 7:7-8:11

I have lost count of how often I have failed in life. I can't tell you how many times I have succumb to sin instead of of submitting to God. I have truly lost track of all my failures, defeat, and mistakes. The weight of it all at times seems daunting to me. Sometimes our sins are so prevalent from our past and present that we begin to doubt who we are in Christ and we feel condemned. 

The Apostle Paul went through this same inward conflict. The more he dived into God's Word the more he was made aware of the sin in his life ( Romans 7:7). God's Word clearly showed Paul his sinfulness, and despite Paul's best efforts and ability he was powerless against the fight with sin. He did not lack the desire to stop sinning, he lacked the ability to do it (Romans 7:18). Paul longed to please the Lord but every attempt was meet with defeat and failure ( Romans 7:19-20). Paul was stuck in a place he felt he could not get out of, he called himself a "wretched man" because he felt trapped by his own sinful ways (Romans 7:21-24). I can relate to what Paul was going through. Feeling like you cannot get over the hump of a sinful life. You feel like no matter what you do, you will always fail at being a righteous and Godly person. What is the solution, what is the answer?

Paul found The Answer in Jesus (Romans 7:25). Jesus is the answer to our struggle with sin, He alone is our victory! We do not have to feel condemned or carry guilt because through the death of Jesus we are set free (Romans 8:1). He rose our Lord and now we just must set our minds on Him and submit to His Word and not our sinful ways (Romans 8:5-8). So when the temptation to sin comes upon me I turn to God's Word instead of my desire to sin for relief and victory. To stop a fire you don't use gasoline, instead you get a fire extinguisher. In the same way, put out the fire of sin with God's Word and submit to it and watch the grave for sinful satisfaction be extinguished. 

Get an accountability partner who will restore you when you are caught up in sin (Galatians 6:1). Fill your heart with God's Word and let His Holy Spirit use it to guide you in the direction you need to go. If you hide God's Word in your heart and are lead by His Spirit it will strengthen you in your fight against sin (Psalm 199:11, Galatians 5:16).

But if you fall into sin, get back up! You are not condemned, you are forgiven. Never forget that. Don't stop fighting the good fight of faith. Don't let a momentary setback become permanent thing. Don't wallow in defeat but celebrate the victory that Christ has given us. Read the Bible daily, pray without ceasing, and accept correction. Stay focused, you can do this!

"In His JOY!"

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Hebrews 11:1, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Time and life pulls on us all. It makes us question what we believe at times. But what are we to do when our eyes betray us? What do we do when our beliefs are in question and we unsure.

1) We pray and ask God to help us with our unbelief (Mark 9:24). It okay to have your cage rattled, you are human. But here is where confess our unbelief and ask the Lord for help to overcome it.

2) We listen to God's truth and not the lies of man, this increases our faith (Roman 10:17). We will listen to "foul mouth comedians", "crazy" preachers, "ungodly" music or even "negative" friends and we wonder why our faith wanes. Sometimes we need to get our ears checked and really focus on what we are listening to. So we read His Word, sing His Word, Pray His Word, and Confess His Word out loud.

3) And lastly we need to trust that God knows what He is doing (Jeremiah 29:11) and commit our way to Him (Psalm 37:5). When we fully give our lives over to the Lord although doubt may surface our faith in Christ will always overcome it. Because we trust Him to guide us with His Word instead of being guided by what we see, hear, or feel (Psalm 119:105).

Stay focused you can do this.

"In His JOY!"