Often I tell people to collect Bible verses to quickly remind them of God’s goodness in a time of need. Because when you’re feeling distressed you don’t have much energy to dig deep. Then it’s a huge blessing to have a first aid kit for weary pilgrims handy. Your own collection of special Bible verses that you know work time after time. Make sticky notes, type notes on your smartphone, collect them in a beautiful box or memorize them. Whatever…
The core element of faith is surrender. Some people don’t think so but Jesus told his disciples that all who want to come after him must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. That is what faith is all about: surrender. And not just once but daily. Because there’s always something new to surrender. As A.W. Tozer has said, “Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.”…
Too often I meet Christians who have not embraced fully the freedom Christ offers to us. Lovely Christian people who are paralyzed by fear of possibly doing something that would keep them away from heaven. Like God’s grace would not be powerful enough to cover them if they are not perfect Christians. Why have they not been told it’s not about their religiosity? It’s about the power of God. We can’t save ourselves no matter how hard we try. Thank…
How has your new year started? Are you reaching your goals? Or are you again doing the same old same old? It is hard to change. Especially, if we try to change on our own. Self-help does not work in long run. We need something more, we need God’s power. Blessedly, that is what God wants to give to his children. God wants to empower us to become what he has created us to be. We are called to live intentionally…
Very often we think salvation is the end result. That once we are saved, all is done. But, actually, salvation is the start of a fruitful life. We are called to love and serve God. We are most satisfied and blessed by doing so. But when we live far from God, we don’t have the desire to serve anybody else but ourselves. That’s why, when we are not right with God, we are unable to serve. Thankfully that changes in God’s…
This month, I’ve been partaking in a challenge of getting rid of stuff. The goal is to get rid of as many things as the date number. The first day you get rid of one thing and on the second day, you part ways with two things and so on. During the month of January, it will around to 496 things all together. Not easy but so good. Getting rid of unused or otherwise unnecessary things makes room for peace…
I love Psalms. My whole life fits in the book of Psalms. It confronts, consoles, and counsels me. And, yes, it lifts my spirit and encourages me to go on with God. It reminds me what is important, who is in charge and why it matters what I choose and how I live. The book of Psalms guides me to the river of pure joy. Your faithful love is priceless, God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings….
What motivates you? Inner motivation beats outer motivation. So if you only do things because other people tell you so, your New Year resolutions won’t last. But if you really want change yourself, you have better chance to succeed. So it is in our spiritual life. It does matter what/who we are motivated by. Watchman Nee points out “Many saints cannot distinguish inspiration from emotion. Actually, these two can be defined readily. Emotion always enters from man’s outside, whereas inspiration originates…
How are you feeling? Are you excited about the New Year or are you dreading it? Have you made resolutions or are you continuing as you were? Whatever you do, be bold in Christ. Approach the New Year – and life in general – with boldness. Not because you are bold. But because God can embolden you. Note the difference! Commit your works to theLord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His…
