Strength in Unity

Romans 8:35 (NKJV) Who shall separate us from the love ofChrist? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, ornakedness, or peril, or sword?

I grew up in a family of 6 boys and1 girl, there were plenty of times where we didn’t want to get along, therewere plenty times we didn’t want to talk to one another, plenty of days wherewe would fight, but despite how we felt, we understood one principle. Ourgreatest strength was in our ability to remain united.  There was a saying within our neighborhood,don’t mess with them because if you mess with one you mess with all.  The only time we were able to be touched was separately.

Romans 8:35 gives a clear depictionof how many different ways the enemy will try to separate you from the love of Christ. He will attempt to attack us through tribulation,distress, persecution, famine, nakedness (exposure), peril (threats) or evenwords.  As siblings we knew our strengthwas in our unity; likewise, our strength against the enemy is within our unitywith Christ.  The enemy will try to do whateverhe can to break the chain of unity we have with Christ.   This day, reinforce your unity with Christand let the enemy know you are convinced nothing will separate you from His love.   

Be Content

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

I’m a goal oriented person, always seeking to improve myself.  When I use to cook, I bought dozens of cookbooks and would challenge myself to cook something new once a week.  Now that I’m heading towards consuming raw foods, I’m constantly looking for the best raw foods around.  When I first bought my elliptical, I challenge myself to go 2 miles.  Now I’m up to 6.  You may think that this is a contradiction to today’s scripture.  Yes, it may appear that way, but the truth is – it’s not.

I know what it is not to be content.  I use to be that way.  No matter what, I always found something to complain about.  Now that I have learned to accept myself and what I can do through Jesus being in my life – I found peace and contentment.  This does not mean I should not strive to be or to do better.  Contentment is not a matter of being content with your plight or prosperity in life and thereby giving up on improving you or your situation.  It’s being able to accept yourself and what you can do through Christ – which is – all things!

Today – choose not to focus on what’s wrong.  Be thankful about who you are in Christ, and all the wonderful things you can do and can be because of Him

God Will Meet Your Needs

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)

In this time of economic uncertainty for some, the believer should rest in the comfort of trusting this scripture.  It is important for you to always remember that it is God who sustains and takes care of you.  Your job is a resource provided by God, but God is the source of where the job comes from.  Even if your job is terminated or cut back on hours you must be assured that God has a covenant with you that will not fail because His word changes not.  However, you must do your part and identify your needs versus your wants.  A need is something essential to sustain your livelihood and a want is something you desire but do not necessarily have to have.  Sometimes you can become discontent with God because all of your “wants” are not being met but understand during this season that God wants to find you faithful over a few things so He can bless you with much more.  Be faithful over what you have and give to God generously and He will generously give to you.

 

Free Yourself

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

There are so many ways a person can become bitter.  There are so many different scenarios in which we have experienced hurt, pain and abuse causing bitterness to appear in our lives.  If we allow that bitterness to take root and grow, it will grow uncontrollably.  There is no such thing as compartmentalizing bitterness.  When we fail to forgive those who have hurt us – we spread that hurt around and “defile many”.  We hurt others even when we don’t mean to.  Bitterness becomes our prison, and our actions, attitudes, and behaviors become rooted in bitterness.

Even if we have good reasons to harbor bitterness, the writer of Hebrews lets us know that we can be freed through the grace of God.  We need not stay imprisoned.  We can free ourselves through forgiveness, by showing grace.  God doesn’t live in bitterness.  He lives in grace.  And He expects us to do the same.  A few years ago, I realized that I was a prisoner to bitterness, holding on to something that happened over 30 years ago.  When I decided to show grace and forgive – I was freed.

Today, if you are facing a decision to stay a prisoner to bitterness or to free yourself through showing grace to the person who has hurt you – free yourself and forgive.

Guard Your Heart

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)

Solomon is the author of this particular psalm.  How ironic that Solomon the man who had 700 wives and 300 concubines penned the words that speak to us today.  Solomon’s heart was turned toward his love of women over his love of God which eventually leads him to worship the gods of his many wives. Solomon’s heart was not fully devoted to God as the heart of his father David had been.  We all must guard our heart against desires that will take us off the path that God has for us. 

What has taken your attention away from serving God with all your heart, mind and soul?  Are you setting your affections on things above?  If you had a sit down conversation with God about your heart’s desire would it be pleasing to God?  Do not allow your wellspring of life to be stopped up by the issues of life that come to make your heart hard. People hurt other people, things do not work out the way that we plan and disappointments can cause you to close off your heart to others.  If this has happened to you ask God to heal your heart and give you discernment to guard your heart and move forward with your life.

Winning Skills

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)

Most people have a negative view of failure, thinking that it negates success.  A healthier and more accurate view is that failure is a step towards success.  If we understand this – we can view obstacles and setbacks as nothing more than a way to hone our winning skills.  This is exactly what Paul did when faced with obstacles and setbacks.  Paul never threw in the towel or gave up; he simply took those moments to press forward and persevere despite of everything.  For example, when Paul was in the city of Philippi, he encountered a slave girl and casted out of her an unclean spirit.  Because of this, he was imprisoned.  During his setback, Paul did not sit in his prison cell complaining or plotting revenge.  Instead he forgave the injustice and wholeheartedly focused on God, which ultimately led to the salvation of the jailer and his entire family.

Today, let us not view obstacles or failures negatively.  Let us view them as opportunities for us to sharpen our winning skills, for us to forget past hurts, focus on future successes, and press towards the person we are to be in God – holy and righteous.

Step Back and Listen

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,  slow to speak,  slow to wrath; (James 1:19 NKJV)

While my son was a baby, whenever he wanted something, he would cry out and for a while I couldn't understand what he wanted and it frustrated me.  It would bother me to the point to where I would find myself yelling at him out of frustration.  There were times where he would cry because he was hungry, there were times he cried because he was sleepy or he was scared and only wanted me to pick him up, but because I was quick to anger, quick to speak and slow to listen, I lashed out in my frustration.  Crying was his only form of communication and I didn’t speak that language, but as I grew in my role as a parent, I learned to step back and listen.  When I stepped back to listen, I paid close attention to the entire scene of the situation and as a result, I was able to discern what he wanted.

One of the easiest ways to get you to slip and to fall into sin is to get you to act out of anger. Consumed with anger it is nearly impossible to think clearly and respond in love. Today, before you react to that thing that tweaks you the wrong way, step back, be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger and you will increase your ability to respond in love. 

Much love