Is your relationship with God like a spare tire? You only look for Him in emergencies? Or like a doctor? And you reach out to him when you’re ill?
Or- is He more like the air you breathe? And you depend on Him constantly.
In the Bible, Rehoboam's spiritual life was like a spare tire, when things went wrong, he looked for God, when they went well, he forgot about Him. Like the words of the Prophet Hosea,
“I fed them, and they were full, and once satisfied, they became arrogant and forgot about me.”
If at the moment, things are going well for you; you have food, you’re in good health; I advise you to remember where every good and perfect gift comes from. Don’t wait to have a relationship with God when things go wrong. Praise Him in the storm and in the sunshine.
If you’ve ever had an injury that required some form of physical therapy, chances are that you were helped by someone who studied Kinesiology. This is the study of mechanics and anatomy of human movement. These physical therapists won’t force your body to move but will guide and encourage a better range of motion as you heal.
This is much like how God interacts with us. As we allow ourselves to be shaped by Him and become more like Christ- He will never force us to behave in a particular way but instead, as we learn His voice- will gently guide and encourage our steps.
If you’re looking for direction, be in prayer and listen to His quiet invitation to move.
If we know the purpose of our life, if we know both- where we came from and where we’re going. Then we’re prepared to be instruments in the hands of Almighty God.
The author, Jason Jimenez says, “Think of a disagreement with a Christian friend as more like a baseball game than a boxing match. There will be swinging- but not at each other”.
Have you ever been lost? Do you feel lost in life now? Lacking direction? The good news is that God already has a plan for your life. Ask our Heavenly Father for wisdom and He will help you get back on track.
How do we place a value on ourselves? If social media has something to say about it- it’s in likes and follows, right? Don’t let outside forces tell you your worth.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it may be time to take a step back and see if there’s anything you’re juggling that you should let go of- or pass on to someone else.
You can do a better job with less- than when you’re stretched too thin.
If you’re hoping money will fix all of your struggles- reach out to our Heavenly Father instead. In Christ, He can introduce you- not to fleeting happiness, but true joy.
What does the word happy mean to you? The Merriam-Webster definition is that happiness is “characterized by well-being and contentment.”
I’m sure we can all agree that usually the state of being content comes and goes depending on our circumstances. The truth that I’ve discovered is that happiness isn’t a destination but a journey. It’s not something we find, but something we create.
Every day is truly a gift. Sometimes these gifts are obvious. Other times these blessings are hidden in the trials we face. But these gifts are always there waiting to be discovered.
If you’re looking for a key to unlock more happiness in your life- start with gratitude. It helps us appreciate what we have, and therefore helps us stay content. True happiness isn’t found in material things but in the love and peace of God.
Are you in a difficult season right now? Unfortunately, even being a new creation in Christ doesn’t grant us a trouble free life. Do you look at your to-do list and feel overwhelmed? Problems at work? Relationship troubles? I promise, that even if it feels like God has distanced Himself from you during this time nothing could be further from the truth.
So, in the midst of these hard times reach out to God and know He has not forgotten about you. In the Bible, Isaiah chapter 41 in the Message says,
“I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.”
Calm you anxieties by taking refuge in your Heavenly Father. He is right there with you.
Since the creation of the ID or driver’s license it’s been the goal of many underage troublemakers to get their hands on a fake ID. It may have their picture but someone else’s name and more importantly their age. Usually it’s to buy alcohol underage or to get into a club. However, depending on the circumstances, using a fake ID can land you in jail for up to a year!
When it comes to our faith, are we who we claim to be? Maybe we claim to be a new creation in Christ but we continue to act like our old selves. If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your savior but continue to act like you don’t know Him, the fake ID you’re carrying is that of a person who was crucified with Christ.
Toss that old ID and live out who you are in Christ.
Life doesn’t always work the way we think it should. High expectations slam against unwelcome surprises. At those times it’s hard to feel the presence of God.
If He is everywhere and loves us like he says he does, why does he allow the loss of a job or home or a loved one?
God has gone to great lengths to make himself known to us—
through the Bible, through his people, through nature, and through his only Son who died for us.
The author and speaker, Dr. Joel Muddamalle (Mood-am-AL-Lay) says that every time he asks, “Why”, God reminds him,
Who created and sustains all things? Who defeated death? Who comforts us in our pain and sorrow? To all of these questions- we answer, our Heavenly Father.
Joel goes on to say that every time someone asks the question “why do bad things happen to good people” he answers,
“God, I don’t know. But you do. And that will be good enough for me.”
A lot of us avoid reading the Old Testament because we find the God depicted there scary and remote. We look for ways to make Him more tolerant, less stern.
But the truth is that God has always had relationship with people based on their covenant. God seeks intimacy with His people, but it must be on His terms.
When Moses and his people reached Mount Sinai on the way to the Promised Land, God spoke to Moses. It was there that God made a covenant with Moses and the Jewish people that renewed the one he had made with Abraham. But there were a lot of terms to this relationship.
In Christ, we too have a covenant with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Unlike anything found in the Old Testament. We now have the privilege of approaching God one on one. How is your relationship with your Heavenly Father?
