The Amplified version of Psalm 1:1 says: BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. (Psalm 1:1 AMP)
In short, stay away from sin and anyone or anything that can cause you to sin against God!!
This is not easy to do in a society with such high moral decline.
Remember the children's Bible song, "be careful little eyes what you see....". The song goes on to tell us to be careful what you hear, what you do, where you go, and what you say. Put another way, we cannot underestimate the power our senses have on our moral character!!
A well known quote offers this warning: 'Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'
God loves you and wants to bless your life, but He can't live where there's corruption and immorality - clean up your input, influences, and your choices and expect God's blessing as a reward!!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Blessing & Favor
The LORD makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up. (1 Samuel 2:7 NLT)
God lifted Esther up out of obscurity to save a nation - God's supernatural blessing & favor was on her every step of the way. She was confident, obedient, & hopeful. Things would have gone drastically different had she veered from God's plan... changing the course of history as we know it! Do you want God's favor & blessing on your life? OBEY GOD which always means stepping outside your comfort zone, going against what you "feel" like doing sometimes, and even enduring extended periods of trial or waiting which are equally difficult, right?
What you don't want is for God to remove His favor & blessing and leave you to your own devices. A life without the Lord is a life not worth living! It's a life in vain!
Live with purpose! If you belong to God, you've been chosen & you know who you are!! It is your job to show the lost world a different way!!
God lifted Esther up out of obscurity to save a nation - God's supernatural blessing & favor was on her every step of the way. She was confident, obedient, & hopeful. Things would have gone drastically different had she veered from God's plan... changing the course of history as we know it! Do you want God's favor & blessing on your life? OBEY GOD which always means stepping outside your comfort zone, going against what you "feel" like doing sometimes, and even enduring extended periods of trial or waiting which are equally difficult, right?
What you don't want is for God to remove His favor & blessing and leave you to your own devices. A life without the Lord is a life not worth living! It's a life in vain!
Live with purpose! If you belong to God, you've been chosen & you know who you are!! It is your job to show the lost world a different way!!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Breach the Dam
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14 NIV84)
3 things that will cause strife in your life: wrong words @ the wrong time, pride which says we must have the last word, & convincing others of our opinions. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). If you have strife, pray for a heart that says, "I don't need to be heard or right all the time". Arguments rarely lead to an agreement. The enemy uses them to put wedges in our relationships. Even if the other person is wrong, you standing your ground rarely leads to a God-glorifying end.
Here are 3 constructive ways to solve conflict/strife:
1). Tell the person you care for them too much to argue with them. Plan to discuss it in a constructive way at a later time when emotions are not heated.
2) Simply agree to disagree and don't bring it up anymore.
3. Practice humility which says, " I'm not always right or have the right motives". You can still share and stand on the truth without fighting for your rights.
It is impossible to have a conflict-free life!! But you can continue to please the Lord in your conflict by choosing the right words, attitudes, actions, & reactions. Remember that only God has to know who is right and that He ultimately is the judge of people's hearts. So, zip your lips & breach that dam!!
3 things that will cause strife in your life: wrong words @ the wrong time, pride which says we must have the last word, & convincing others of our opinions. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). If you have strife, pray for a heart that says, "I don't need to be heard or right all the time". Arguments rarely lead to an agreement. The enemy uses them to put wedges in our relationships. Even if the other person is wrong, you standing your ground rarely leads to a God-glorifying end.
Here are 3 constructive ways to solve conflict/strife:
1). Tell the person you care for them too much to argue with them. Plan to discuss it in a constructive way at a later time when emotions are not heated.
2) Simply agree to disagree and don't bring it up anymore.
3. Practice humility which says, " I'm not always right or have the right motives". You can still share and stand on the truth without fighting for your rights.
It is impossible to have a conflict-free life!! But you can continue to please the Lord in your conflict by choosing the right words, attitudes, actions, & reactions. Remember that only God has to know who is right and that He ultimately is the judge of people's hearts. So, zip your lips & breach that dam!!
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