Balance!

On my perpetual calendar, “Spiritual Refreshment for Women,” for October 22nd was this statement:

Salvation is hard work!  Not only did it require Jesus’ crucifixion for our sins, but we have a part in the effort, too.  We have to live out the commands in God’s Word that make our faith have an impact on the world.

In our Christian walk, there needs to be balance.  Ephesians 2:8  tells us that,”… by grace  you have been  saved, through faith– and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God  not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Our part in salvation is pointed out  in John 15:5 where Jesus says, “…if a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.”  We are called to remain in Christ and bear fruit.  Fruit that comes by walking with Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives .  Christ calls us to grow up.  To look less and less like the world and more and more like his example.  This is the hard work we must do in cooperation with God’s grace.

As Christians we are all at different points in our spiritual journey.  But where ever our starting point, scripture is clear that no one who encountered Christ remained unchanged.    And so it should be in our lives. There should be change, not from rules, but from the inside with the renewal of our minds by the Holy Spirit, revealing himself in our daily lives.

Quotes!

It Is Well ….

Quotes!

Quotes

Quotes

The Antidote For Doubt

God has a theme message going in my life.  This devotion is another reminder to me to be thankful and praise God.  May it bless you as it did me!  Thanks Joyce Meyer!

No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question)concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God.  Romans 4:20

From Joyce Meyer’s devotional, “Love out Loud”:

You may know the story of Abraham( see Genesis 12:1-17, 21;7).  Basically, God promised Abraham a son, but at the time, he was one hundred years old and his wife was ninety, so their childbearing years were long gone!  But Abraham knew God had spoken and was determined not to focus on the natural impossibility that he and Sarah could have a child.  Instead, he planted his faith in God’s promise and held on to that promise by praising God.  His story is so remarkable that Paul made reference to it in Romans 4:18-21.

Abraham had absolutely no reason to hope.  In fact, if any situation has ever been beyond hope, it would be the possibility of two people past ninety being able to have a biological child.  Nevertheless, Abraham kept hoping: he kept believing God’s promise.  He did not waver in his faith or question God’s promise.  Instead, “he grew strong and was empowered by faith” as he praised God.

The same thing will happen when you praise God.  You gain more and more strength, your faith increases, and the things that are coming against you to defeat you are dissipated as you praise Him.  That’s why it’s important to be diligent to listen to praise and worship music.  I encourage you to play it in your home and in your car; learn songs and sing them; thank God and praise Him!

Love God Today; God never responds to complaining, but He does respond to praise and an attitude of gratitude.