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Find Solid Self-Esteem in the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ

By
Keiston France
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self-esteem

In our efforts to achieve high esteem, many of us try to wear the right clothes, drive the right cars, or have the right cell phones. We figure if we have all of the “right” stuff, we will finally feel good about ourselves. We think our teammates will begin to think we are cool.

The problem with having the right material things is that, in a month, week, or even a day’s time, those things will no longer be considered cool. That self-image we thought we could purchase will suddenly be gone.

Consider this. Have you ever worried about saying the right things at the right times, or gotten caught up in worrying about acting the right way? At some point, we have to come to the realization that we can’t please everyone. No matter how hard we try, there will always be someone – a parent, teammate, or acquaintance – who doesn’t approve of what we are doing. There will always be times when we do or say something that we shouldn’t. Because we are imperfect, our constant striving for perfection will eventually wear us out.

Is Your Self-Esteem Tied to Perfection?

PerfectionistsPerfectionism often leads to negative thoughts. We constantly remind ourselves of all the things we have done wrong and all the people we have hurt. We think about all of the times we messed up at practice, or worse, the times we messed up during a big game or competition.

Things get even worse when we start telling ourselves how much we have let God down. We think about all the times when we deliberately disobeyed God and gave into temptations.

This mindset can leave us broken, lost, and alone.

True Self-Esteem is Found in our Lord and Savior

But it doesn’t have to be that way! Jesus Christ came to earth not only to save us from our sins but also to save us from those negative thoughts. And, it is those thoughts that can lead to low self-esteem. Can you see how this is the work of satan? Slowly but surely, he is wearing you down until you crack.

If you need to get out of the habit of thinking negatively, you must first resist the devil so that he will flee from you (James 4:7). Then, you need to meditate on the things God says about you. These are the truths about your life.

Look up the additional Bible verses at the bottom of this devotion. Take a moment to read over them and allow yourself time to reflect and meditate on each one. If you will meditate on these verses throughout the day, the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to stay positive in school, at home, at work, or at practice.

You may still have problems throughout the day, but the Word of God will help you to drive out those negative thoughts and embrace your God-given, Christ-centered, healthy self-esteem. Think about it.

So, What’s The Play Call?

  1. What negative thoughts are plaguing you? How are they separating you from God and His Truth?
  2. Are your negative thoughts preventing others around you from growing spiritually?
  3. Are the negative thoughts of your teammates or coaches keeping you from God’s best? How can you encourage them to be positive?

Post-workout Stretch

John 8:36; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 10:13; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:13; 2 Timothy 1:7

 

Act Like a Follower, Think Like an Ambassador for Christ

By
Brandi Hawthorne
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follower of christ

Every fall, we expect cooler temperatures and our yards to become an array of orange and red.

When the leaves fall to the ground, turn brown, and leave our trees bare, a child may look at that bare tree and think it’s dead. But, experience tells us that the tree is still alive and well. We don’t panic because we know that in a matter of months that tree will be full of beautiful green leaves and bloom once again.

So, why do we get bent out of shape as our lives experience ups and downs, full seasons, and bare seasons? Don’t we understand that just as sure as there’s a valley, there will be a mountain? Or, better yet, there is a valley because there is a mountain.

Why do Ambassadors for Christ Fret or Lose Hope?

God hasn’t forgotten about us (2 Cor. 1:3-5 MSG). In their song, Already There, Casting Crowns reminds us that God is remembering our future. Do you realize what that means?

God has already seen the end of our lives. He’s not upset about what today looks like because He’s seen the next 20 or so years. What seems like a setback to us, He knows is a planned setup. He’s already seen us come through the fire untouched. (Isaiah 43:2, MSG)

I’ve watched Christian teammates go through valleys (myself included) and I know that we don’t always do it with the best perspective.

Here are 3 reasons for you to go through your next trial with unstoppable faith and infectious positivity.

1. Great Gifts Require Great Responsibilities

To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48 MSG). I love to watch the raw footage of the Steve Harvey Show. Steve is always dropping Biblical gems. On a recent video, he said, “If you don’t want the requirement part then God’s gotta pull back on the giving part.”

See, we often want bigger houses without more cleaning and higher utility bills. We want the joys of marriages, but scoff at submission. We want increased salaries but not increased tithe.

In a blog post, Mark Batterson calls these hypocrisies holy complications:

Sin will complicate your life in unholy ways. The blessings of God will complicate your life in holy ways. Part of counting the cost, when it comes to following Christ, is allowing God to complicate our lives in holy ways. Are you willing to allow God to complicate your life?

Are you able to handle the requirement or holy complication that comes with the abundant life you desire?

2. Peculiar Is the New Normal

When my grandmother died, I created a Facebook post with the lyrics of a song written just for her (she was a singer) and a congratulatory message.

It read:

“To a home on God’s celestial shore, in the middle of the air, I’ll live forever more.” Can’t you hear her singing it?

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15)

Congratulations, Grandma.

Was I hurting? Of course. She raised me. Did I wish God would bring her back? Absolutely. But, I wanted to take on God’s perspective. My grandmother had completed her assignment in this alien country and had been called home. No more cancer. No more worrying. No more sin. That was something to celebrate and so whenever I’m feeling sad that she’s gone, I begin to celebrate her crossing the finish line and look forward to the day I, too, will return to God.

3. What Would an Ambassador for Christ Do?

Remaining calm when the world is angry, forgiving when the world holds a grudge, and speaking what we don’t see when the world wants us to gripe and moan about what is set before us isn’t popular. In fact, some people may not want to talk to you while you’re being all disgustingly positive. Where’s the fun in that?

The late Dr. Myles Munroe loved to preach on the Kingdom of Heaven. One of my favorite messages from him was about being an ambassador for Christ. He said:

An ambassador always speaks the position of his government.

So, instead of responding,

“Well, in my opinion…”

An ambassador always responds,

“The position of my country is that…,”                   

Your friends might look at you like you’ve got two heads when you celebrate what seems like misfortunes, but remember that God’s children see with spiritual eyes. If all things are truly working for our good, what is there to complain about?

Remember, we aren’t here to take on the opinions of the world. We’re here to be salt and light. We’re here to represent Jesus. We can’t represent Jesus if we’re agreeing with the world.

So, what’s the play call?

As Christians, we often do a better job of representing Earth than Heaven. We think like the world. We speak like the world. And, we act like the world.

It’s time we begin to think, speak, and act like Heaven. We represent the Kingdom of God.

Persecuted Christians Resettled in US Drop Dramatically Under Trump

By
Christianity Today
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persecuted christians
Christians mourn for 21 Coptic Egyptian men seized by Islamic State militants. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

The United States is on track to welcome the fewest refugees since its resettlement policy was formalized in 1980, by a substantial margin.

Capped at 18,000 people for 2020—the lowest ceiling on record—the US has resettled 7,600 refugees, with only three months left in the fiscal year.

According to a joint report released today by World Relief and Open Doors USA, persecuted minorities representing a variety of religions have been harmed by the decline in resettlement.

“Among those most disadvantaged have been Christian refugees from the countries where Christians face the most severe persecution in the world,” the report states.

So far in 2020, the US has resettled fewer than 950 Christians from the 50 countries where it is hardest to be a Christian, according to Open Doors’s annual World Watch List. At this rate, the US will receive 90-percent fewer Christian refugees this year than five years ago.

For example, the US is projected to resettle only 20 Syrian Christian refugees, 50 Iranian Christians, and 86 Iraqi believers this year, despite their countries ranking No. 11, No. 9, and No. 15 on the 2020 World Watch List.

Historically, the US has welcomed significant numbers of Christian refugees from countries where they are persecuted. For instance, in 2016 the US took in nearly 2,300 Christians from Iran and 2,000 from Iraq.

But the resettlement of Christians from the world’s top persecutors is now a fraction of what it was only a few years ago.

Christians aren’t the only ones suffering. Compared to 2015, US resettlement of Baha’i from Iran, Muslims from Burma, and Yezidi from Iraq have decreased by 98 percent, 95 percent, and 92 percent, respectively.

This marks …

Continue reading…

The Art of Submission is a Beautiful Thing, Don’t Resist It. Here’s Why.

By
Jeannette Tyson
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submission

The term submission is typically brought up in relation to obedience to God and compromise in marriage (by not being selfish). But, there is a lot more to it. We submit ourselves to our jobs, our life schedules, the law, and many other things in life.

Some of us are great at submission. The people who do well academically, those who excel physically and athletically understand the art of submission. Think about people who are full of peace and joy and all the fruit of the Spirit. Anyone who has achieved greatness and success, in any area of their lives, have submitted themselves to the process that was necessary to attain it.

If we want to have physical health we have to submit to proper diet and exercise. If we want to be a great athlete, we have to submit to training and consistent practice. If we want to have financial success, we have to submit to a budget to save and invest. The principal of submission works across the board. When we decide to do something, we have decided to submit to it.

Submission is Beautiful, Embrace It.

submissionFor many of us, submission is a dirty word. For me, it was literally cringeworthy. For as long as I could remember, I was rebellious and wanted to do my own thing. I rationalized that as a human being of sound mind I should be able to act and do as I saw fit.

This didn’t go over well.

I ended up wasting a lot of time and went through a lot of pain because I didn’t want to submit to anything. I thought I was independent and free-spirited when actually I was undisciplined and unfocused.

Not that there was a lack of desire or motivation – I have always been driven – but I didn’t get as far as I could have because I hated submission. I didn’t even realize that I was dealing with this subtle resistance. I was deceiving myself by thinking I could have success without submitting to discipline.

How many of us are not where we know we should be because we refuse to submit to anything?

Submission Beautifies Our Spiritual and Natural Lives

The Bible says in Psalm 128:2, “You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you”. Psalm 90:17 says, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands”. Proverbs 14:23 says, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty”. Romans 12:11 says, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit…”.

As we can see, our spiritual and mental lives are impacted by submission just like our natural lives. When we submit our heart, mind, and soul to the will of God, we bear all the fruit of the Spirit. If there is any emotional instability, then work to submit your mind to what the Word says. Then, the joy of the Lord will be your strength (Psalm 28:7).

Depression, fear, torment, confusion – they all must be submitted to the Lord. Here is a paradox: Submission is the key to happiness and success; even though submission may feel like a prison, it brings us into freedom both spiritually and naturally. The world glorifies self-will and independence, but the Word says that we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).

Reasons Why We Resist Submission

There are different reasons why we struggle to submit, but I believe it’s based in pride and arrogance. Submission takes humility. Rebellion tells us that we don’t need the process, that we’re smart enough to do it our own way. So, we start and stop project after project, unable to commit to anything but our own whims.

We follow our heart and allow the way we feel to dictate what we do. The worst part about living this way is the condemnation that comes with the impulsive decisions we make.

I want to challenge anyone struggling to submit to repent and humble themselves to the process of development. We can do this! After you set your mind to change, the Lord will lead you in the next steps that you should take.

He led me to first change my eating. It’s a very basic first step in conditioning my body to have self-control and submit to the requirements of good health.

After eating clean for a few weeks, the Lord had me create a detailed schedule. I schedule time to do everything from studying to self-care and everything in between. This is the way that I am going to hold myself accountable. I’m just getting started and I don’t know what God will have me do next, but I know that if I want real change I have to start with submission.

I confess that I am afraid of failure and disappointment. I worry that I’ll never get it right, but God keeps reminding me that I’m not in this alone. He is my very present help and I have to rely on Him completely every step of the way.

When we finally discover our thorn we begin to fully appreciate our need for God and His grace.

So, What’s the Play Call?

  • Remember that we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).
  • Co-labor with God to overcome rebellion and self-reliance.
  • If we submit ourselves to God, He promised us joy, abundance, and good success.

Be Blessed!

Good Health Cooking: Easy Citrus Vinaigrette

By
Jennifer Hunt, RDN, LD
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Salad dressing is a pretty remarkable condiment.  It has the potential to perk up a dull salad and mingle otherwise singular ingredients into a bowl of flavorful goodness.  This Citrus Vinaigrette does just that.  And, you can shake it up in less than 5 minutes flat.

Every week our family has ‘build-your-own salad night’.  This is a popular dinner because they have the ability to create their own meal.  How much, how little, if any, add more… they get to decide which is quite empowering.  (It also works wonders in homes with selective eaters.)  

I lay out some greens, a variety of veggies that happen to be in my fridge, some animal protein like chicken or salmon, some plant-based protein like edamame or chickpeas, and something crunchy like nuts or seeds.  My girls don’t let me forget the avocado or feta cheese, either.  But the crowning glory, the condiment that brings all those ingredients together is a fresh and flavorful salad dressing.  

This Citrus Vinaigrette is currently my 5-year-old’s favorite dressing and she also likes to help me make it.  Zest and squeeze a navel orange and then add in some rice vinegar, a bit of lime juice, a squeeze of honey, EVOO and a little dijon mustard and you will have a light and bright salad dressing perfect for a build-your-own salad night/perking up your salad greens and crunchy vegetables.

Sweet, tangy, and bright, this Citrus Vinaigrette is perfect over spicy greens like arugula.  But, it’s also just the right dressing for grain and veggie salads like this Quinoa Edamame Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette because the grains soak up all that delicious flavor!

You don’t need any special appliances or a lot of time to shake up a delicious vinaigrette for your family’s build-your-own salad night.  

Citrus Vinaigrette

Easy Citrus Vinaigrette Dressing

Ingredients

½ large orange, juice, and zest
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lime juice, fresh or bottled
1 tbsp country dijon mustard, like Grey Poupon brand
½ tbsp honey, or maple syrup
⅛ tsp kosher salt
⅛ tsp ground black pepper

Directions

Add all ingredients to a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake up until it is well combined. Serve over your favorite greens and veggies.  Double the recipe if you want to make extra for the week!

Store vinaigrette dressing in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.

Makes 3 servings, about 2 tbsps each (makes about 6 tbsps of dressing)

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories 61; Total Fat 4.7g (saturated fat 0.7g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 200mg; Total Carbs 4g; Fiber 0.1g; Sugar 4g (Added Sugar 3g; Naturally Occuring Sugar 1g); Protein 0.1g

Print the recipe here.

Don’t Cry for Your Chains: 4 Ways We Reject Freedom from Bondage

By
Kim Brightness
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freedom from bondage

Freedom from Bondage is Readily Available

I’ve always been fascinated by the Stockholm Syndrome – the behavior where hostages become sympathetic to their captors. Some resist rescue, refuse to testify against their assailants, or in rare cases like Patty Hearst, become an accomplice to their captors’ crimes.

Standing on the outside looking in, most of us couldn’t fathom being sympathetic to those who imprison us, mistreat us, abuse us, or threaten our very life. Just the thought of being captured or imprisoned arouses feelings of revolt, fighting back, or strategizing what we would do to regain our freedom.

It’s interesting how we have a plan for and reject the captors we CAN see.  But what about those hidden captors we can’t physically see, but we know oh so well?

Interestingly, many Christians wake up as willing hostages every day. We are captured by fear, failure, low self-esteem, doubt, the past, and controlled by many other “wardens”.  We wouldn’t pat our kidnapper on the back, or assist a bank robbery in progress, would we? Then, why don’t we have the same intense resistance against, say, blame, or unforgiveness captors as we would physical captors?

Could it be we’re suffering from an internal Stockholm Syndrome?

The Devil is not Your Friend

freedom from bondageThe first thing to note, Team, is that the devil is not your friend (1 Peter 5:8). He is an enemy, and his tricks, schemes, and tactics are never meant for your good.

Jesus paid the high price of His life so that we could be free and stay free.

Did you know that bondage takes a certain level of submission to it? Galatians 5:1 admonishes us to keep ourselves from being “entangled” in the yoke of bondage. If we have the power through Jesus Christ to be free and stay free, why are so many blood-bought believers bound?

Here are some reasons why we forego freedom and remain in bondage.

The (Fake) Tears We Cry for Our Chains, And Why

1. “It’s what I know, and how I’ve lived for so long.” (Length of time served)

The “familiar” takes zero effort, and frankly, many of us are sadly allergic to work.  We’ve been there, know that, lived that – why change?  “My mama was this, my daddy was this, his daddy… it’s who we are.”  False!

No matter how long you’ve been the way you are today, freedom through Jesus Christ is attainable for a better way of life.  Afraid you’ll never “get it”?  Just like you learned and adapted to being surly, malicious, a control freak, or whoever your current Warden is, God’s plan for you includes healing and washing away the stench of your prison, and teaching you to walk, with Love, into your freedom.

2. “I love my Attention, Pity, and Blame (AP&B) Card.” (Prison benefits)

“So, you’re telling me, if I walk into my freedom, I’ll no longer receive all of this attention and pity, and I can’t blame others for my misfortunes anymore?”

That’s right!  Now, how many of you reading this would rush back into your cell and slam the door shut? How many of you value your AP&B card over a get-out-of-jail-free card?  Team, God will never leave you worse off for choosing freedom.  What you thought you would lose is actually the greatest gain of all.

3. “If it were easier, I’d change.” (Rikers vs. County Jail)

I agree. There are levels of suffering, misfortune, and hardships that warrant greater rescue tactics, greater healing, or more time to realize freedom than others. You may think fear is worse than unforgiveness, or pride is worse than lying.  But it serves us more to focus our attention on the power of the Holy Spirit than to compare and magnify all of our logical reasons why we can’t be free.

Is there anything too hard for our God, the Creator of the Universe (Jeremiah 32:27)? No, there isn’t!  Just ask Elie Wiesel, Chong Kim, your family member, or a friend who’s beat unthinkable odds. You can be free, too.

4.  “I like prison.”

Perhaps your stance is: “Leave me alone. I like me this way, this is MY truth.”  To you, beloved, I offer – you will never like your prison more than God LOVES you!  I pray that God sends you an event or someone who shares freedom through Christ in a way that’s real and meaningful to you. You, too, have a date where every chain will be broken!

So, What’s the Play Call?

Don’t cry for your chains. You may know them, you may have grown fond of them, perhaps you’ve even bedazzled them – but know this: There is no such thing as a beautiful prison.

Did Jesus sacrifice His life so that His Team would live in defeat and bondage? God forbid!

Team Jesus is a winning team of Christ-followers who are more than conquerors. Let’s begin to ACT LIKE WE ARE!

Got an appetite for the drama and attention that bondage brings? Ask God to search your heart and lead you to the living waters of Christ, where your mind can be washed and renewed, and the promise of freedom from bondage realized.

Follow God Not Man to Avoid Unexpected Delays

By
Alecia M. White
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follow god

I was driving home from out of town the other evening. It was raining a little and had gotten dark. As I continued on, it began to rain harder, pour even, as if someone was standing on top of my car slinging buckets of water. Now, the visibility wasn’t amazing, okay, it was terrible, but I could still see well enough to make it. I could see car lights up ahead and as I got closer, I noticed that they were all in the right lane, following each other. I am sure they all felt if they could see the lights in front of them, it would be a safer drive.

So, I fell in line, right behind the last car.

After a couple of minutes, I realized that we weren’t really moving and I decided that I would get over in the left lane and just take my chances. It only took about 5 minutes before I was ahead of the long line of cars and semi-trucks, and probably another 10 minutes before I could no longer see them in my rearview mirror at all. They were still following each other, making it safe along their way. 

Follow God Every Step Towards Your Destination

respect the processAlthough my visibility wasn’t superb, it was good enough for me to get over into my own lane and make it through the rain. Yes, it made me think. I know those drivers weren’t necessarily afraid, but cautious.

In life though, it translates differently, and we tend to follow behind others out of fear. That left lane looks pretty scary when you can’t perfectly see what is in front of you. Those buckets of rain make you feel as if you could drown.

So, what do you do? You stay to the right, where you can see those brake lights ahead. I am not saying that your way is wrong, but I am saying that moving in fear will keep you in the back of a moving line that isn’t even going where you’re meant to go.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Moving into your own lane can present some unexpected roadblocks and some buckets of rain, but keep going. You see, where you are destined to go will require you to drift off on your own and into an empty lane.

There may even be a time or two when you look in that rearview mirror and see the line you left behind. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you consider drifting into the left lane: 

  1. Know you were destined to be different. That means you don’t always belong in the same lane as everyone else; your lane may even be going in the opposite direction. “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” Deuteronomy 14:2
  2. Following Christ will get you where you need to be. Those cars in the right lane will get you nowhere if their lane isn’t the one you should be in. Your best bet is to move on over. “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” Psalms 31:3
  3. Do not be afraid of where God is taking you. I could have allowed the intensity of the rain to frighten me and I could have stayed behind that line of cars; that would have also taken me an extra hour to get home. Do not be delayed because you refuse to get over. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
  4. You got this. You even prayed for it. Remember? God created that lane just for you, so He intends for you to travel it. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

As you move on in life, please don’t let the pouring rain scare you into a slow, packed lane that was never meant for you. God will lead and cover you. 

 

There Are No Spiritual Growth Hacks, We’ve Got to Train

By
Keiston France
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spiritual growth

Growing up, sports were my life. When I got to high school, I realized that I had to train with more focus and intensity than previously acceptable. I needed to get bigger, stronger, and faster. Over 95% of an athlete’s time is spent training and less than 5% competing.

Training prepares us for game time. We make sacrifices in order to get better. Tim Tebow says, “Hard work always beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Some athletes want the results without the work, but that’s not the way it works. Our desire needs to be matched by our doing.

Spiritual Growth Takes Time, Effort, and Consistency

fear and worrySpiritually speaking, many of us spend very little time training for life on Team Jesus. Our spiritual growth is spotty at best, and we often wonder why we aren’t farther along in our walk with Christ. Many of us wonder, “Why won’t God put me in the game?” Well, there are reasons. God knows when our spiritual growth is ready for game time (Jeremiah 12:5), and the Holy Spirit is ready to lead us into all Truth (John 16:13) – if and when we make the time to train.

Sure, we call it devotions, but we aren’t very devoted. We call it “quiet time“, but how often do we rush through the calm to tackle the chaos of the day?

If we’re honest, most of us don’t even have a plan. And, our hit-and-miss approach to spiritual growth is littered with excuses that we’re too tired or too busy. We need to put ourselves in position for God to do what only He can do – transform us from the inside out.

We need to show up and put in some spiritual training time. Team Jesus can’t just be a group of weekend warriors. If we want to experience real-life change, we have to train.

Make a sacrifice, get a plan, and show up for the workout. There are no shortcuts to godliness.

We must do the training and let God do the changing. Think about it.

So, What’s The Play call?

  1. What are some things that you could do on a daily basis that will increase your spiritual growth and capacity?
  2. If you could do one thing for maximum spiritual growth and life change, what would you do?

Prayer:

Father, give me the desire and discipline to begin and stick with a spiritual training program that increases the capacity of my heart and soul. When I show up and train, you will bring change from the inside out. Amen.

Post-workout stretch:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”- 2 Peter 1:3-4

 

“They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.” – Hebrews 12:10-12

 

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:12-13

3 Ways to See God at Work Through the Worse Situations

By
Kim Brightness
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see god at work

Sometimes, it’s amazing how our God, who is omnipresent, can seem so MIA in our messiest situations. Life can throw you a fast curveball that leaves you feeling blind-folded and fumbling through the dark at the very time you need to see God at work.

You may ask yourself, “How will I ever make it out of this painful situation – alive? Where are you, God?”

“Come to the window. See, I’m right here.”

See God at Work Through Dirty Windows

see god at workIt would be easier to see God through the window of our circumstances if the glass had a fresh coat of Windex and wiped perfectly clean – no streaks. But, the filth of that heartache, illness, financial struggle has smeared the window and all we can see is the mess it’s made. All we can see and feel is the grime of that messy situation.

Sometimes, we try to help the situation by wiping the grime with our own might (Zechariah 4:6). “If I’m supposed to see God at work in this, maybe I can help Him reveal Himself.” We intervene in our situations by talking too much, putting our hands to work on counterproductive efforts, and trying to manipulate or control the speed of the solution. But, as we take our finger and wipe the glass, it only leaves a greasy smear and makes matters worse.

“Come to the window. See, I’m right here.”

If seeing God at work were that simple, why is the glass of this situation so dark (1 Corinthians 13:12)?

God is Always at Work, Can You See It?

It’s not always our first, natural inclination to see God at work when times are hard. Most times, we’re too hurt, offended, confused, or angry at the situation to even think about God’s goodness and mercy. This is why we must train ourselves in the Word of God before heartache and tragedy strike so that we’ll be prepared.

Regardless of your position to the storm – going in, in the eye, or coming out – remember these tips to come to the window to see God in any situation:

1. Renounce hopelessness and apathy.

You know, the enemy does the most work on us before we even step up to the window. You may sense whispers of, “Don’t be a fool, it’s no use trying to see God in something this messed up” – but don’t you believe the father of lies, that what he does and who he is. Renounce those feelings that it’s too hard so why even try. Untie those sandbags of apathy from around your ankles, you know the ones keeping you from moving forward to see God’s might and splendor.

Sometimes, all God asks us to do is show up, and He’ll take our hands the rest of the way through. Don’t give up before you give God an honest try. He’s got something amazing to show you.

2. Focus on Faith by Faith.

Ok. With your hope in God solid and steadfast, approach the window of your circumstances with the shield of faith. Not only will faith be the substance of your hope when all around you is sinking sand (Hebrews 11:1), faith also provides the evidence of God’s mighty hand that you can’t see with your natural eyes. As the enemy fires off his fiery darts, the shield of faith will extinguish every fiery distraction intended to obscure the view of God at work on your behalf (Ephesians 6:16).

3. See the Salvation of a Loving Savior.

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord (Exodus 14:13). As you approach the window to see God at work, you may feel the same way the children of Israel felt as they approached the Red Sea. “God, what is this? Are you trying to give me a front-row seat to my own demise?” Nonetheless, in Exodus 14:15 at the edge of the Red Sea, God instructed Moses to tell the people, “Go forward.”

See, God wants to give you a front-row, VIP seat not to your demise, but to see God at work orchestrating your complete victory! God loves us and has a loving plan for each of us – a plan that leads to abundance and prosperity, not harm (Jeremiah 29:11).

So, What’s the Play Call?

When God calls us to see Him at work, don’t focus on the dirt and grime on the window of that situation. See through the noise. Step up to the glass with an assured hope and faith in the faithfulness of a loving God.

Remember, it’s okay to watch in silence (Exodus 14:14) and rest in the completeness of God’s perfect will. Move out of the way and give yourself permission to let God be God. When we do so, we’ll surely see God at work every time and know that the outcome will work out for our good.

It’s Just Water: Don’t Fear What Came to Help You

By
Alecia M. White
-
don't fear

It’s been pretty hot here for the past few weeks, in the 80s every day. My nephew, who is five, came to visit and, of course, he loves to play outside. Mmmkay, this isn’t about his love for the great outdoors, please stick with me. We’d gone out to water our flowers and he wanted to help, so I let him. I asked if he wanted me to spray him with the hose because what kid doesn’t. Well, this kid does not.

After being out in the heat a while though, I somehow convinced him to let me spray him. Well, as you may know, with preschoolers, it’s often tit for tat so he wanted to spray me in return. Now, y’all know I didn’t want a 5-year-old to let loose on me with a water hose, so I told him no. “Please Tee Tee, can I spray you?” My reply was still “nope”. Even though it was sweltering outside, I wasn’t willing to let him spray me even though it would cool me off.

We were playing out in the backyard, in the grass, being shined down on by the hot sun. He finally said, “C’mon, it’s just water. I’m gonna do it”; he then proceeds to spray me, at very close proximity, might I add. I couldn’t even have an attitude about it, though I really wanted to because he aimed straight for the back of my head. All I could do was run, but I had to run in the direction that the water was flowing in order to get away from it.

Don’t Fear What Came to Help You, Not Harm You

don't fearAs I stated before, this is not about a five-year old’s love for playing outside. This is about you not wanting to get “sprayed with the water hose”, and I will tell you what I mean.

There are so many opportunities that we miss out on in life because we refuse to get sprayed. We get apprehensive and back out of plans, make excuses, and so on. Thoughts of failure outweigh the promise of success. Lack of resources overrides guaranteed support.

There are even times when some of us allow our perfectionism to hinder us from moving forward. Yep, we’re afraid that the water will get our hair wet (you know that’s a no-no). Because when our hair is wet, involuntarily, it’s a mess and us perfectionists (yes, I admit to it) hate messes.

It is so easy to pass on the water hose spray down when we ignore the hot temperatures in our atmosphere. The mercury is rising for what we have to offer. Perhaps, we do not realize that if we move in accordance with the flow of the water being sprayed, we will get to our destination and be of help to others.

So, What’s the Play Call?

I know it can seem like a burden to be “sprayed with the water hose”, but it is exactly what we need to get us headed where we need to be. When it’s easier to stay safe and dry, please remember these things:

  1. Exercise your faith. Most, okay, all of the things that God gives us to do require faith. If we want those things to succeed, we must have faith to know that He will see them through, just as he has placed them in our care to do. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
  2. Know that you have nothing to fear. I know you are probably thinking that there are many things to fear. You know what, though? With God on your side, none of those things are relevant, He is greater than them all. “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4
  3. A little water is good for you. It sure is, so there is no need to take off running at the first sign of the sprinkler system. Listen, we all know that water is needed to hydrate, to help us grow – so think of the water coming at you as a means to help you grow and gain what you need. “That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.” Deuteronomy 11:14
  4. Trust God’s doing. Often, we see the water that is slapping the back of our heads as an attack of the enemy. Know that God has a fail-proof plan that will keep you safe no matter what is coming in your direction. “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.” Psalms 16:1

Don’t be afraid to get sprayed a little bit. This water could be just what you need to get to your destiny. “C’mon, it’s just water.”

 

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