Building Trust: God’s Word
Posted On: August 11, 2019
So my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty it will accomplish what I please. Isaiah 55:11
Yesterday, I wrote the devotion on trust. At the end I encouraged you, the reader, to remember that who you trust determines your destiny. It was David's trust in God when Saul was trying to kill him that preserved his life and allowed him to fulfill what God had for him. In the same way, it is your trust in God that will preserve your life and allow you to fulfill all God has for you.
I continued to think about what I wrote. It was inspiring to write and I hope it inspired you if you read it but honestly a command without a teaching of how is one of my greatest personal annoyances. I cannot stand it. I detest it and there is no other way to explain it except wrong. That is why today I wanted to talk about a way to build that trust, God's word.
Before a person can even make a decision to trust, they have to first know what they are trusting. When crisis hits and God is the only answer the reason why many people have a hard time hearing and trusting God is the simple fact that they don't really know him. Can you imagine having to go to a person you have hardly talked to for help if a life-altering event was happening? Reality is this is what we try to do with God many times.
How is it possible to get to know God for real? I mean really know him like a best friend.
First of all, God is God, there are things that even the most experienced Christians do not know. He is infinite and I believe we will spend eternity getting to know him. Don't let this discourage you let this encourage you. Who would want to serve a God they could figure out? Boring.
Second, though there are things we do not know, there he has revealed plenty to keep us occupied for a lifetime. He has given us 66 books bound together in one (a.k.a. The Bible) that declare who he is. Studying these books are a great concrete way of beginning to get to know him. Even those of us as Christians, including myself (even as a theology major! how wrong? inexcusable!), tend to neglect this resource. If we as christians (or as persons interested in being christians) are serious about knowing God we need to get serious about using what God has already given us.
In his word, he declares that if a word comes from his mouth that it will not return to him empty and it will accomplish what he pleases. This truth is a great beginning point of trust and knowledge of God. If you desire to trust God, or to trust him more take hold of this promise. Declare it over your life. Declare it until you believe it because it is true.
One of the foundational principles of God's character is his faithfulness. His love does not fail. In order to grab a hold of him, you must believe this about him.
If you are struggling to trust him or need to trust him more, here is what I know to tell you.
1. Believe his word
This sounds easy but many times is challenging. We have this thing called our flesh that hinders us and rebels from the knowledge of God. It is by constant repetition of God's word that the flesh dies and the spirit rises. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds to God's word. If you are struggling to believe him, look up some of the promises of scripture and take some time to say them until you believe. This is not some magical process that by saying the promises you automatically believe them. The reason I'm encouraging this is because by taking some time to look up the promises and saying them you are making a decision to believe that they are true and you are learning them. It is not incantation but praying these promises that causes you to believe them and allows God to make them manifest in your life.
2. Pray
I hit on this in the last sentence of believing his word. In order to know God, you have to begin communicating with him. Ask him questions. Tell him how you feel. Ask him how he feels and what he thinks. Do not be afraid he longs to hear from you.
Trusting God and believing in him is a life-long pursuit more than a blog can cover. These are a few ways to begin and these are things that have to be continually worked on no matter how mature you are as a christian. In sports, a huge part of continuing in excellence is continuing to practice the fundamentals. If the fundamentals begin to weaken, the whole game falls apart. It is the same in the Christian life. My theology degree is worthless absolutely worthless if I do not continue to build my faith in God's word and if I do not pray. In the same way, it is worthless for mature christians to know this or that and not believe in his word and pray.
All of this is easy in the sense that it does not require a high degree or intellect but it is difficult in the sense that it requires continual discipline. It is not a one time and its finished kind of thing. It is a continual life long effort that requires sacrifice over and over again.
I have said all of this to encourage you to get to know God. It is possible. Just take the time to get to know his word and pray!
By: Danielle O'Neil @danielleoneil.com
God’s Perfect Timing
Posted On: August 02, 2019
"But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed, lacking in nothing." -James 1:4
We all have plans for our lives. We're constantly looking forward to the future, dwelling on the next step in our lives. However, it's hard to understand that sometimes God has His own plan for our lives. He sees things a little differently.
We must learn to wait on God's timing, or we will be miserable trying to force things into our lives that do not belong there.
Joyce Mayer's describes God's timing as, "We are God's building under construction. He is the Master Builder, and He knows wha He is doing."
Patience is a fruit of the Spirit, and It is not something that comes natural to our human nature. Therefore, we must CHOOSE to walk in patience.
Take heart though! The Lord is doing a good work, so the wait is well worth it!
What Is God’s Will For My Life?
Posted On: June 19, 2019
I have spent several years working with middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students. A lot of changes happen from twelve to twenty, and many of the questions that are important to a middle school student are completely irrelevant to a college student. However, there is one question that pops up in lives of sixth graders and seniors alike. It also seems to be a question that can drive a young person (and many adults too) crazier than almost any other (read more about that here). That question is:What is God’s will for my life?
The will of God is an interesting theme in scripture. Compared to other scriptural ideas it is not a particularly prevalent theme. And when it is discussed, it rarely applies to the question what is God’s will for my life, at least not in the way that we tend to use it today. The bible talks about the decrees of God (they will certainly come to pass), and the commands of God (those things are up to you and me). Both of those speak of God’s will. The bible also talks about individual callings. But you cannot find a scriptural example of one of God’s people asking, “What is God’s will for my life?”
So, when you are haunted by that question you might want to first understand that no matter how much you want that questioned to be answered, it does not seem to be a very important question on God’s list. Before you get overwhelmed by the sting of that realization consider the following. You are both precious and unique to God. He values you more than any of us can really understand. At the same time, whatever it is that he calls you to do could be done by anyone else that he so chooses. That is because God’s will for your life has very little to do with what he is calling you to do, and almost everything to do with who he is calling you to be.
Go and read some of the handful of scriptures that deal with the phrase will of God(Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 7:9-10; Eph 6:6; Heb 10:36; 1 Pet 2:15, 4:2, 4:6, 4:19). Take the time to read the surrounding verses and see if you notice what I notice. There is nothing there about vocational callings. Instead, they all talk to essence of the Christian life and the fruit that it bears. These are the things that are described as the will of God in those verses: having your mind renewed, having godly sorrow and repentance, striving to please God instead of men, endurance, submitting to human institutions (even ungodly ones), not living for the lusts of your flesh, to live in the Spirit, and to suffer.
So, if you really want to know what the biblical answer is to the question, What is God’s will for my life? Look no further. He wants you to live a holy life. He wants you to treat others well. He wants you to be submissive. He wants you to suffer. And he wants you to endure. Encouraging, huh?
Perhaps we wrestle so hard over the question because we don’t want to know what the biblical answer really is. We have replaced the scriptural idea of God’s will for our life with questions that center around our individual comfort and importance, and that’s what really makes us struggle so hard over the question in the first place. Here is the irony. Our struggle with that question is a sign of just how far out of God’s will we are in the first place.
Author, Jonathan Stone 1/2/12 at http://www.stonewritten.com/?p=1136
Are you free?
Posted On: May 27, 2019
If you are an American like I am the question are you free sounds quite absurd. The natural response is of course I am free. I’m an American. Americans have been free since the revolutionary war. We decide who our president is. We have the freedom to go as far as we would like in our education. We can have the job we want and as much money as we want as long as we work hard enough. This is the freedom of being American.
When Jesus was on earth there was a group much like Americans in this respect. They believed they were free because they were the descendants of Abraham. They thought that they had never been slaves of anyone. They were puzzled when Jesus told them that they would be set free because they thought they already were.
Jesus responded to them and let them know they had it all wrong. Everyone whether they are descendants of Abraham, Americans, or another group of people who sins are slaves to sin. Freedom in the kingdom of God is not about what nationality you are, or how much opportunity you have. Jesus could scoffed at and scolded people who tried to define their freedom in such a way.
The only way to be free in God’s kingdom is by having Jesus set you free. Jesus sets us free by revealing the truth. When we choose to follow the truth he has revealed to us then we are truly set free.
Today is a great day to celebrate the freedom of America but it is important not to think that our earthly freedom is eternal or that it because we have an earthly freedom that we by default have spiritual freedom.
It is important today to ask the question: Am I free?
By: Danielle O’Neil
Story of Jesus taken from John 8: 31-38
How To Make A Right Decision
Posted On: May 24, 2019
Decisions are a fact of life. Some are easy; some are hard. If you want to make a good decision—one that has God’s blessing on it—then put these five steps into practice. Whether your decision is of the small, everyday variety or a bigger life issue, you can make it a good one!
Put God first.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.” Regardless of what pressures you face, put God first and trust Him to lead you.
Spend time in the Word.
Proverbs 2:1-4 states, “My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.” God will lead you through His Word, showing you His perspective on your life and the decision you make.
Act on that Word.
Deuteronomy 30:14 says, “No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.” Even when it is difficult, determine to obey God’s Word.
Trust the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:14 reads, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” Trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you to make the right decision every time.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Make prayer an important part of your life. Use your prayer time to thank God for all the things He’s done for you and to ask Him to help you with your needs.
God is on your side. He will help you make the decision you need to make. Put these steps into practice and trust the Lord, His Word and His Holy Spirit to show you the way so that you can make the best possible decision every time!
Source: Gloria Copeland, Standing in Your Dreams, 0614 BVOV, 2007 GLBC.
God Sees AND He knows!
Posted On: May 14, 2019
God sees AND God knows!
When you are sitting in a coffee shop and I walk in I see you. I know the color of the chair you are in, whether or not you are having something to drink, and can observe all that is going on around you. However that does not mean that I know you.
The word know has been defined as to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as a truth.To be cognizant or aware, as of some fact, circumstance, or occurrence; have information, as about something.
Remember, the difference is God and Satan (and his demons) is that that Satan can see you but God sees AND knows you. The enemy of your soul, Satan, cannot “know” you, your inner desires and thoughts unless you speak them. He is not omniscient. Do not give any place to the Devil. This not only means don’t give him a place in your life but don’t let him “know” you! Do not speak out all your inner desires and thoughts. Too often we are snared by the words of our mouth so keep a guard on your heart for out of it flows the issues of life. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Take strength and comfort in the truth that God knows you. While you were in your mothers womb He formed and fashioned you. (Psalm 139) He knows your name and your destiny. (Jeremiah 29:11)
