Lift Your Hands

It is easy to praise God when things are going good, we have a job, a home, our health and so on. But a true disciple of Christ praises God at all times. If Christ is ruling our lives then we praise God when there is hurt, fear, anger and loss. A sister in Christ is dying of cancer and though she is grieving and possibly a little scared, she is raising her hands to heaven and praising God! When I think of her, I don't think so much about all the things she has done, but about her love of Christ and praising Him in the storm. When the hurt, fear, anger and loss come, we can still feel all those things, but that is when it is most important for us to keep our eyes on God and lift our hands in praise to Him. Show God you love Him, raise your hands in praise today and everyday!

Psalm 146:2 NIV

2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

What's Your Food?

What is your "food"? What sustains you? Is it recognition by others, being liked by everyone, the love of a significant other or spouse? These things may help us some, but they can all be gone in an instant. Christ's "food" was to do God's will and finish His work. We when seek only to do God's will, He will provide us with all the sustenance we will ever need. It is everlasting and isn't gone in an instant. Today, think about where you are looking for your "food". 

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Iniquities of Us All

Not a single one of us is perfect, none without fault. Some may think they are very good or don't do much wrong, but we ALL sin. Praise and thank God that Christ took all our sin upon Him! Because of Christ's death on the cross, we can go to God as white as snow. Today, take a few moments to remember Christ's willingness to take on our sin!

Isaiah 53:6 NIV

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Strong Will

As humans, we always want our own way. This is evident in a toddler who wants to do things herself and when she wants to do it. Our will to have our way is developed at a young age and continues to strengthen as we grow older. The verse today is telling us to put others first, not demanding our way.  It takes a stronger will to do this than to have our own way. We have to work daily at putting others first, listening to their needs, how they want the job done. When we truly work at respecting others and letting them lead, we are honoring Christ as He desires. Take a look at how strong your will is today, are you having it your way or putting others first?

Ephesians 5:21 NIV

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Our ALL

Lest we forget, it is all His!! All we have comes from God! He has the strength to sustain us all and give us strength to go through each day. Remember, trials are a must in this life, but God is in control and has more strength than we can fathom. He is our ALL!

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 NIV

11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

Timothys

When we truly accept Christ into our lives and identify with Him, we all become Timothys. We are fellow laborers in the gospel of Christ. Paul sent Timothy to encourage and help the Thessalonians grow in their faith. Each day, we as Christians, are sent out to encourage others and help them grow in their faith. It may be a co-worker, relative, friend, delivery person, your children, or even your pastor. Every person we come in contact with is an opportunity to for us to encourage and share Christ. We all have the same job, we just do it in different ways, so as you go about your day today remember you are a fellow laborer in Christ, encouraging and helping others establish and grow in their faith.

I Thessalonians 3:1-2 NKJV

1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

The Promised Land

Are you letting God plant you where He wants you or are you telling God where you want to be. God had just saved the Israelites from Pharaoh and was guiding them to the promised land. It didn't look to promising to them and they complained. Sometimes where God plants us isn't the most desirable place, but it is the place He expects us grow. God lets us choose our path, we can go where He leads or take our own way. Take a moment and look back over your life, have you let God lead you, can you see how God has placed you where He needed you to be, or have you tried to go your own way?  If you have been rebelling against where God is guiding you, spend some time today asking God to give you the courage to follow Him. Though the promised land may be filled with giants, it is where the Lord wants you to be planted and to grow. He will help yo overcome the giants! Praise God for guiding us to His mountain of inheritance! 

Exodus 15:17-18 NIV

17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established. 18 “The Lord reigns for ever and ever.”