Video Bible Lesson - Developing Convictions by Dr. Charles Stanley

Developing Convictions
by Dr. Charles Stanley

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

1/31/2020

01/31/2020

Developing Convictions
Dr. Charles Stanley
Jeremiah 17:5-8
An acorn needs nutrients and time to grow into a tall, sturdy oak tree. Likewise, men and women of conviction develop gradually through committed Bible study and prayer. Ready to get planted firmly in biblical truth? Here’s how:
Make a list of issues for which you need to form a conviction. Here are questions to help you get started: Do you consider the Bible true and trustworthy? Do you think that believing in Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved? What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the lives of believers and unbelievers? Are we to forgive others in every situation? How should Christians approach finances? What’s your purpose in life? What is your role in the church and at work? How should you think and act regarding social issues like capital punishment, abortion, and racism?
It is my hope that these questions will open the eyes of those who haven’t contemplated how their personal philosophies have developed. It’s time to change that. Study the Bible and make God’s Word the cornerstone of your thinking. A concordance will point you to scriptures that relate to the above topics. Evaluate what the Bible says rather than looking at an issue through the lens of personal preference. Ask, What does God say? rather than What does this mean to me?
Once you know what God says, you have a choice to make: Believe Him and commit to living according to your conviction, or continue being tossed by waves of doubt and indecision (James 1:6). Root yourself in God’s Word and be called one of His oaks of righteousness (Isa. 61:3).

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Lord of the Living and the Dead

Lord of the Living and the Dead

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 14:7-12

In the New Testament, Lord is the most frequently used title for Jesus Christ. Although we rarely use this term in our daily lives, we are all quite familiar with another word: boss. That is basically what Lord means—one possessing authority, power, and control. The Word of God describes Jesus as the head of the church, the ruler over all creation, and the Lord of lords and King of kings (Col. 1:15-18; Rev. 3:14; 17:14).

The realm of Christ's reign covers everything that happens in heaven and on the earth. No one—not even those who deny His existence—can be free of His rule or outside His sphere of authority. Although Satan tries to convince us that liberty is found in doing what we want, true freedom is acquired only through submission to Christ's loving lordship.

Even death cannot release anyone from the authority of God's Son. He is Lord of both the living and the dead. All people must decide to either yield or rebel against Him, but they have the opportunity to make this choice only while they are still living. After death, they will acknowledge Christ's lordship through accountability to Him. If we have not bowed the knee to Jesus in life, we will be forced to bend it in the judgment.

Have you submitted to Christ's rule over your life? His authority causes anger or fear in individuals who have not yet yielded to Him, but those who have experienced His lovingkindness, trusted in His goodness, and surrendered to His authority take comfort in knowing Him as the Lord of their lives.

The Power of a Pause

The Power of a Pause
LAURA BAILEY

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9 (ESV)

I am a natural redhead.

Yes, the stereotypes apply to me. Quick temper? Check! Fiery tongue? Check! Rousing this poked bear is risky — at any given point I might bubble over with excitement or boil with rage.

When voted “most outspoken” my senior year of high school, I wore my brash and brazen verbal reputation as a badge of honor, saying practically anything I wanted — at any time I wanted. I actually considered it my prerogative.

Oh, the follies of youth.

King Solomon knew about immature, foolish conduct and its consequences. At a young age, he asked God to give him a wise and discerning heart (1 Kings 3:9) — a request God granted. Although the Bible refers to him as wise (1 Kings 4:30), Solomon engaged in unwise behavior throughout his life. Nonetheless, he wrote Ecclesiastes, rich in advice and application.

While navigating my way through this book, the Lord pierced my heart. Lingering on our key verse in Ecclesiastes 7:9, “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools,” I felt the familiar weight of conviction.

Circumstances, instead of a good conscience, long dictated my response to whatever or whoever was around me. The idea to just “let live and let go” never crossed my mind. Instead, I spouted whatever popped into my head, ignoring the impact my words had on others and the damage they were to my testimony. I needed and wanted to change.

It wasn't until I began to “P.A.U.S.E.” that my relationships gradually improved, and the chains of hostility that bound my heart began to fall away.

What does it mean to “P.A.U.S.E.”?

Practice Patience
Patience does not come naturally for most; we want what we want, and we want it yesterday. Waiting a few moments to react and remaining patient throughout an encounter can prevent a lifetime of regret.

Adjust our Attitude
A shift in perspective or change in attitude makes a world of difference in how we approach a situation. Instead of fists up, let’s open up and be willing to extend the olive branch now and again. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control our response.

Understand the Situation
Shamefully, I have frequently inserted myself into situations without knowing all the facts. Before pouncing on a perceived injustice, we must examine all the angles, evaluate the facts, and sift out opinions and assumptions from the truth of the matter. Doing so diffuses potentially explosive speech that causes unnecessary offenses.

Step Outside
Going outdoors works wonders; it immediately lifts my mood. Fresh air is like a balm that soothes my tumultuous temper. Perhaps stepping outdoors is not always an option, but try to remove yourself from the situation. A physical step back often provides mental clarity and emotional stability.

Explain Calmly
Unfortunately, during conflict, rational thought frequently succumbs to negative emotion, making it difficult to form an appropriate response. Take time to calm down while employing the aforementioned strategies, and above all, invite the Holy Spirit into the conversation.

Running through these five steps, even if it’s only one, helps me dial back my emotions and adjust my attitude before I say something I’ll regret.

I confess that because of pride and arrogance, I’ve inserted unwelcomed opinions and insisted on having the last word, severing many relationships as a result. I no longer want to be that person. Instead, I strive to be a woman filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit in all circumstances.

The world watches Christians. Our attitude must reflect Christ, not our culture or the one who has offended us. Next time you find yourself in a situation where tensions are high, tempers are hot and tongues are heated, consider a “P.A.U.S.E.”

Heavenly Father, help us to “P.A.U.S.E.” before reacting. Help us to rein in our tempers and relinquish our pride so we speak words of love and peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Proverbs 15:4, “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (ESV)

James 1:19-20, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (ESV)

A Prayer for Abounding Grace

A Prayer for Abounding GraceBy: David Mathis

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

I can flip a switch, but I don’t provide the electricity. When I turn on the overhead light in the morning, I don’t celebrate, “Hey, look what I did! I turned the lights on!” I didn’t provide the power. An electrician wired my house; the power company provided the energy; all I did was flip the switch that released the flow.

It’s similar to turning on a faucet. I didn’t put the plumbing in. I’m not the water company that supplies the water. I simply turn on the faucet and the water flows.

So it is, in a limited sense, for the Christian with the ongoing grace of God. His grace is essential for our spiritual lives, but we don’t control the supply. We can’t make the grace flow, but God has given us circuits to connect and pipes to open expectantly.

Our God is lavish in his grace, often liberally dispensing his favor without even the least bit of cooperation and preparation on our part. But he also has his regular channels. And we can routinely avail ourselves of these revealed paths of blessing, or neglect them to our detriment.

Lay Yourself in the Way of Allurement

Zacchaeus may have been a wee little man, but he modeled this big reality by positioning himself along the path of grace. He couldn’t force Jesus’s hand, he couldn’t make grace flow, but he could put himself along the path where Grace was coming (Luke 19:1–10). The same was true of blind Bartimaeus (Luke 18:35–43). He couldn’t earn the restoration of his sight, but he could position himself along the route of grace where Jesus might give the gift as he passed that way.

“Think of the Spiritual Disciplines,” says Donald S. Whitney, “as ways we can place ourselves in the path of God’s grace and seek him as Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus placed themselves in Jesus’s path and sought him” (Spiritual Disciplines, 19). Or as Jonathan Edwards puts it, we can “endeavor to promote spiritual appetites by laying yourself in the way of allurement.”

God’s regular channels of grace are his word, his ear, and his people. So often, he showers his people with unexpected favor. But typically the grace that sends our roots deepest, truly grows us up in Christ, and produces lasting spiritual maturity, streams from the ordinary and unspectacular paths of fellowship, prayer, and Bible intake in its many forms.

While these simple “means of grace” may seem as unimpressive as everyday switches and faucets, through them God regularly stands ready to give his true light and the water of life. Let's pray for this abounding grace today:

Lord, thank you for your abundant, abounding grace. Thank you that we don't have to earn a drop of the mighty river of grace that flows freely for us today. Thank you for the unexpected, unmerited favor you've showered on my life. Help me put myself in the path of your love and grace. Help me not neglect the disciplines I need to meet with you regularly and to drink from the water of life. Thank you for your rich love. Amen.

Become a Devoted Student of the Word

Become a Devoted Student of the Word
By Joe McKeever

"What great nation is there that has statutes and judgements as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?" (Deuteronomy 4:8)

Late one afternoon, I rested for a couple of hours in the home of friends in McComb, Mississippi before attending a church banquet where I was to speak. I noticed in the living room, shelves contained all the writings of Jan Karon, the novels of John Grisham and David Baldacci, and others. Looks like we read the same stuff, I thought. And another thought occurred…

The reason you won’t find those books in shelves at my house is after we read them, we’re through with them. We pass them on to family members or donate them to Goodwill. But one thing we never do is pull one out which we’ve read before to read again, just to see if we missed anything the first time through. And yet…

We do this with the holy Scriptures all the time. Every time we pass through a familiar chapter or well-known story, we find something new, something we had not seen before. It’s an amazing thing.

This is precisely what the Lord promised would happen. Matthew 13:52 contains the only mention of this in Scripture and it’s a keeper…

“Therefore, every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

Imagine that. A homeowner who goes into his safe or a chest of valuables and counts out all the deeds, money, jewels, and other keepsakes he has owned through the years. But every time he does this, he finds new treasures. A pearl ring this time, a hundred dollar bill the next time, and so forth. He’d come often, wouldn’t he?

Jesus said a scribe–that is, someone considered an expert on the Scriptures–who gets saved now returns to the Scriptures that he loves and where he has found all these precious truths and insights. He finds them there, all the riches he has loved over the years. But lo and behold, every time he comes, he makes a new discovery. And so it is with opening the Word of the Lord.

There are so many reasons for God’s people studying and living in the Scriptures. Jesus called it our bread (Matthew 4:4). Job said it was more than his necessary food (Job 23:12). David called it a lamp unto his feet, a light unto his path (Psalm 119:105). Paul said it’s the source of faith (Romans 10:17).

If you call yourself a sincere disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no excuse for not becoming a devoted student of His Word.

Are You Scared of Loving Zacchaeus?

Are You Scared of Loving Zacchaeus?
By Laura MacCorkle

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:5, NIV

I’m scared of some things—and some people—but I’m not too scared about spending time with those who don’t know Jesus. Never have been.

In fact, I enjoy people who are vastly different than me. I must say, though, that I am nowhere even close to the greatest friend-who-knew-no-stranger-of-all-time: Jesus. And so I admire his ability to walk toward those who might scare you and me … those who we might walk away from today.

Zacchaeus was one such character. He really was a despicable little man. As I’m sure you know, tax collectors in Bible times were not the sort of person you invited over for a potluck to your home on an early spring evening. No, they were viewed as the lowest of the low. The pond scum of society. The ones you wouldn’t even let in your front door.

Amazingly, though, Jesus didn’t adjust his course when he was walking through Jericho one fine day. With his eye on the tax collector, Jesus walked right to where Zacchaeus was perched in a sycamore tree. Because he was small in stature, Zacchaeus had climbed up this tree so that he could see who Jesus was when he passed by in the crowd of people. He had heard about him, and now he wanted to see for himself.

Had he heard how he’d performed miracles? How he’d attracted and fed large crowds of people? How he’d touched the untouchables and healed those with leprosy? How he’d stood up to the religious establishment and called them on their legalistic teachings?

Who knows for sure. But whatever he had heard, Zacchaeus wanted to see this man who defied everyone’s expectations of what the Messiah would be. 

“Zacchaeus,” Jesus said as he addressed him by name. “Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

Can you imagine what Zacchaeus must have thought? He knows me! Wait, HOW does he know me? And why is he coming to spend time with me? Doesn’t he know that everyone despises me because I take all of their money? Why would he want to spend time with ME?

But whatever Zaccheus may have thought didn’t stop him from scrambling down the tree and welcoming Jesus “gladly.” He was smitten with the love of the Savior. And he knew that this was the Christ.

“Look, Lord!” Zacchaeus said to him. “Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

How amazing is that? Jesus didn’t shy away from someone who the rest of society was shunning. He also didn’t get up in Zacchaeus’ face, make him feel like dirt and then strike him down with the Law in his initial effort to love him. No, he just said, “Hey, I see you and I’m going to spend some time with you. Come on, let’s go!”

It’s the “great commission” in action. “Go ye into all the world.” Even to the parts of town that you usually avoid. Even to the societal groups that offend you. Even to the family member who has chosen to live a different lifestyle. He, she, they … any of these people can represent Zacchaeus in your life.

But don’t walk away from them. Walk toward them. And extend an invitation for a better way of living and the hope of a glorious eternity. Just like Jesus did for you.

Intersecting Faith & Life: So maybe you think I missed that one part of the Zacchaeus story with the crowd. Well, I didn’t. I just saved it for last. When the crowd witnessed Jesus make his invitation to Zacchaeus, they muttered, ”He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’” How sad. But isn’t that also you and me? We all have a person or a people group who is hard for us to love. Don’t be scared of loving the Zacchaeuses in your life. The Lord will help you follow his example as you love others to him.

Video Bible Lesson - Run the Race by ARLENE PELLICANE

 Run the Race 

by ARLENE PELLICANE

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

Special Edition

1/30/2020

01/30/2020

Run the Race
ARLENE PELLICANE

“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:2-5 (NIV)
When I go for what I call a “run” — jogging around my neighborhood for about 10 minutes — I often take my large Goldendoodle dog named Winston with me (whose favorite pastime happens to be napping).
Unlike some dogs, Winston doesn’t just run right alongside me or in front of me. He needs a little motivation. So I grab a doggie biscuit and hold it like a baton in front of him. He sniffs with excitement and follows me, usually trailing for the first four houses before catching up. He loves getting his biscuit treat after our exercise!
With the reward in sight, he runs onward.
The Christian life is compared to a race in the Bible many times:
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?” (1 Corinthians 9:24a, NIV)
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7, NIV)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race” (2 Timothy 4:7a, b, NIV).
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1c, NIV).
Running a race takes discipline, consistency, effort and movement in the same direction. When we have a reward in sight, like Winston and his dog biscuit, it keeps us motivated, helping us to persevere through difficulty or fatigue. We certainly run for the prize of heaven and rewards like the crown of life (James 1:12) and a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:25) But there are rewards and benefits to enjoy right now in your race!
Our key verse written by David, highlights the benefits of serving God: “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:2-5).
David is talking to himself in these verses. He’s encouraging his own heart. He’s reminding himself of the benefits of following God’s commands. He’s giving a “locker room talk” to an audience of one — like a rousing speech coaches give to sports teams before playing a big game.
He’s stirring up praise in the inward man.
He’s remembering what God has done for him that no one can take away.
He’s grateful to be forgiven.
He’s recognizing it is God who satisfies with good things.
This is a glimpse into David’s inner life of praise. It reveals his motivation and what kept him running so strong that he was called a man after God’s own heart. How can we keep running the race faithfully every day after the heart of God?
There are many sinful distractions along the way that trip us up. There’s also a very subtle snare — the trap of forgetfulness. We don’t go off on an evil path. We just slow down and stop remembering all that God has done. We become forgetful, then unthankful. We forget the awesomeness of God. We forget how God has delivered us. We forget why we made the commitment to run the race as a disciple in the first place.
It’s time to awake our souls to remember our God who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. When we remember who He is, we have the power to keep running, jogging, walking in the right direction. So what keeps us running the race? Remembering the benefits of following God. Let’s not forget He forgives, heals, redeems, crowns and satisfies!
Heavenly Father, thank You for being my redeemer and for saving my soul. I remember Your goodness today. You do not treat me as my sins deserve or repay me according to my iniquities. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is Your love for me. I take time now to remember Your greatness. Thank You for having compassion on me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (NIV)

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Life Giving Dew

Life Giving Dew

I will be as the dew unto Israel (Hosea 14:5).

The dew is a source of freshness. It is nature's provision for renewing the face of the earth. It falls at night, and without it the vegetation would die. It is this great value of the dew which is so often recognized in the Scriptures. It is used as the symbol of spiritual refreshing. Just as nature is bathed in dew, so the Lord renews His people. In Titus 3:5 the same thought of spiritual refreshing is connected with the ministry of the Holy Ghost--"renewing of the Holy Ghost."

Many Christian workers do not recognize the importance of the heavenly dew in their lives, and as a result they lack freshness and vigor. Their spirits are drooping for lack of dew.

Beloved fellow-worker, you recognize the folly of a laboring man attempting to do his day's work without eating. Do you recognize the folly of a servant of God attempting to minister without eating of the heavenly manna? Nor will it suffice to have spiritual nourishment occasionally. Every day you must receive the renewing of the Holy Ghost. You know when your whole being is pulsating with the vigor and freshness of Divine life and when you feel jaded and worn. Quietness and absorption bring the dew. At night when the leaf and blade are still, the vegetable pores are open to receive the refreshing and invigorating bath; so spiritual dew comes from quiet lingering in the Master's presence. Get still before Him. Haste will prevent your receiving the dew. Wait before God until you feel saturated with His presence; then go forth to your next duty with the conscious freshness and vigor of Christ.
--Dr. Pardington

Our Great Mission

Our Great Mission

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 28:18-20

If you’re a believer, you are part of the awesome body of Christ, which is called to bring His light to the world both individually and corporately. Though many see the church as a social organization, that’s not what the Bible says it is. Sometimes we forget that our purpose isn’t simply to have fellowship, sing, preach, and worship. Jesus entrusted us with good news of the true life He offers to everyone. This calling isn’t just for foreign “missionaries”—it’s for every believer. Your mission field includes your family, friends, coworkers, and perhaps even a people group God puts on your heart, often right in your community.

Before returning to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, in which He promised to be with believers to the end of the age. That pledge still stands. He doesn’t send us out to do His work on our own. Vowing never to leave us, He gave the assurance that all tasks He assigns will be achieved through us by His Holy Spirit.

What an honor to be included in the Lord’s redemptive plan for the world! He invites you to have a vital part in His kingdom work of transforming what is broken and giving new life. Everything you do in obedience is an opportunity for His Spirit to work powerfully through you!

He is still speaking His message of assurance to us: You’ll have Me as your companion, your captain, your victory. You’ll have Me as your resource, your energy, your anointing. Everything you need, you’ll find in Me. How does recognizing the greatness of your calling change the way you see your daily life?

church Is Meant to Be a Grace-Trip, Not a Guilt-Trip

church Is Meant to Be a Grace-Trip, Not a Guilt-Trip
STEPHANIE RAQUEL

“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)

Utterly exhausted. And way too tired to clean up after dinner or get ready for bed.

That defined my Saturday night as I conked out on the couch after getting five kiddos to sleep. This was followed by a miserable combination of 2 a.m. insomnia, finally falling back asleep at 4 a.m., only to be startled back awake by a small child, and then woken up again by my out-of-town-husband’s alarm clock blaring at 6 a.m.

I dozed back asleep, only to wake up right in time to leave for church, with a serious case of the Sunday morning blues.

Ugh.

Although we live only five minutes away, every fiber of my being wanted to stay home, snuggled in my PJs.

Please God, don’t make me do this. Can’t I just skip it today?

I tried to convince myself it didn’t matter if we showed up or not.

Ultimately, I decided to go, even if we were late … and by some miracle, we arrived mere minutes before the sermon began.

And the topic? The Prodigal Son.

Oh, isn’t that just like the enemy of this world to want me to forget how much God loves me when I feel like running away? Surely the enemy wants to leave me in a spiritually isolated place.

During the message, the Holy Spirit reminded me to keep praying for the prodigals in my life — several who used to be very close to the Lord — and also reminded me that just a few days prior, I’d gone to a counseling appointment with a dear friend, and we’d started talking again for the first time in more than five years!

Wouldn’t the enemy of our souls want me to forget that prodigals can still come home, that our God is still in the business of bringing dead things back to life, and He still abounds in grace?

No wonder the enemy worked overtime to keep me out of church that weekend. Thankfully, I felt enveloped in reminders of God’s grace instead.

Today’s key verse, Hebrews 10:25, is the antidote for days when we’d simply rather skip church. It says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” To me, this says, let’s keep connecting with one another and encouraging each other — until Christ’s return.

Digging deeper into the preceding verses, we see that through Jesus, God orchestrated a new covenant for His people. Verse 18 explains, “And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.”

For the Hebrew people addressed in this book, this was major news.

No more sacrifices? Christ’s death was enough, once and for all? This reminder was all about God’s infinite grace! And I’m fairly certain the world could benefit from us extending more grace to others!

Whether it’s the crazy driver who cuts me off in traffic, the friend who’s let me down, or even my own heart when I haven’t been the kindest toward the people in my home, spiritually isolating ourselves leads to all kinds of non-gracious activities. Why is that? Because we all benefit from walking in grace.

We live in a world that tempts us to abandon corporate worship and walk away from our faith. Hello, January.

But this passage shows us God never designed church or corporate worship to be a guilt trip. Instead, church should be a grace trip — a reminder to keep gathering and encouraging, and continuing to show His infinite grace to everyone around us.

Because whatever excuses we have for not getting there, God has more than enough grace to go around.

Lord, thank You for Your grace. And thank You that it’s designed for the whole world. May we keep meeting together and encouraging one another until You return or draw us home. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 10:19, 23 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus … Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” (NLT)

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (NLT)

A Prayer to Defeat Your Fear of Failure

A Prayer to Defeat Your Fear of FailureBy Rick Warren

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” – Proverbs 24:16

Satan’s favorite tool to diminish your faith is the fear of failure. But you cannot serve God and be constantly worried about what other people think. You have to move forward. Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (NIV).

So how do you get rid of the fear of failure?

One way is to redefine failure. What is failure? Failure is not failing to reach your goal. Failure is not having a goal. Failure is not failing to hit your target. Failure is not having a target. Failure is not falling down. Failure is refusing to get back up. You’re never a failure until you quit. So if you’re attempting something for the glory of God, that’s a good thing. Failure is not trying and not accomplishing anything. Failure is failing to try.

Another way to get rid of the fear of failure is to never compare yourself to anybody else. You’re always going to find somebody who’s doing a better job, and you get discouraged. And, you’re always going to find somebody who’s not doing as good a job as you are, and you become full of pride. Both of them will mess up your life. Discouragement and pride will keep you from serving God’s purpose for your life.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:4, “Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others” (GW).

Did you notice that the Bible says there is a legitimate pride? There’s a good kind of pride and there’s a bad kind of pride. The bad kind of pride is comparing: “I’m better than so and so!” The good kind of pride is, “God, I’m proud of what you’re doing in my family, my business, my life, my walk of faith.” That’s the good kind of pride.

When you get to Heaven, God isn’t going to say, “Why weren’t you more like so and so?” He’s going to say, “Why weren’t you who I made you to be?”

Let go of your fear of failure, because anything you’re attempting for God in faith is a good thing, regardless of the results.

Lord, help me let go of my fear of failure. I know Satan wants to use my fears to hold me back from living boldly for You. Forgive me for not living in faith, and help me from this moment on to live with bold confidence in You. Lord, help me not compare myself to others around me. I pray instead that I can keep my eye on You and live a life that proclaims Your excellence. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. 

Walking in Sustainable Faith

Walking in Sustainable Faith 
By Meg Bucher

“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” John 6:66 (NASB)

Can you picture the scene? After Jesus preached that He was the only way to the Father.

Earth-shattering and …in the minds of those who did not believe He was the Messiah, blasphemous speech. It was too much for many to wrap their minds around. And I believe that’s where they went wrong. Our minds will never be fully capable of comprehending Jesus.

Faith kicks in to cover what we cannot comprehend.

We are purposely not privy to all of the answers. But that doesn’t mean we can’t live a life full of the tremendous purpose God has intentionally placed upon all of our lives.

It’s all in how we walk. Where we walk. And Who we follow.

The original translation of walked in this verse is, peripateo, meaning to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities. (Strong’s.) 

We walk in the life of our steps.

“Jesus had already made clear what discipleship meant, and many were not ready to receive life in the way he taught.” NIV Study Bible Notes

There are many rounds of pain we are promised to go through in this life. Rounds of physical pain, mental pain, relational pain, and tests of our faith. God is not surprised by any of them. What will we chose to do in each round? Will we remember that He’s in our corner, and continue walking …continuing fighting on in faith with Him at our side. With the Son and the Spirit that He sent to help us and build a bridge into His arms everyday we are alive.

Or will we walk away from the fight? Will we turn around when it’s too much for us to understand …bear …or carry? Life is too heavy for our backs, but fits perfectly in His arms.

Father, 

Praise You for carrying us through pain. Thank You for Your faithfulness and compassion for us. Forgive us for walking away, making life in harder to bear. Remind us in the moments when life seems impossible …that it is. And that’s why You are the only One capable of carrying us through it. In

Jesus’ Name, 

Amen.

Video Bible Lesson - A Prayer for Courage by Dr. Ray Pritchard

A Prayer for Courage
by Dr. Ray Pritchard

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

1/29/2020

01/29/2020

A Prayer for Courage
Dr. Ray Pritchard
Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” - Psalm 16:1-2
There are many days where I feel an overwhelming sense of discouragement, exhaustion, or frustration. It might be little things that bring about these feelings in me, or it might be major life events that have left me weary and hurting, but either way, I know I don’t have the strength on my own to make it through. It’s days like those where I find prayers like this comforting. When we feel those feelings creeping in, may we instead choose to kneel before our Father in heaven and ask him for the strength and courage we need to carry on. Will you join me in this prayer today?
Lord, grant me tenacious winsome courage as I go through this day. When I am tempted to give up, help me to keep going. Grant me a cheerful spirit when things don't go my way. And give me courage to do whatever needs to be done. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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