How to Overcome Evil..... by Lynette Kittle

 How to Overcome Evil

by Lynette Kittle

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” -- Romans 12:21

Do you realize by doing good, you are defeating evil?

Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? Yet many still believe you have to fight evil on its own playing field. Recognize how the enemy of God wants you to play at his level, rather than understanding how your simple, loving acts of kindness and compassion throw a wrench into his most devious plans.

1 Peter 2:15 explains, “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”

Unlike popular belief, shouting others down or putting them in their place isn’t the most effective approach in responding to angry words. Rather, the way to silence tactless talk is through good works.

Because of your relationship with God, doing good should come easy, too, since, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him” (Matthew 12:35)

Scripture describes how Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit went around doing good (Acts 10:38).

As Jesus lived, you are called to do good works. Ephesians 2:10 spells it out explaining, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Like Jesus went around doing good, God has prepared good things for you to do, setting it all up ahead of time so all you have to do is follow His lead.

In the same way, Galatians 6:10 directs, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

As 3 John 1:11 urges, “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”

Likewise, Amos 5:15 urges you to hate evil and love good because as Proverbs 17:13 explains, “Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.”

By doing good, you follow God’s example of kindness and mercy towards you, as described in Titus 3:4,5. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

Love Wins..... Denison Ministries

 Love Wins

Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

James 2:26 tells us,“Faith apart from works is dead.” If we are going to experience the fullness of life offered to us through our faith we must be those who put our words into action. We must not profess to love God on Sundays and live as if he isn’t present, real, or good on Monday. May your faith come alive this week as you seek to be a doer of the word.

Scripture:“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

Devotional:

Through Jesus, God has obtained victory in the earth. The dominion the devil had over humanity was crushed by the cross of Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:13-15 says, “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Jesus has triumphed over everything that stood between us and a life lived in relationship with God.

One of my favorite chapters in all of Scripture, Romans 8, tells us, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).We’ve been given victory over the enemy and all his schemes. But even though we have obtained victory in Jesus, the devil still works to lead you and me back into our former ways. Even though Jesus has defeated the enemy, we still must live out that victory every day and help others around us do the same. Even though love has won, we still must fight for the victory in others.

We need each other to experience the freedom available to us in Christ. Scripture admonishes us to engage in confession, community, worship, and spiritual battle together. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” James 5:13-16 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” We must engage with one another and fight for a life lived victoriously in Christ together. The Bible is clear that sanctification is a process worked out, and it’s a process meant to be worked out together.

We must call out the greatness in each other. If you see a brother or sister struggling with temptation, fight for them through prayer. Speak life into them. Encourage them in who God has made them to be. Stand with them through whatever circumstances and consequences come their way. See them through the fight until they experience victory over the power of sin and darkness in their life. Open up to those around you and ask for their help in your own life! You don’t have to fight spiritual battles alone. There are people around you who will fight for victory in your own life.

Through Christ, love has won. He has paved the way of victory for you and me. We are the world’s no longer. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Walk in the works God intends for you today and, in love, fight for those around you to do the same. You and I are meant for more in this life than the struggle with sin. Let’s fight for the victory in each other.

Guided Prayer:

1. Renew your mind to the victory available to you in Christ.

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 2:13-15

2. Who needs you to fight for their victory today. Who needs encouragement from you? Who needs you to speak truth over them in love? Who needs you to intercede on their behalf?

3. Pray for their victory. However the Spirit prompts you, pray that they would overcome the power of sin in their lives. Trust that God will move when you pray.

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16

You don’t have to be perfect before you can fight for the victory in someone else’s life. You don’t have to be fully experiencing freedom before your Father would use you to help someone else. If the only people that could engage in ministry had to be perfect, the movement of Christianity would have died long ago. You are equipped to help right now exactly as you are. Engage in community with fellow believers as God intends and experience more life together as you walk in the victory laid out before you by the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Extended Reading: Ephesians 2

Resurrection: Our New Body..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Resurrection: Our New Body 

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

What a scene will occur at the sounding of the Lord’s trumpet! The “dead in Christ” will emerge from their resting places all over the earth and soar into the sky; these saints’ resurrected bodies will reunite with their spirits, which will have been residing in heaven with Jesus. Close behind them will follow believers who haven’t yet departed this life—at that moment, they’ll miraculously be changed as they are “caught up . . . to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

The description sounds extraordinary, but in fact, the plan is practical. We’re going to need a body with which to enjoy the new heaven and new earth that Jesus is preparing for His followers. However, earthly flesh and bones will not do. They age, break, and succumb to sin. So God promised to transform our humble structures into glorious bodies like the one Christ had after His resurrection. Common temptations and limitations will be gone. In addition, our physical substance will be altered so that we are not restricted by time and space. Remember, Jesus didn’t bother with doors (John 20:19)! Our new bodies will be suited for the environment where we are to dwell forever—an ageless eternity in which all of our needs are perfectly met.

Each believer will still be him- or herself. Friends and family long separated will recognize one another; our personalities will be unchanged, except that we’ll be absolutely sinless. At last, you and I will be the persons that God intends for us to be. And we’ll be housed in a body fashioned like that of Christ—perfect, sinless, and complete.

Help for My Doubting Heart..... LYNN COWELL

 Help for My Doubting Heart

LYNN COWELL

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:29 (NIV)

When I want to talk to the Lord, a walk helps me get the conversation rolling. But on one particular day, even though my feet were moving forward, my heart was struggling to move that same direction. Though I was trying to pray, there were so many rumblings in my head that I couldn’t concentrate on what I wanted to say. Doubt just kept coming against every word my mind tried to form.

Sometimes I struggle to believe. It’s like my heart and mind have amnesia. I see my current trouble. I feel the weight of disappointment, and it suppresses all the memories of when Jesus has helped me.

Momentarily I forget my history with Him. I forget all the times He has been faithful, good and kind.

Like when He brought my husband into my life.
When He moved me to a place with new opportunities.
When He brought me a new friend, who is now an old one.
And most importantly, when He called me His friend and brought me to salvation in Him.

The list of His faithfulness to me would fill a bookcase of journals. In fact, it has. My journals record our history together.

Yet even with all of this history, I can briefly forget who I know my Savior to be. Consistent, faithful, powerful and perfect. He has proven He is the almighty Son of God.

I can be a bit like Thomas in John 20:25: “So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe’” (NIV). Thomas already had a history of seeing Jesus’ miracles time and time again; it’s like he, too, forgot who he already knew Jesus to be.

Then comes Jesus, intentionally reaching out to the doubting disciple: “Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe’” (John 20:27, NIV).

Like He did for Thomas, Jesus has grace for you and me in our days of doubting. He doesn’t judge us or punish us when our faith wavers. He does, however, call us lovingly: “… blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

I want to be blessed for believing.

I think you do, too. It’s one reason you’re reading this devotion. It’s why you talk to Him in prayer and seek to learn more about His ways. You want to believe. So, though we wrestle sometimes with doubt, we don’t give up believing.

As I continued my walk, I moved my heart one step forward by breathing in deeply and breathing out my doubt. My fear of the future. My anger, frustration and sadness.

I breathed in again, asking the Holy Spirit — Comforter, Helper and Teacher — to come and uphold my shaky heart. To stabilize my faith with my own memories of His goodness as well as His Word, where He has shown Himself faithful to countless men and women of God.

Shiphrah and Puah, (Exodus 1) Miriam and Jochebed, (Exodus 2) Deborah and Jael, (Judges 4) Abigail (1 Samuel 25) and Rahab (Joshua 2) are just a few women in the Bible who had reasons to doubt yet saw His faithfulness in the middle of their troubles.

I, too, will look for Him moving in extraordinary ways even in my ordinary days. We can intentionally look for evidence that He is with us and He is at work, no matter what doubt tries to say.

Dear heavenly Father, I know things may not turn out exactly as I am hoping — but Jesus, You will see me through again. This I do know. In Your Name, Amen.

A Prayer for Changing the Way You Think..... By: Alisha Headley

 A Prayer for Changing the Way You Think

By: Alisha Headley

“Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” - Romans 12:2

Our minds are so powerful. What’s on your mind at this very moment? A few studies have shown that we can think up to 80,000 thoughts in a given day, and out of those thoughts, 80% of them are negative. Ouch! A better question to ask you is what are you feeding your mind that is ultimately giving you the thoughts you have right now?

Your thoughts can very much dictate your actions. For what you think on, will drive you to act on. Your mind is your container, and we must go to great lengths to protect it. We must be intentional about that which we fill our minds.

If we are not intentional about what we are allowing in, things will naturally fill as just living a part of this world. From the moment we wake up, we are inundated with automatic notifications on our phones, computers, and television. We go to work or the grocery store, we see people around and signs and billboards on our drive.

The portals to our mind are our eyes and ears and sometimes if we’re not aware, they get filled up by things unintentionally. This is why we must be intentional to guard it, and not just graze through life filling our minds with things that do not serve us.

What we see and what we hear will affect our thinking greatly. So, having wisdom when it comes to intake matters so much. Today’s scripture reminds us to depend on God to transform and renew your mind. It’s easy to be molded into the things of this world and can be done without us knowing. God can give us a new way of thinking as we renew our mind on Him, on things above, on His truths written in His Word, and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s allow God to change the way we think as we guard what we are taking in. And as we begin renewing our mind on Him and He changes the way we think, we can then please him through our actions, remembering that it all starts with the mind.

Dear Lord,

Thank you, Lord, that you did not leave us empty-handed. That we have the truth of your word to depend on to navigate us through this world. Father, we ask that you would give us your mind. Help us to filter everything that comes across our minds through your perspective. We want a mind like Christ and want to be transformed through the renewing of our mind.

We ask that the Holy Spirit please reveal to us anything we are listening to our watching that is feeding our mind negative thoughts that we may be unaware of. Please protect our minds and prompt us in those moments to rid ourselves of anything that is not focused on you.

Lord, we ask that you change the way we think. That you would please guide us into your path you have for us. That the voices we hear and the things we set our sights on would be honoring to you. Help us to think on things above, not on things of this world. (Colossians 1:3). As your word says in Philippians 4:9, remind us “to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, are of good report…anything praiseworthy, to think on such things.” We want to honor you in all that we do. We love you, Lord.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

From Russia, with God's Love..... by Ryan Duncan

 From Russia, with God's Love

by Ryan Duncan

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. – Proverbs 16:9

Last year, I set out to fulfill my longtime goal of traveling to Russia as part of an international missions’ team. The organization I applied to was one I’d volunteered with in the past. Every December they would partner with Russian Christians and visit orphanages just outside of Moscow. Once there, they would spend the day handing out gifts, singing songs, and hopefully telling the children how God loved them. Now, I’d been on missions’ trips before, but for some reason I knew this one was special.

Deep down, I sensed that God would do something truly amazing through this trip, and I wanted to be ready when it happened. In the months leading up to our team’s departure, I did all I could to prepare for the work ahead. I picked up books on Russian history, volunteered in my Church’s Sunday school, read my Bible and prayed heavily like never before. In my mind’s eye, I saw myself rising up as a Christian leader who helped many lost souls encounter God. As you might expect, that’s not how things played out.

The trip was by no means a failure, but it certainly wasn’t the mountaintop experience I’d been expecting. For starters, the moment we touched down in Moscow I became utterly, painfully, violently ill. My first two days in Russia were spent in a hotel bathroom, where I almost took the liberty of placing my headstone. After pulling myself together, I became overwhelmed with our constant travel and shifting schedules. I had trouble connecting with my teammates, with the children, even with God.

By the time I returned home, I was feeling very disillusioned. What had I done wrong? Was my pride to blame for everything that had happened? I fell back into old routines and life went on as it had before, except for one thing. Before departing for Russia I’d promised my church’s Sunday school leader I would volunteer for six months, and I still had three months to go.

Fast forward a year later, and I am now a regular volunteer at my Church’s Sunday school. I try not to speculate, but I think that may have been God’s plan all along. After all, God works in mysterious ways, and sometimes our disappointments are merely detours to His purpose.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Intersecting Faith and Life: Remember, sometimes God has to take us halfway around the world just to lead us next door.

Further Reading

James 2:14-17