“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, army yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin…”  1 Peter 4:1

The joys of life can often be overshadowed by the hidden sins we think we are hiding from God.  We think that if we act a certain way, or talk with just the right words, that we will fool everybody.  That may be true of people, but it isn’t true of God.  He sees it all, the good and the bad.  He knows us, and in that knowing He sees.  I used to be afraid of that “seeing”.  I used to think that this meant God was always spying on me and being intrusive…but that’s not how God works at all.  

Like a loving parent, His desire is for us to be rid of all kinds of sickness, and sickness of sin is the worst of it.  He despises sin to the point that nothing with sin can ever stand in His presence.  This Fatherly love, that is perfect and completely devoid of malice, desires the best for us.  He sees the potential in us even when we do not see that potential ourselves.  We might consider ourselves worthless or lacking gifts or talents, where God sees us in a whole different light – His perfect light which is true, pure and full of love for us.  He sent His one and only Son into this world so that sin and death would finally be vanquished forever – so that through Christ, we might experience true life!

Whatever temptations you are facing today – God’s providence can sustain you!
Whatever sins you have been wallowing in for far too long, Christ can forgive and redeem you.
Whatever struggle you might see as impossible to overcome – The Holy Spirit will empower you and strengthen you to overcome and see victory!

Allow this to take place in your life.
Say yes to true living and turn from the trap of sin that leads to loneliness, sorrow and pain.  Hope awaits us all – let’s embrace God’s Light in our lives today more fully than we ever thought possible, with the power of the Holy Spirit within us!

Prayer:  Lord deliver me from ____________________(name it) today.
You know these struggles and these temptations.  Help me to fully embrace your will for my life.  Lead me in this day, deliver me from the snares of the evil one.  Thank you for seeing the potential in me and for guiding me on this path of holiness.  -Amen.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13

Much of our struggles in life come from stuff and being discontent in life.
We long for that new cell phone that just came out and so we sacrifice to get it and when we do it’s nice for a time, but then it losing its shine.  We envy people who have “made it” professionally and so we covet what they have while we lose sight of the blessings we already possess.  We grumble and complain about situations and completely miss the little blessings God provides to us every day…or we take them for granted.

This happened to me yesterday and it brought a humbling sense of God’s presence to me.  I was having a bad morning.  It seemed nothing I could do was good enough and so my wife and I went to get coffee at a local coffee shop.  While waiting in the drive-thru for what seemed like ages, I began to complain about that.  (Have you ever noticed that negativity breeds more negativity?)  I was criticizing the car in front of us for their choice of sports teams…and just being very discontent with the way life was going that morning.  But then it happened.  It was our turn to grab our coffees at the drive-thru window and pay.  I had my wallet out and I was ready.  When I finally got up to the window, still in a huff because of my day, the drive-thru employee informed me that the car in front of me had already paid for our drinks.  Wow…that was kind of like a slap in the face to me, as if God was trying to get my attention and remind me that my contentment doesn’t come from circumstances around me.  In that moment it had nothing to do with coffee or getting something free (although that was cool), it had everything to do with my attitude and response to the things around me.

Have you been there?  
Have you allowed negativity to rule your thoughts and actions?
I know from experience I am not fun to be around when this has happened to me…and I’m sure it’s the same with you.  No one wants to hang out with angry, sullen, sour people all the time.  If we are to be men and women of faith, who are fit to be called and Sons and Daughters of the Most High, we have to change this stinkin’ thinkin’ kind of attitude!

Where does our contentment come from?  It comes from the One who gives us strength to make it through whatever circumstance and situation – good or bad.  Through it all, He remains faithful and steadfast.  He is above any problem we might be facing or will face.  He stands outside of the troubles of life and He gives to us what we need in order to see the bigger picture – WE ARE KINGDOM PEOPLE – Not of this present world but the next!  We can live out His Kingdom now and live in holy contentment because of who He is.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to keep my attitude in check today.  Help me to see the bigger picture than the temporal problems that I am facing right now.  Give me your strength so that I might reside within Your holiness.  Lead me Lord and thank you for reminding me that You are there and You will provide!  -Amen.

Read this passage:  Psalm 37:3-7

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:17-19

I must admit that recently I have felt discouraged and drained.
This doesn’t happen often, but every now and then I feel my spirit become distracted, discontent and a little burdened.  It happens to all of us.  Perhaps it is at these moments that we require God’s presence the most and that of the fellowship of other believers to surround us.  We need to be reminded in those moments that, like Elijah, we aren’t alone…there are others who can understand what we are going through.

Have you been here before?
Are you in need of encouragement today?
Let me reassure you that God’s presence is with us and that we can go to this well of Life for renewal and refreshment.  Going to God and seeking out these moments is not an indication of weakness, but rather a sign of great strength.

Do not be discouraged today.
The Lord is willing to remove those heavy burdens, and He longs to journey beside you today.  Be encouraged – You are not alone.

Prayer:  Lord hear my cry today.   Please see these heavy burdens in my life right now and I ask that you help me carry then.  Lord I need your light in my life today.  Shine into my darkness and remove that which is not honoring to you.  In your name I pray these things.  -Amen.

“Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”) 
John 1:42

There are many people in the bible who were given new names.
-Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sarah.
-Simon became Peter (the rock).
-Saul became Paul the Apostle.

Numerous people given different names in order to do God’s will on earth.
I wonder what if we require a new name in order to do God’s amazing will in our lives today.  Did those ‘new’ names give them more confidence?  Did they provide a title or commission by God?  How does that translate in our context and existence today?  What is your name and what does it mean?  I don’t mean the definition of you name in some genealogy or baby name book, I mean how do you see yourself in the mainframe of God’s kingdom?  Who are you?  What are you here for?  What is your purpose?

Each person mentioned above from the bible were given new names and they had a purpose.  Do you know what your purpose is?   It’s okay if you are still searching.  It is okay if you aren’t sure yet.  (does that help you to hear this?)  Sometimes I think we are so concerned with no finding our purpose that we become frustrated and want to give up even seeking it out.  Finding purpose in God is both simple and very complicated.  He wants to fellowship with us on a daily basis, but when we grow with the Holy Spirit’s help, we also are given more of a burden for others as well.

So how about it…who are you?  What’s your name?  What is your purpose?
Here is a reassurance:  You are a child of the Most High.  You have are fit to be called Son and Daughter.  He wants YOU to be the very image of Christ to the world around you.  This seems like a tall order, but let me encourage you that we have the strength and the power of the Holy Spirit within you!

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for giving me your identity and calling me your child!  I pray that today I might understand what that means.  Guide me on this path today.  I pray that you might strengthen me when I am weak and encourage me when I am downcast.  Be with me on today dear Lord.  -Amen.

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

So many people worry about what they do.
Will I earn enough money.
Can I afford to go to school to become a doctor or lawyer. 
Our world has made certain professions a matter of prestige and of which to pursue and become.  But our jobs do not truly define us.  Sure, they can be an outpouring of our passion, but they are not the root identifier of who we truly are.  Many times I will go to special events and I will meet people and usually one of the first things they ask is – “So, what do you do?”  This one single question becomes the classifier of not just profession but an indicator of what kind of person you are.  It’s judgmental and assuming.

What do you say when people ask you this question?
Perhaps you could shock them by saying something like “I’m an ambassador of the eternal King” …just imagine the looks you might get then.  The truth is, it doesn’t really matter what the world around you thinks about you, and these kind of canned questions with the rehearsed and canned answers are all superficial and none of it truly speaks to WHOSE we are.

You are and I are sons and daughters of the Most High.
We are called to BE holy…then DO holiness in our practical living.
The Apostle Paul tells us in the above passage to recognize that we are all God’s temple.  I have this funny idea of these little steeple and temple running around, and bumping into each other at coffee shops…but the true reality is this:  we are God’s kingdom here on earth…and above all, we should live kingdom living before we even attempt the “doing”.  Today, may we all find God’s kingdom within us and through us.  May we recognize what we do is not as important as WHOSE we are.

Prayer:  Lord, grant me understanding of my purpose here on earth.  Help me to live for you and to stop worrying about my employment status in society.  Guide me in my day and lead me to live for you in all of my ways.  I love you Lord.  -Amen.

“He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.”  (Psalm 23:2-3)

Have you ever come to the end, or even the beginning of your day and have found that you are unsure if you will make it?  I don’t meaning living, but I do mean the stresses of life.
We all find ourselves here.
We find ourselves running on empty and at times we lose forward momentum in our relationship with Christ.

These moments of fellowship that we have with God are so vital to the whole self.
It can become a monotonous, even boring practice if we only consider it an obligation.
God doesn’t require our obligation…but he longs for our fellowship.  When we find ourselves burned out, stressed out and emotionally/spiritually spent may we find the wellspring of life again through this relationship with God.  He wants to refresh our souls.  He longs to take us from the dry land, thirsty land and into a spa for the soul…to restore us, to renew us and to prepare us for his fellowship and his holy service.

Do you need the restoration of soul today?
Are you tired and emotionally or spiritually spent?
Allow a time of refreshment to take place in your life.  Perhaps this refreshment will come through your prays today.  Perhaps it will come from listening to a song in your car or on your ride to (or from) work.  Perhaps this spa will take place in a moment during lunch today.  Pay attention.  Keep your eyes, ears, hearts focused on what God is doing in your life today.  He wants to bring you to a place of refreshing and restoration.  Let Him in, and allow Him to bring his  renewal to you today.

Prayer:  Lord I desire your fellowship today.  I long for your peace in this restless heart.  Restore me today, I desire to be yours and yours alone.  Amen.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

There are certainly days when we lack the words to speak and the actions we ought to take.  Difficult days.  Days that leave us bowled over and utterly wishing we could just go back to bed and get a redo.  We’ve all been there.  When those days come can we ask God for help?  It might seem trite, but His presence with us is very real and evident if we pay attention.  For those who are Christ-followers, it is promised that wisdom will be given and given generously.

Can we seek God in the midst of our redo-seeking days?
Can we fall to our knees and make our day – His day?  God desires our fellowship and our love.  He will never force us to accept Him, or invite Him in, but when we do allow Him access in a manner of humility and love He will always provide us what we need.

Can you place your day, all your agendas, all your plans and to-do lists before God today?  Allow Him in and receive His provisions to your set-apart life!

Prayer: Dear Lord, I commit this day to your service.  I want to live for you in all that I choose to say and do today.  Lead me and I ask that when my words and wisdom fails, provide for me your wisdom and your words. Thank you for your blessings and provision!  In your name I pray these things.  -Amen.