Archive for the ‘ Lifestyle ’ Category
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Exodus 14:14, ESV
Remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35), so do not retaliate in any way. Hold your tongue and hold back your hand.
In fact, turn the other cheek and forgive.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6, ESV
The easiest way to alleviate or even avoid stress and anxiety is to continually turn to God, thanking Him even for what makes us uncomfortable or brings us pain as well as the good.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Titus 2:11-12, ESV
In a western society, it is incredibly easy to give in to our passions and follow the world’s example.
That means it is hard to live rightly.
Praise God that He sent His Son to show us grace, and they sent the Spirit to strengthen us!
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV
Life is hard.
As Christians we are called to reconcile with a world that makes life hard. But we have a Savior who understands and strengthens us.
Trust Him.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 ESV
Israel knew we had to love God and love others, but Jesus came and basically said, “Keep going, guys! I want you to love each other as brothers and sisters!”
We may be a dysfunctional family, but good families stick together, care for each other, and defend each other.
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV
God wants to respond to His people. He is about relationships. If we seek Him, we will find Him. This is the first step in changing our world.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me
Galatians 2:20, ESV
We need to give up our rights to anything just as He gave up His rights as God to give us life.
Stop demanding and expecting Him and others to do what we think we deserve. Start giving all of you to love others for His glory.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Psalm 51:1-2, ESV
Mercy: Not getting what we deserve.
Grace: Getting what we do not deserve.
We did not deserve forgiveness, but praise God He sacrificed His Son to give us just that!
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 ESV
“Discipline” has gained a negative reputation in recent decades, intoning punishment. However, when we think of it in terms of sports or finances we tend to realize its important good qualities.
May we see the need for discipline in every aspect of our lives, realizing that circumstances are not God punishing us but teaching us godliness and self-control.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12, ESV
Too many people have not counted the cost of discipleship (Luke 14) and therefore misunderstand what the Christian faith truly is.
If we wish to be faithful to our Lord, we must forcefully take hold of the truth of Christ and what it means for our lives, and we must strive to live in light of that truth, not the truth we make for ourselves.
a simple man of God 