Protect Your Riches

goldScience shows that our thoughts, laid down as neurons on the brain, are interlinked. Meaning, one thought can trigger another thought. And because of this, when we let our guard down in one area of our lives, it tends to spread to other areas of our lives as well. This is why we must keep our guard up as to protect ourselves from spiraling downward, one small, seemingly insignificant decision at a time.
I find it interesting that King David singled out 4,000 Levites to be gatekeepers at the Temple (1 Chron. 23:5). The Jerusalem Temple not only was a place of worship, but it was also the storehouse of Israel’s riches. Thus, these guys regulated who was and wasn’t allowed into the Temple, as well as protected Israel’s treasury!
Kind of gives meaning to Colossians 1:27, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Just as tremendous wealth was stored in the Temple, we too have tremendous wealth stored in us – Jesus Himself.
You have all resources you’ll ever need to become more like Jesus with each and every decision. Let this victorious thought trigger other victorious thoughts. Keep walking by the Spirit to protect your riches!
Set Free Now“W”w

Fighting’s Hard, Surrender’s Harder

fightingThere are times when “fighting the good fight of faith” becomes wearying. And, if we’re honest with ourselves, quitting seems so much easier than plugging away in exercising the truth by faith.
I read a story about King Alfred the Great of Wessex, the last kingdom on the island of Britain that hadn’t fallen to Viking invaders. Alfred decided that it was better to fight and die than to die in bed. He knew from how the Vikings had treated his northern brethren that life would be much harder after surrendering than it would be if he’d fought instead. He chose to risk death for freedom, which he did and achieved.
Blessing and joy are on the other side of obedience. As secure children of God, we trust Jesus to have only our best interest in mind. Based on this truth, we’ll keep doing what He says to do, no matter how hard that might be, because we know real living and peace will be found as we do. Fighting our enemy is extremely hard, but what are the alternatives? Surrender only brings more grief, less meaning in life, more guilt, less satisfaction, more fear, less…you fill in the blank.
Yes, fighting is hard, but surrender brings even more grief. Be encouraged! Keep fighting the good fight of faith and you will experience the good stuff Jesus promises on the other end of obedience.
“S”et Fre“E” Nowww

Remember to Give Thanks

memorial crossToday is Memorial Day in the US. It is a day we remember and give thanks for all those who died to obtain and maintain the freedoms we enjoy.
It’s very appropriate, then, for all believers to give thanks on this day to the One who set us free from all the negative consequences of our bad choices/sin and gives us the ability to live in freedom each and every day – Jesus. “It is for freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1)
Let us remember this to give thanks to and focus on Jesus every day no matter where we are, especially though, on this day Memorial Day.
“S”et Free Nowww

Fail Not a Failure

headache 2The parent’s of Rachel Scott, a 17 year-old martyr for Christ, wrote that Rachel “knew she had failed to be faithful to God, but she did not get frustrated and give up; her flaws helped her remain humble before God and dependent on Him for her sense of balance and satisfaction.”
The pain of failure didn’t cause her to spiral downward, but to become even more dependent on Jesus than before she fell. Pain led to growth.
Recently, I was experiencing headaches and stomach discomfort. I thought it was residual effects from a recent concussion sustained from a surfing accident. Yet, the Lord showed me both were a result of sin in my life. I had forgotten a prior life lesson from the Lord: Jesus doesn’t need me to do anything for Him. He simply wants me to do everything with Him.
I was taking my schedule back again. I was focusing on getting things done rather than the One I was supposed to be doing them with, Jesus, which resulted in stress related headaches and stomach discomfort. If I hadn’t felt both, I wouldn’t have known what I was doing.
Don’t run from your pain (don’t seek it either!), use it to draw closer to Jesus. You fail, but you’re not a failure. You’re an awesome masterpiece of God (Eph. 2:10)!
“S”et Free Nowww

Spark World Change Through Spring Cleaning

spark loveJosiah was the last good king Israel/Judah had. In 2 Kings 22-23 Josiah starts reading God’s Word. As he did, he discovered why his northern brethren had been kicked out of the land – all the garbage they had allowed into their lives.
This caused Josiah to get busy. He started by cleaning “the temple of the LORD of all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven.” The Bible sanitizes what was going on here, but it was really gross. He then went on to clean up the entire land, both Israel and Judah.
It’s true that Western societies no longer live with a Judeo-Christian worldview. We can lament this fact all we want or we can do something about it; and it won’t be through the ballot box either! Real societal change will start where it did in Josiah’s day with the Temple where God lived.
Want to change the world? It’s time for a little Spring cleaning in our own lives. Want to see revival in the Church? It starts with removing the garbage in our Temples, our hearts and minds.
Psalm 107 repeats the following four times, “Thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!” Our God loves us and wants to be actively involved with our lives, right now, today. He desires to change us so others will see His love and want to experience it for themselves as well.
It’s time to be in and with the Word of God, Jesus. While reading and listening to Him, allow Him to point out and remove the garbage hidden in your heart and mind. Not only, will your life be changed for the better, but who knows, we might even see a revival in the church that could spark a fire of change that could spread over the entire planet.
Set Free Now“W”w