We all have occasions when our faith loses some energy. For some people, this occurs when something bad happens. They wonder “how could God have let that happen?” and their faith weakens. For others, they have been hoping and praying for something for a long time, and their faith begins to weaken waiting and wondering.

One of the great aspects of the Bible is that it contains examples that are similar to most anything we encounter in our lives today.

Paul wrote the book of Romans about 20 years after his conversion from a persecutor of Christians, to a leader of them. Even he after spreading the news of Jesus Christ throughout the region for 20 years, needed occasional encouragement.

He wrote in Romans 1:12, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”

Paul is showing us that even he needed support in his faith journey. If Paul needed that, undoubtedly so do we. This is one of the reasons it is important to socialize with Christian friends and attend church (mostly remotely right now) where we can get the support and encouragement, to help us through those times our faith is challenged.

Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to associate with other Christians to whom we can provide encouragement, and from whom we can get encouraged. Help us remember how important this is. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Are you afraid to go in the basement with the lights off? Or take out the garbage late at night? Most of us have an inherent fear or uneasiness about the dark. Isn’t it interesting how with the lights on, the same basement is not scary, and there is no fear walking down the driveway in the daylight.

Jesus said in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Our life without Jesus is like walking in the dark basement or dark night. The Devil, the ruler of this dark world, is working to keep us from finding the light. With Jesus, the light of the world, we do not need to fear the darkness.

Dear Lord, help us remember that following you is what lights our world and removes the fear of the unknown darkness. Help us share this light with others that they may know the peace it brings as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“All In”

It is an expression used in gambling, when a player is so confident in his or her position, that he or she puts everything at risk. Win and the payoff is the maximum possible, lose and be wiped out.

Jesus says in Luke 14:26, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else: your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes even your own life; otherwise you cannot be my disciple.” NLT

In modern terms, Jesus says we must be “all in” if we want to follow him.

The first commandment God gave us through Moses in Exodus 20:3, “You must have no other gods but me.”

We must put all our hope, trust, confidence, and reverence in God. When we do He says in verse 6, “I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commandments.”

Dear Lord, how difficult it seems, but what peace it brings to be “all in” with you. Help us do so. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Since the early Christian Church, there have been differences of opinion on proper behavior for a Christian. Because most of the early Christians had been Jews then accepted Jesus as the Messiah, some still believed they were required to follow Jewish traditions for eating, days of the week to worship, and other behaviors.

Paul writes about this in Romans 14, and writes that it is up to each believer, based upon his dedicated study of scripture, Jesus’ and the apostles’ teaching, to determine what they believe is proper. The importance of the rules was not for judging others, but for managing themselves.

In Romans 14:23 Paul says, “But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.”

We have similar differences in the various denominations of Christian Churches today; Different days of worship, understandings on acceptable foods to eat, customs, acceptability of drinking alcohol, and other behaviors. We should remember Paul’s message, to use these rules to guide ourselves, and not to judge others.

Dear Lord, You made us and gave us a conscience and the ability to reason. Help us read and understand your word, and listen to our consciences so that we may live as you would have us, remembering that other Christians may have variations in their understanding, but we all still believe in You and Your saving grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Just prior to Jesus being betrayed and arrested, he prayed that he might be spared from the suffering he knew was coming, but he ended his prayer, “..nevertheless not my will but thine, be done.” Luke 22:43

Proverbs 3:5,6 tell us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

If you are like me you try to figure out what you have to do to accomplish the things you want. We need to turn this around, and seek what God wants for us, and trust him to lead us there. We don’t have to figure it out, just submit, trust and follow.

Dear Lord, Thy will be done. Amen.