You have probably seen small children hold on to their parents leg when they are afraid or uncertain; or when they have a nightmare, will climb into bed with their parents. Being close to their protector gives them a sense of safety and comfort. It is a bit more complicated to overcome fears when we grow up.

James 4:7 gives us a great formula for dealing with fears in life. James, in writing to the followers of Christ says. “So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” NIV

There cannot be anything more peaceful and powerful than to have God, the ultimate power and the source of love, “near us,” and James explained how.

Dear Lord, we submit our “to do list” to you. Guide us. Give us the strength to resist the temptations of the devil and the world. Draw near to us so we may experience the peace and comfort of being close to You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Have you ever noticed, when you are shopping for a new car and you have nearly settled on a particular model, you seem to see many of them on the road? Or when you are thinking about moving, you seem to see every real estate sign?

Our minds are always working behind the scenes, seeing more than we consciously notice. It is no surprise, then, that if we spend our time dwelling on our earthly wants and desires, we see those things that our earthly self is attracted to, which are not always good. However, Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of the Spirit are, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we spend our time focusing on these things, we will recognize and get more of them.

Romans 8:5-6 Paul writes, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

Dear Lord, the mind you gave us is such a powerful machine, but like any powerful machine, if not properly controlled it can go wrong. Help us keep our minds focused on those good things you have provided, so that we build on the gifts of the Spirit and find peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

General statements are statements like, “everyone knows that,” or “nobody goes there anymore,” sayings that leave no room for exceptions. There is an expression that goes, “All general statements are false, including this one.”

There are very few things that we can say have no exceptions, which is why I think it is significant when the Bible makes some general statements.

In Matthew 12:15, Matthew writes about Jesus, “…with many following him. He healed all the sick among them.”

And in Matthew 14 after the story of the miracle of feeding the 5000, in verses 35 and 36, Matthew writes, “And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.”

The key word in both of these descriptions is “all.” Jesus didn’t heal some of those that were sick, he healed “all”, and it wasn’t just some of those that touched his cloak that were healed, in was “all.”

One general statement that we can count on is that God is all powerful. Put our trust in Him.

Dear Lord, like those you healed in the Bible stories, give us the faith to put our trust in you to work in our lives and answer our prayers, Your way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I think we all know people or maybe we have been one of the people, who have made bad judgments and started down a path that could have ruined our lives, but turned around and got back on course. We may also know people who started down the wrong path and followed it to their demise, or are on their way.

What is the difference?

I believe the difference comes down to one decision followed by one more decision and one more, and so on… At any point, we can choose to turn away from our sinful way and begin back on the right course, or choose the next step toward destruction.

The Bible is filled with stories of people who saw that they were going the wrong way and turned back on course. Usually someone had to bring it to their attention. In 2 Samuel 12 After David had Bathsheba’s husband killed so he could marry her, Nathan brought this sin to David’s attention. Verse 13 says, “Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you,..”

As King, David could have, just as easily, eliminated Nathan, and continued down the wrong path, but he chose to turn back, and God forgave him and made him a Great King.

We all must know and believe that we can be reconciled with God, no matter how far down the wrong path we have gone. It only takes one right decision.

John tells us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Dear Lord, It is an amazing blessing for us to know that you will forgive us if we confess and turn back to you. Though for some it may seem impossible, it is not. You are just a prayer away from helping us make that first decision. Give us all the strength to turn to you and stay on your path. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you ever wondered why God created people anyway? or wondered what our purpose is here on earth?

Isaiah, the old testament prophet gives us some insight into this question. Isaiah brings the message from God in Isaiah 43:6-7 saying, “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” and in verse 21 God says through Isaiah “….the people I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”

So we were created by God to glorify and praise Him. When we keep God first place in our lives, there are an unlimited number of ways we can bring glory to Him.

Dear Lord, help us remember that we are here to bring glory to you, through our faith and actions. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.