One limiting belief many of us have as Christians is that because we are not living a flawless Christian life, we cannot witness and evangelize. We think we have to have all the answers, and follow all the rules before we can be acceptable witnesses to lead others to Christ.

This is obviously not the case, and Paul makes it clear in Philippians 3:12-14 “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

It is not our “goodness” that saves people, but it is our witness that can open the door for the Holy Spirit to come to them. Our authentic enthusiasm for Chist is a better tool for evangelism than how good we are.

Dear Lord, help us always remember that we do not bring people to believe, we only bring them to the opportunity, and You save them. Our best witness is our joyful confidence in your guidance and protection, and our hope for eternal Salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One of the most important things in life is to control your own mind. If we just let our minds wander, most people’s thoughts will turn negative and often toward sinful things. This is made even worse when we read or watch negative news stories, TV shows, and internet posts, that sensationalize tragedy, immorality and evil. When we do these things, we are handing over the steering wheel of our mind to these things, and frankly to the devil.

We need to take the wheel of our own minds, and drive it toward good things. Paul writes in Romans 8:6, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

Taking control of our minds includes controlling the things to which we are exposing ourselves. Paul also writes in Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Dear Lord, You have created so much beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and love for us to fill our lives and thoughts with. Help us take control of our minds and thoughts so that we may stay on the path to life and peace, and be fitting Christian examples for others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The disciples and early Christians in the Bible often greeted each other with the words “Peace be with you.” What is the significance of them wishing each other “peace?”

Peace is contentment, tranquility; The absence of fear, worry, want, anger, and frustration. Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, and He tells his disciples in John 14:27, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart!”

We can have the peace he offers if we keep our focus on him and not our problems and the things that take away our peace.

Isaiah writes in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

Dear Lord, help us keep our thoughts and trust on you so that we may have your perfect peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you ever been out in the dark late at night with a group, and someone leading the group has a flashlight. As you walk down a trail, or down the beach, all you can really see is the flashlight and what it shines on. The flashlight makes everything else appear darker and almost invisible.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:22, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”

Bible commentaries have a number of interpretations of this verse, but I think one of the messages is, like a flashlight in the dark, where we look with our eyes will determine the direction for our thoughts and actions.

If we are looking at improper things, we are setting ourselves up to act improperly, and if we keep our focus on what is moral and proper, we are leading ourselves toward living moral and proper lives.

Dear Lord, You have provided us with many lessons for our lives in the Bible. Help us read and understand with the intent of implementing your wisdom. Help us keep our eyes set on what is good, right and proper, so that our actions will follow. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The dictionary definition of the word “cleanse” is, “to rid of impurities.”

John writes in 1 John 1:8,9, “If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”

For most of us, it is very difficult to admit when we are wrong. I think this stems from the sense that admitting we are wrong makes us feel inferior. However, admitting our wrongs, “confessing” them to God, shows our recognition that we need to be forgiven by God, who is superior. The great thing about this admission is that it makes us better, not inferior. God through Jesus cleanses us, or “rids us of impurities.”

Now is as good a time as any, to make that confession.

Dear Lord, we cannot follow your will and direction, no matter how hard we try. We are guilty of disobedience to you and wronging other people. Forgive us for these failings. We thank you for your forgiveness through Jesus, and the knowledge that we can live our lives confident of your grace and salvation, not because we deserve it, but because of your gift. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.