It is so uplifting to see people put their faith in God and overcome their afflictions, fears, challenges or use their faith to excel and do great things.

I can only imagine that this was how Jesus felt in the story of the Centurion in Matthew 8. Roman soldiers were not what people expected when thinking of followers of Jesus Christ, but Jesus showed how, no matter who one is, it is the faith that matters.

The soldier’s servant was paralyzed and suffering. When Jesus asked if the Centurion wanted Him to come and heal the servant. The Centurion said he knew all Jesus had to do was say so and his servant would be healed. Jesus, knowing the heart of the soldier, said in verse 10, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” and in verse 13, “Go, Let it be done just as you believed it would.” NIV

We don’t have to be great “church-people” to believe God can bring us out of miserable situations, overcame debilitating fears, and even give us success in our endeavors. We need to have the faith in God’s power and ability to do anything.

Dear Lord, help us have the faith in you to know without a doubt that you can do anything. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

Philippians 4:6,7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

I find a great deal of comfort and wisdom in this passage, about how and why to pray, but I also find it interesting that it says that God’s peace will “guard” your hearts and minds. Using this word implies that our Hearts and Minds need to be protected from something. I think what God’s peace is protecting our hearts and minds from, is temptation; The many varieties of temptation that draw us away.

Some other Bible versions use the expression “keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

So by praying, asking for what we need and thanking God for what he has done, we will experience God’s Peace that protects us from temptation, and keeps us connected to Jesus Christ. This lets us do what the verse starts with…Not worry.

Dear Lord, Thank you for this promise of your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

We all have seen people trying to find their joy in having more things, bigger parties, or more money, but I think most people would agree that what truly gives them joy, is doing something good, or doing something well. Something good, like making a positive difference in another’s life, or doing something well, like playing a great round of golf, mastering a piece of music, getting an A+, or the like.

An Indian Poet captured this idea in the following quote, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy, I woke and found that life was service, I acted, and behold, service is joy.” Rabidranath Tagore, (1861-1941)

A couple thousand years earlier, Solomon wrote, after using his unmatched resources to evaluate all possibilities, in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Here is my final conclusion; Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”

Doing our duty to God is what brings joy. Psalm 32:11 says, “So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!”

Simple thinking would tell us that getting is what makes us happy, but if we actually try both getting and giving, we find that giving, or as Jesus instructs us, “Loving our neighbor,” is what really provides us joy.

Dear Lord, you give us so much, help us appreciate those things you provide us, but as important, give us the wisdom to see that serving is where joy truly begins. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

Mark 9 includes the story of Jesus healing a boy who was possessed by a demon who would throw him into convulsions.

Mark 9 :21-22 says, “Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

The man said “if you can” to Jesus. The man must have heard the stories of Jesus healing other people, and was looking desperately to find a way to help his son. Even though he probably had heard stories of Jesus healing people, he was not sure Jesus could, or would, heal his son.

Don’t we sometimes fall into this place of doubt, not sure God can solve the difficult problem we have.

In those times, think about these words. “Don’t say “can God?” say “God can.”

Dear Lord, We know that with you, all things are possible. Help us remember to pray and ask with confidence, and remember “God can.”
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

I think it is easy to be confused when reading this passage. Here we are on earth that God made for us, and where he put us, but we are not supposed to “love” anything here? After meditating on this and studying commentaries, I think the message is about the relative value we place on things of the world verses our faith and hope for our future with God. Enjoying the wonders of God’s creation is great, but it should not interfere with the priority of God’s will for us.

We need to be able to walk away from anything in this world that would come between us and God. We need to remember; God first, everything else, second.

Dear Lord, it is sometimes difficult for us to remember that even good things like family, friends, charity, and the beautiful things you put on earth for us are to take second place to our faith in you. Things on earth are not important for our eternity. Help us keep our priorities in your order. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box