Faith

In ‭Philippians 4:6-7 KJV‬ Bible we read 

'Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.'

When we are in need we are to earnestly ask with thanksgiving. We are to make our request known to God. And then expect the peace of God to keep our minds and hearts. 

The Greek word for the phrase 'shall keep' in verse 7 is φρουρέω. It means to protect. God gives us peace to protect our minds and hearts. What do our minds and hearts need protecting from when we're petitioning God for something? 

Faith is believing in things we cannot see with the physical eye. The enemy will attack that which he needs to in order to diminish our faith. What is your weakness? Is it faith in God? Is it believing that God really wants to give you what you're asking for. Is it self worth? Do you question in your heart that you deserve or have earned God's favor? Thankfully we do not need to earn God's favor, love or attention. He is already a loving, merciful, forgiving and attentive Father. We only need to have faith and to receive. That's it! He does the rest. Isn't God great? Isn't his love complete? 

When you are struggling to have faith ask yourself why and talk to God about it. Ask God to give you faith and wisdom. God loves you and his grace is sufficient for everything. Just go to God and make your petition with thanksgiving.

Sometimes we will receive the answer no because what we request isn't God's will. He sees and knows things that we do not. Like a parent who can see potential danger for their child God sees all things for us. He knows best. Trust him. Lean into him.

Sometimes we will receive something but in God's timing not our own. Sometimes we will receive something right away. In any case, be thankful in all things. Be conscious of what you have received. 

Written by Lisa C 

Prodigal

If you've ever been the prodigal son and rededicated your life to God then you know what an amazing feeling it is. You're engulfed with peace by holy spirit and you get a heart squeeze. You don't forget it because all the weight you carried from guilt, shame, or just knowing you needed to do better and didn't is gone. 

We define prodigal as wasting money, living lavishly, wasting time, profuse liberality, and living in sin. Mainly, it is separation from God. We have gotten caught up in something, allowed ourselves to be distracted, and separated ourselves from God. God wants a relationship with us.  We're his children. He wants to hear about our day, our thoughts and feelings, our needs and our desires. He wants for us to trust him, lean on him, and rest in him.

In Isaiah 41:10 of the King James Bible we read, '‭Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.' 

God isn't waiting with a belt to beat us when we come back to him to regain or gain that close relationship with him that he desires. He's a loving Father full of mercy and grace and compassion for us. All you have to do is talk to him and tell him how you feel in your heart, ask him to forgive you, and move forward with the knowledge and wisdom you've gained. That's it. God will forgive you and wipe the slate clean. It's forgotten. God doesn't remember things you did in the past and bring them back up, ever. Your sin is blotted out. It's a new day. God's got you. You're his kid. What are you waiting for? 

Written by Lisa C.

Life

In Romans 8:10-11 we read ‭

'[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.' 

The word quicken is the Greek word zōopoieō. It means:

* to cause to live, make alive, give life:

* by spiritual power to arouse and invigorate

* to restore to life

* to give increase of life: thus of physical life

* of the spirit, quickening as respects the spirit, endued with new and greater powers of life. (See Greek translation). 

We can safely deduce from this that after we have received salvation we no longer live in the flesh (metaphorically speaking). We crucify the lust and desires as a human being and put on the mind of Christ. We are to resume life as new creatures in Christ living only to please God, living holy and blameless not in our power, our minds are weak, but in the power of the holy spirit. As we put on the mind of Christ the holy spirit strengthens us, gives us a new life, spiritual power, restoring our lives as God's children. 

Live your life seeking God first, putting him first and above all else, living righteously, and he will bless you with the things you have need of. (Matthew 6:33)

Written by Lisa C