Rooted in Christ

 

Sometimes we see really large old trees we can see the root system pushing up around the soil and the trunk of the tree.  These roots hold the tree straight and sure.  Guiding the tree to the full potential of the growth of the tree.

So we should be established in Christ.  Growing in stature along with Christ as we learn to walk more and more like Christ.

This can only be achieved through a living and nutured relationship with our Lord and our Saviour.  When we fellowship with other Christ followers and when we pray and we read our Bibles, then we come into a closer and closer relationship with our tree, Jesus Christ. 

As Jesus said "I am the vine and you are the branches", this is how we must be.  Without Jesus we are not able to commune with our FATHER in Heaven.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that Jesus is the tree of my life.  Help me to grow strong, rooted in Him.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Our CREATOR FATHER

 Do we understand the magnitude of our FATHER in Heaven?

Perhaps and perhaps not.  Nothing was created that was not created by HIM.  And yet the Bible tells us that HE numbers the hairs on our heads.  We are that important to HIM.  And each and every one of us is important to HIM.

GOD reached down to earth from Heaven through Jesus to save each one of us and all we have to do is to reach back and take HIS grace.

That is the only way to get to Heaven -through the GRACE OF GOD by faith in HIS Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Saviour.

The CREATOR of everything wants a living, loving relationship with YOU and me today.  Reach back, accept Jesus, confess our sins and become a co-heir with Jesus Christ in the eternal life spent in Heaven with our FATHER.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR grace and favour.  I thank YOU for Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Saviour.  FATHER fill me anew with YOUR Holy Spirit today.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Pray without Ceasing

 Do we know the will of GOD in Christ Jesus is for our lives?

This is a profound question and one which most people search for their entire lives long.

It is simple.  In all circumstance, no matter what, we are to give thanks to GOD.  We do not know the plan GOD has for our lives, but whatever our circumstances we are to give thanks.

So today, I am giving thanks to GOD through Jesus Christ, my Lord and I am giving thanks to GOD for all that I am.

I am giving thanks for all that I have.  I am giving thanks for my family, my friends, my home and my garden.  I am giving thanks for my trials and my tribulations.  I am giving thanks for all the things I have learned from my trials and my tribulations.  I am giving thanks for all that I have learned from my family and my friends.  I am giving thanks for each person I have met, good or otherwise, because GOD put them all in my life to refine me.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU in all circumstances.  I thank YOU today for giving me this life to live and all that this entails.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today.  

The LORD is near to those who call on HIM!

 In this Psalm we are told that the LORD is righteous in all HIS ways.  HE is holy in all HIS works.

So when we pray in truth and in faith that HE is near to us, and with no selfish desires, our prayers are answered.

What we need to do is to come before the LORD clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.  

To do that we have to accept Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour.  We have to accept that there is no way to get to our FATHER except through Jesus.  We have to know that we are sinners and acknowledge this to our FATHER.  We have to repent and to show true remorse, not lip service, for GOD reads our hearts and GOD is not mocked.

Then our prayers are answered.  But there is still a ryder attached to this.  We need to pray that if it is the will of our FATHER in Heaven then it should be done.  Because GOD's plans are perfect and ours are not.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, show me how to pray to YOU FATHER.  Teach me YOUR ways and give me the wisdom to pray to YOU.  I know that YOU hear all my prayers FATHER, but teach me to pray in YOUR will and not mine.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Be alert and Pray!

 

In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he says that they should pray at all times and with all types of prayers.  

Do we pray only when we need GOD?  Or do we pray when we are happy, sad, celebrating, thankful?  

All times should be prayed about.  GOD wants to hear from us.  

The Holy Spirit convicts us more and more to converse with our FATHER in Heaven the closer we get to Jesus.

So today, let us remember to pray about everything.  Not just the times we need GOD's help.  Let us pray to say thank YOU ABBA FATHER.  Let us pray when we are happy, when we are sad, when we are thankful and when we just want to talk to our FATHER in heaven.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER convict me through YOUR Holy Spirit to pray to YOU at all times.  I want to know YOU FATHER and I want to walk closer to YOU each and every day.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

Walk in the way of Jesus!

 I do not know if you remember the rubber wrist bands we used to wear.  They had the letters WWJD on them.  This stood for "What would Jesus do?".  And the object of the wrist bands was to remind us to behave in a manner that Jesus would have.

So any situation that you found yourself in, you would ask the question "What would Jesus do?" and hopefully that gave rise to a walk which closer to our Lord.

And here Paul writes this exact objective. 

Paul urges his readers to walk in the way of love and present ourselves as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to GOD.

This is a very good way to conduct our lives.  To be mindful that we are the light of the world in these very darkest of times.  To remind ourselves that our goals are not to achieve greatness on this earth, but to serve others, to spread the gospel and to be an example of what Jesus would do on this earth.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, how privileged I am to be able to call on YOU as my ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU for this.  FATHER, today I humbly ask in the Holy Name of Jesus, that YOU make me more and more like Jesus each and every day.  Amen.

Stay obediently GOD blessed today!

Blessed be GOD!

 In these verses, Paul says "Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ".  And this is what we need to do.  We need to realize that GOD has given us HIS blessings in abundance.

We have been given a universe to live in, an earth to live on, air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, plants to make materials to clothe ourselves, stones to build houses, wood to make furniture, cattle and sheep to tend and work which needs to be done.

GOD has catered to our every need.  

And then GOD gave us HIS Son so that through the life, death and resurrection of HIS Son, we might have eternity with HIM.

Indeed we are blessed and we need to pray for our Blessed FATHER in Heaven giving HIM thanks and all the glory for HIS mighty grace.  None of which we could have provided for anyone else without our CREATOR GOD.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER today I thank YOU for YOUR blessings.  Thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Doxology

 Some days I just feel that we need to praise GOD.  And some days my heart just over flows with love for Jesus and GOD and the Holy Spirit.  Today is one of those days.

Today I am thankful for everything.  For love, for life, for family, for friends, for my home, my dog, my garden, my food.

I am thankful that I can go to my church and worship freely.  I am thankful that I have my health.  I am thankful that I have clothes to wear.  I am thankful that I have work.

Today is day for pure gratitude and praise.  Hence this doxology (praise to GOD).

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU and I thank YOU and I thank YOU.  I thank YOU for all that I am.  I thank You for all that I have.  I thank YOU FATHER for grace and for forgiveness of my sins. I thank YOU FATHER for Jesus living and showing me a better way to live my life.  I thank YOU for the Holy Spirit convicting me and guiding me towards an eternity with YOU.  I humbly pray this in the Holy name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Saved or condemned!

 We all know the verse so well.  John 3 verse 16.  But do we know the next few verses which are so pertinent to our salvation?

GOD did not send Jesus to earth to be born of a virgin, to live a sinless life and to die on a cross and be raised from the dead on the third day to condemn us.  This was done so that we might have a chance at life in Heaven with GOD for eternity.

If we accept the Grace of GOD and take Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour, if we are born again, we are not condemned to a life spent in hell.

But if we do not accept Jesus, if we reject the Grace of GOD we accept the fact that we are now condemned.

This is our choice.  We have been given free will by a FATHER in Heaven, the CREATOR of our Universe and our world, to do what we want.

A FATHER who truly loves HIS children will always give them the right to decide their own destiny.  HE can give them all the guidance that they need to make the right decisions, but in the end, they make their own decisions.

Have you decided to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour?  If not, I would urge you today to do this.  Stop what you are doing and think carefully about where you are going to spend eternity.  This life is fleeting and we are not assured of tomorrow on this earth.  Accept the Grace of GOD, the gift of eternity in Heaven.  Take Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life right now.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today, I humbly ask that anyone reading this today who has not accepted Jesus, be convicted by the Holy Spirit to give their lives to YOU now.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

Walk in Christ

When we are rooted in Christ, we gain our strength and we establish our walk.

Jesus is the light of world and we need to spread the light. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No one can get to the FATHER except through the Son. 

We therefore, once we know Jesus, need to tell other people the good news.  We need to give people the gospel.  All can be saved.  They only need to accept Jesus as their Lord and their Saviour.  People need to know GOD loves us all. That is why HE sent HIS Son to die on a cross for us all.  Jesus conquered death to give us eternal life.  This was so because GOD wants a relationship with each one of us.

In order to spread the gospel, we need to truly know the will of GOD and we need to know the character of Jesus.  We need a living relationship with our FATHER.  This is gained through our faith and by prayer and by reading the word of GOD.  This is also achieved by fellowship with other Christ followers.  

Today let us root ourselves in Christ.  Let us shine HIS light on this dark earth and let us grow in our faith by prayer.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, help me today to root myself in YOU and in Jesus.  Help me FATHER to shine YOUR light on this earth.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Abounding in gratitude!

 Today, I would like to give thanks to GOD my FATHER in Heaven.  So often we take things for granted. But when we are born again, we need to remember that we have absolutely nothing.  Everything we have, everything we are and everything we need comes only from GOD.

Yes we may work and think we achieve things, but again, nothing, and I say again, nothing is ours that we could have attained without our FATHER in Heaven.

So, today, I thank GOD that HE sent Jesus to walk with me, to live in me, and to provide for me.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, Good and Gracious, Holy and Righteous,  I thank YOU for all the blessings poured out on me.  I thank YOU for my life, my family, my friends.  I thank YOU for my home and for my health.  I thank YOU for Jesus who died on that cross so that I may pray directly to YOU - ABBA FATHER.  Jesus I thank YOU for YOUR sacrifice.  I thank YOU for YOUR love I thank YOU for YOU.

I pray all of this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay thankfully GOD blessed today!

Do the Will of GOD

 In this passage Paul clearly tells us not to be conformed to his world. But by reading the word of GOD and by testing whether or not we are doing the Will of GOD, we may discern what GOD wants for us.  

That is why it is so important for us to read our Bibles daily.  It is important to attend Church and it is important to fellowship with like minded Christians.

We also need to pray about everything in every circumstance.  And then, most of all we need to listen to the answers GOD gives us.

Hearing is a very important part of being a Christian.  If we do not hear the word of GOD and we do not listen to the word of GOD, we will never know the perfect will of GOD for our lives. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER I humbly pray that I may do YOUR will on earth and not my will.  FATHER guide me and give an ear to hear YOU and a heart that is for YOU FATHER.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Trust in GOD

 We need to trust in GOD.  When we know our FATHER and we understand HIS nature to the best of our ability, we should come to the realization that our FATHER always keeps HIS promise.  HE is not slow to keep HIS promises either.

We live in a world where we want and demand instant gratification.  And our FATHER does everything in HIS own time.  But, what we need to know is that GOD's time is always perfect.

GOD will not be rushed or moved along no matter how urgently we demand answers.

So let us ponder on things we have asked our FATHER for while we wait on the LORD.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU always keep YOUR promises.  FATHER grant me patience to wait upon YOUR timing which is always perfect.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Faith!

 

What is faith?  The Bible tells us that "faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."  This is found in Hebrews 11:1.  True faith in GOD produces obedience to the will of GOD.

When we have faith in GOD, we begin to understand the magnitude of the FATHER of the universe.  We begin to see the CREATOR GOD in HIS glory and righteousness and holiness.  And we want to know more and more about GOD.

So how do we get faith in GOD?  By hearing the word of GOD.  That is by being with like minded people and talking about GOD.  By reading our Bibles and by fellowshipping with people of faith.  It is also by talking about our faith. 

When we truly have faith, our journey starts and we want to know GOD more and more.  

If our faith is dead, we are content to accept what we know and we no longer long to know GOD better.

Today, let us ask ourselves, is our faith dead or living?  And if our answer is dead, let us rekindle our faith by starting a daily program to read our Bibles.  Let us pray earnestly to GOD and ask HIM to give us more faith.  Let us attend a church.  Let us find fellowship with other people of faith.  Let us become obedient to the Will of GOD.  Let us do only what we know will please GOD.  Let us humble ourselves and ask to be filled again with the Holy Spirit. 

If we answer alive, let us grow our faith in walking closer to GOD and by desiring to spend more time learning about GOD.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I humbly pray that today you increase my faith.  Give me a desire and heart that diligently seeks YOU and seeks to know Jesus.  Give me the Holy Spirit in abundance and fill me with YOUR love and desire to love YOU more and to know YOU more each and every day.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

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Judgement in Christ

 

Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Saviour and we are born again, we will not face the Great White Throne judgement, but we will face Jesus Christ on the Judgement seat.

This judgement is where we will answer for our lives.  We will be judged according to our deeds.  We will not go to hell, but we will be rewarded according to what we did on earth.

And this also means that we may miss out on rewards because we did nothing with the new creation we were granted through the indwelling of Jesus Christ in us.

It is therefore really important for us to take Jesus into our lives and to do His will and not our will. 

Our sins of which we have repented are forgiven, but we will still give the account of our lives. 

The GOD we serve is Holy and Righteous and HE cannot be in the presence of sin.  So Jesus died in our place and was punished on that Cross for our sins.  But that does not mean we are free to do what we want.  We are now slaves in Christ.

And as often stated on this forum, true born again Christianity must look like something.  We must no longer keep company with liars, slanderers, blasphemers, coveters, and people who wish to drag us into this world.  We need to be about our FATHER's business and that is the business of spreading the Gospel and bringing the good news to people who can be saved.

GOD does not wish that any should perish.  But that all should come to HIM.  That is the job of the born again believer.  And therefore we need to lead by example. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I pray that YOU make me a new creation which reflects YOUR wondrous ways on this earth.  Help me to shine YOUR light in this dark place today.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!