Surviving Famines: Handling Spiritual Droughts
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In recent decades, global attention has been given to nations that suffer consistently with famine. Hunger induced through famine can make individuals do and say things they would never do under normal conditions.
So, the question remains, how do you respond to famines in your life? - Not famine in terms of food, but famines that come up in your personal life and in your life with God.
Have you experienced times when it seems that your prayers are not answered and God is not there? Or, times when it seems like you are in a spiritual drought? These famines occur in the Christian life. Abraham went into Egypt when a famine arose, which placed him in a compromising situation.
And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. Gen 12:10 (KJV)
While in Egypt, Abram and Sarah conspired to deceive Pharaoh. This resulted in placing Sarah in a compromising situation. During this time in your life, you may be experiencing famine and drought in your personal and spiritual life. Make sure you do not compromise your faith and integrity before God as Abraham did in Egypt. Understand that God knows all things and He will bless you and deliver you in due time.
We are grateful for this daily bread. If you like this post and desire more daily inspiration, check out “Faith for the Journey (Volume I)” available at Kingdom Builders Publishing and Amazon.com.
Seeing Others as God Does: Get Over What You Know
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In life, we will encounter many people with varying personalities and dispositions. It is a fact that there will be disagreements, fall-outs, and times of miscommunication. These things can cause an individual not to have the proper perspective of others in daily interactions. It can be difficult to see others, especially as God sees them, when we have seen unfavorable aspects of their personalities and lifestyles. However, we must get over what we know about an individual.
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. Gen 17:15 (KJV)
Abraham receives a name change, but God goes further and changes the name of his wife. Abraham had to see his wife, no longer as a barren woman (Sarai), but as a fruitful woman from whom kings and nations would come from (Sarah).
Once we come to Christ, our perception of men has to change. We have to see others as God does. He is not willing that any should perish. The very worst of sinners are candidates for His grace and redemption. When we see others as God does, it will restrain us from allowing what we see and know about them to change our love for them. This holds especially true concerning other members of the Body of Christ.
Though some Christians may be like Sarai, being barren in their walks with Christ, we must see them as candidates for being Sarah, members who will eventually be of great service to the Church and Kingdom of God. This will keep us from unforgiveness, bitterness, and judgment.
We are grateful for this daily bread. If you like this post and desire more daily inspiration, check out “Faith for the Journey (Volume I)” available at Kingdom Builders Publishing and Amazon.com.
The Pleasure of God: What Matter Most
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We are saved by faith. We walk in faith. We are to die in faith. Our faith in God is the foundation for our belief system as Christians. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We should continually ask God to increase our faith.
We must strive to fulfill the pleasure of God. Though situations come to put our faith to the test, we must remember that we are to be pleasurable to God, even when tried.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6 (KJV)
We can come to God at all times. He is willing to help us. We must have faith in His love for us. When we pray, we must believe that God will hear us and aid us. He will reward us for out continual seeking of Him. Cry out to Him again and stand in expectation of His intervention. He promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us.
Thank God I’m Forgiven: Appreciating Forgiveness
The message of salvation is wonderful. In a world filled with troubles and problems, one can always find comfort in the knowledge of God. Part of that knowledge is knowing that one’s sins are forgiven. Guilt is a destructive force and has crippled many people. Even after time has passed and others have forgotten, we can still feel guilty over sins and mistakes. This guilt sometimes is enhanced when one comes to know God through Jesus Christ.
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Romans 4:7 (KJV)
We can rejoice on today knowing that God delights in mercy and forgiveness. The only thing He requires is that we are open and honest with Him about our weaknesses. Some feel that God gets tired of them and does not want to have mercy on them. This is simply not true.
Both Testaments reveal the longsuffering and mercy of God, even upon people who did not deserve it. How much the more will have mercy and bestow grace upon those who come to Him in sincerity. Do not trust only the forgiveness you received when you received Christ, but trust the forgiveness that is available even after coming to Him.
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Only Believe: God Deserves Our Trust
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Faith, Faith, Faith. You can never have too much faith. It is the foundational element of the Christian life. We come into relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. In order to maintain that relationship, we have to live and walk by faith. Even so, it is hard at times to believe and trust in God’s presence, peace, and power.
But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. Luke 8:50 (KJV)
The man’s daughter had already succumbed to death, but Jesus challenged him to continue to believe. The same applies to us today. Because situations in our lives can become difficult, we can think that God will not come to our aid or rescue.
We have to remember that God is faithful and deserves our trust. If we can only believe, even after a situation worsens, we will experience His presence and peace. Regardless of what you are facing today, ONLY BELIEVE.
Don’t Pass the Blame: Owning Your Actions
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Growing up, I never liked to get in trouble. Well, who does? So, when questioned as to why I did certain things, I would give many reasons except the only true one – I wanted to. Even from the earliest records of man’s existence, we find that blame shifting was employed to escape trouble. In the Garden of Eden, Adam blamed Eve for his disobedience and Eve blamed the serpent.
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Gen 3:12-13 (KJV)
As Christians, we have to avoid blame shifting when it comes to our relationship with Christ. Sometimes we blame others at church for our negative dispositions. We can blame family members for our troubles and burdens. The list can go on. However, we must be responsible for our walks with Christ (owning up to the good and the bad).
In confessing your personal faults and weaknesses, you leave the door open for God’s grace and help so that you can overcome. Do not pass the blame, but be honest. In doing so, you prove yourself to be a servant of Christ indeed.
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