Shared Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:13 “Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit and we all share the same Spirit.”

All of us were created in God’s image and all of us face the same challenges. Sure the struggles might look a little different but the challenge is the same. We all want to belong and be loved. We all want someone to share our life with. We all want companionship. These desires are God given. None of us were meant to live this life alone. God made Eve because it was not good for man to be alone. Even Jesus had his twelve so, if you think you are better off alone then maybe you need to rethink that philosophy because God says differently. We need each other not to judge but to love, honor, and have companionship with.

Since we all share the same Spirit, maybe we should remember when we hurt another person or pass judgement on them, we are actually judging and hurting ourselves. The hurt and rejection we feel is real but, what if, instead of loosing our minds over someone else’s actions or words we took a moment to pray for them, their heart, and their mind, as well as our own. Today as you go through your day, thank God for the people in your life, smile at a stranger, you might be the only bright light in their day. Let God’s loving Spirit shine through you today and everyday because it is a gift given to you and is meant to share with others.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Your Spirit that dwells in me. Thank you for the many people you have put in my life to encourage and love me. Thank you for the challenging people you have put in my life, they give me a chance to show Your love, even though I don’t always do this perfectly. Help me today to show Your love and remember those I meet have challenges and struggles just like me. Help me to stop and pray before I say words that are not meant to be spoken. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

I Don’t Deserve It

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit isthmus source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.”

We have all been given something we did not earn or deserve. This could be a simple as a smile from a stranger or a “good morning” just because you crossed someone’s path. None of this was earned it was freely given to you by another person. The day we accepted Christ as our savior we did nothing to deserve that either, it was a gift freely given. Eternal life with Christ is the biggest gift that goes along with that gift. On top of that, He continues to bless us by giving Spiritual gifts. We don’t earn these gifts the Holy Spirit gives them freely and willingly because He loves us.

No matter what gift you have been given, remember it is a gift from our Heavenly Father and is to be used to glorify Him. Spiritual gifts are not a symbol of spiritual power, their purpose is to help the church function, to build others up, and to be a blessing. These gifts should never be used to manipulate others or serve self-interests. God is completely responsible for giving, using, and empowering of our gifts.

Heavenly Father, thank you for thinking me gift of salvation! I do not deserve Your gift yet you give it freely, because I asked. Father, thank you for sending Your Holy Spirit to dwell in me. Help me to use my gifts to glorify You and bless those around me. Open my eyes to see my life as a gift and a blessing to others so that Your light may shine in dark places. In Jesus Name, Amen

Inner Court

Psalm 65:4 “What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple.”

There was a time when only the selected could be in the presence of God but, because of Jesus’s death on the cross we all have direct access to God. We don’t have to imagine the joy the “selected” must have felt to be in God’s presence; we just need to sit with Him. It is no longer a place to go, it is inside of us, once we accept Christ as our Savior. When we accept Christ; He moves in and we become the Temple, His dwelling place. God’s timing is always perfect and His love is always there. All we need to do is believe and trust. Sounds so easy, until it isn’t.

Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing to come near to me and dwell in me. Help me to remember I am Yours and nothing I do will change that. You have made Your dwelling place inside me to guide, protect, love, and direct my path. Thank you for bring people into my life that hold me accountable to Your word. even when I don’t deserve it. Help me to live each day as a festival of life, letting go of what is behind and straining toward what is ahead (Philippians 3:13). In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Hopeful Living

Psalm 62:5-7 “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God Alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.”

So often in life we expect life to go a certain way. We have a vision of what life should look like yet, rarely does it turn out that way. As a result, we are left hurt, broken, and incomplete. When we accepted Christ as our savior we needed to change our expectations from earthly to heavenly. This process of change is not an easy one. Maybe what we need is to live hopeful instead of expectant.

When we live a hope filled life we are living by faith. We put our complete trust in the One who created us. If we live an expectant life, we are believing that another human being is going to satisfy our deepest needs and desires. This kind of living leads to heartache and disappointment. While a hope filled life is trusting God believing that He, who created you, will give you the desires of your heart.

Father, heal my heart from unmet expectation. Help me to lean and press into You and live a hope filled life with You. Soften my heart, Lord. Heal the wounds of unmet expectations. You are the rock on which I want to live my life. Release me from expecting things from humans and help me live hopeful in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Sacrifice

Job 1:12 “‘Alright, you may test him,’ the LORD said to Satan. ‘Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.’ So Satan left the LORD’s presence.”

So often when we go through difficult things and we want answers. Why is my marriage failing? Why am I having money issues? Why don’t my children listen? The list of questions goes on and on. Yet sometimes we go through challenges and we will never get the answer as to why. One of the hardest things to do during these times is to stay connected to God yet, this is exactly what we are called to do.

Our faith is not based on rewards; it is based on the unshakable confidence that God is sovereign and loving. God tells us that we will face trials of many kinds and that things will not go our way. It is during these times when our faith is tested. If our lives never faced challenges we would not need God. Look for the blessings even in the challenges because God loves you and will redeem and restore according to His mighty plan for you.

Abba Father, I don’t like the trials I have endured yet, I know that I am able to endure because You are making me new in and through them. Help me Father, to “sacrifice” time to be with You and to hear Your voice in the midst of my trials. Father, I want to live a life that is connected to You. Be with me today as I face the challenges ahead, guide me and keep me from harm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Waiting is Hard

Habakkuk 2:3 “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”

We are not alone in our questioning God about the state of our world. Throughout scripture we see evil rise and fall. No matter what the world looks, we need to remember that God is in control. When you see the evil in the world do you pray or complain? When evil things happen to you, do you complain and get angry or do you pray?

Troubled times will enter our lies and when it does we need to be prepared. We prepare by rememberimg God is God and in control. I have no control over another’s actions or words, I can only control me and my actions. God tells us to wait patiently. But in the waiting we also have a job to do, trust and pray. God is in control and if we truly believe then praise Him in the waiting, especially when it is hard.

Abba Father, I find it difficult to wait. I want justice immediately after a harm has been done. Yet I know You are a just God and will redeem all that has been taken. Father, help me in the waiting. Help me to trust You and Your plan for my life. I know Your timing is perfect. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Yoke of Captivity or Yoke of Freedom

Lamentations 1:14 “He wove my sins into ropes to hitch me to a yoke of captivity. The LORD sapped my strength and turned me over to my enemies; I am helpless in their hands.”

When we give into wrong actions and thinking we become stuck. Every moment of every day we have a choice. We can choose to follow God and His pan of our lives or we can choose to follow our own will and plan.

If we are not careful to seek God we become chained to our sin. Instead of being hitched to the yoke of Jesus, we become hitched to the yoke of sin. I am, for one, am tired of fighting a spiritual war with earthly weapons. My words and actions are nothing compared to the freedom that comes from allowing God to fight my battles. Every day I want to crawl onto my Father’s lap and rest in His loving arms.

Gracious and loving Father, there have been so many times in life when I went off on my own. I did my own thing without coming to you for guidance and clarity. You allowed me to go down that path to grow me and I am grateful for the trials because they have brought me to my knees in front of You. I know that my sins hurt You yet, You continually call me into Your loving arms of freedom and forgiveness. Than You for setting me free from the ropes of captivity and into Your loving arms of grace and love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Stop and Listen

1 Samuel 25:26 “Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is.”

Wisdom can come when we least expect it. David was blinded by his anger and was on his want to kill Nabal and all his men for disrespecting the protection that was given to Nabal’s flocks and men.

Unmet expectations can cause us to become angry and vengeful. But then, wisdom comes and reminds us that we are not to seek revenge; we are to love. Had Abigail not stopped David he would have committed murder in his anger. How often do we speak harsh words or ignore someone who has hurt us because we want them to hurt too? That action is no different than what David was going to do. We need to take a step back and allow God to do His work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. There is a difference between holding one accountable and taking revenge, be careful in how you respond in anger or hurt.

Abba Father, I know there are times when I have taken matters into my own hands and would not listen to Your still small voice nor the voice of a friend. Pleas forgive me for I know my sins are great. You alone are the judge of my life and the lives of all those who have breath. Walk beside me and keep me from stumbling. Help me to hear, listen, and respond to Your voice in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Fighting the Right Fight

Psalm 54:3-4 “For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive!”

We all have times in our lives when we want to throw in the towel and give up. We become overwhelmed with the issues of life and want to escape. By the grace of God we push through and come out on the other side hopefully having learned something.

In my own life I have been reflecting on the mistakes I keep making. Until recently, I didn’t see where I was going wrong. There are places where I kept stepping left when I should have gone right. God helped me see that I am fighting spiritual battles with earthly weapons.

I realized that I have been fighting a soul war with words and actions when I should be on my knees seeking God and allowing Him to do the battling. He tells us to trust Him, walk with Him, and to take up His yoke. We were never created to carry the weight we have been carrying on our shoulders. So, if you are struggling in life today take a break and be still giving all your burdens to the one who can carry them.

Abba Father, You are so loving a gracious. You have asked Your people to come to You, seek You, and know You. Father You have revealed Yourself over and over in my life. I am thankful to You for all you are doing. You are my maker, creator, and ultimate healer. Come be with me today, guide my thoughts, words, actions, and heal the broken places in my life. I am Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Begin and End

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

Beginning and ending each day with God’s word is life changing. When we truly place our lives into His loving hands we can trust that everything will turn out. Life in His presence is filled with comfort and peace. I know that God loves me, forgives me, and comforts me every moment of everyday. I didn’t do anything to earn it and I cannot do anything to lose it.

So today, imagine yourself crawling up onto His lap, laying your head on His chest, and feel His loving arms surround you. No matter what you are facing, you can tell yourself, “God, I know you love me and have great plans for me, I trust you and never want to leave Your loving arms.”

Gracious and loving Father, Thank you for holding me, loving me, and guiding me. You know the desires of my heart. You know what I am in need of. Help me to sit on your lap and trust you with all that I have and all that I am. You are all I need and nothing compares to you. Forgive me for the times when my mouth and the meditation of my heart are not inline with Your will. Guard my heart and mind, whisper to me when I squirm off of your lap and away from Your plan. I know that Your plan is perfect, not easy, and filled with love, peace, joy, and life-giving hope. Come Holy Spirit and dwell in my heart, mind, body, and soul; I am all Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen