Love fest for eternity4

LOVE-FEST FOR
ETERNITY
ABSTRACT
You will learnhow toimprove yourlife onearthand
how to have an eternal love-fest.
George Hach
Sharedlove withGod

LOVE-FEST FOR ETERNITY [DATE]
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Why should you read this book?
You will lookatwhere youlive,andwhere youcouldlive. Youwill lookatitfrom a conceptual aswell as
a practical approach. Thisbook iscommittedtohelpyoumove inthe rightdirection.
Thisbookwill challenge youto developasharedlove relationshipwithGodandyourfellow humans.
You may be rewardedmore bybeingchallengedbythiscompellingbook.
The contentin thisbookwill change yourworld
Thisbookdisruptsthe statusquo and challengesyoutoshare love withGodandotherhumans. It is a
powerful call tocommitment,andtolovingGod withALL yourheart,mind,andspiritthat will challenge
youin the bestof ways.
Thisis a message tothe worldthat couldsave it fromcomplete disaster.

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Introduction
Too ofteninthe average ChristianChurch,the attendee’sare givenone of twomessages:
1. You can have an eternal life withGodandan abundantlife onearthif youonlywill believe in
JesusChristas SaviorandLord. But the book (Bible) clearlysaysinbothparts(Old& New
Testaments) thatGodgave us a commandment(requirement) that“We (humans) MUSTLOVE
God withour WHOLE Heart, Mind,and Spirit.
2. You can have an eternal life withGodandan abundantlife onearthif youonlywill take upyour
cross and relinquishyourcontrol of yourlife;andcompletelycommittolive asaslave or servant
to God and man. That isreallydifficult.
Well thisbookproposesthatwhatGod reallywantsisthe “Great Commandment”“Love Godwithyour
WHOLE heart,mind,andspirit.” Thisiswhat we will lookatinthisbook.
Too oftenpreachers tryto talkpeople intofollowingJesus,asappealing,comfortable,andconvenientas
possible;orasscary as possible,soeveryone eitherdropsoutor isnot preparedforthe challengesof
life.
I hope youwill readthisbookand discoverwithme whatitreallymeanstoshare love withGod. I will
talkmore about sharinglove thanforgiveness,more aboutsurrenderthansalvation,more about
happinessthanrepentance,andmore aboutlife thandeath. The truthis,thisbook will layouta
comfortable andreassuringpath. Butit will require complete commitment.

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Lover of God
Are You a Lover of God?
I wouldsaythe chances are prettygood that youjustskippedoverthe above question. Youmayhave
readit, butI doubtit carriedmuch weightorhas verylittle impactonyourlife. Butwouldyouletme
ask youthisquestionagain? It’sthe mostimportantquestionyouwill everanswer.
Are youa Lover of God.
You may nothave beenaskedthisquestionbefore. Because itisnotfamiliar,there isatendencyto
dismissit. Notbecause itmakesyouuncomfortable. The questionisdismissedmostlybecause itseems
not relevantornecessary.
You probablyhave notdealtwithitbefore,soyoumay quicklydismiss it. Butbefore youmove ontoo
quickly,letme clarifywhatIam not asking. Iam not askingthe following:
 Do yougo to church?
 Are you a Christian?
 Do youown more than one Bible?
 Have you everappearedasa Church member,elder?
 Didyou go to Christianchildren’sevents?
Here is the point:manyof us are quickto say,“Yes, I am a Christian.”ButI am not sure we really
understandwhatwe are saying. InigoMontoyaonce said,“I donot thinkthat meanswhatyouthinkit
means.”
One of the mostessential passagesof the Bible tellsof aday whenmanywhoconsiderthemselvestobe
followersof Christwill be stunnedtofindoutthat he doesn’trecognize them. InMatthew,chapter7,
Jesustellsof aday wheneveryone whohaseverlivedwill standinfrontof God. Onthat day, manywho
call themselvesfollowersof Jesusandidentifythemselvesasmembersof a Christianchurchwill stand
proudlyinfrontof Christ,onlytohearhimsay, “I neverknew you. Awayfromme.” If you’ve assumed
youwere goingto joinGod inheavenforever;Ipray that thisbookwill eitherconfirmthatconfidence or
hopefullywillgetyoutoreevaluate yourrelationshipwithGodandcommityouto share love withHim.
I’m not a Christian yet.
It wouldbe interestingtoknowhowandwhyyou got thisbook? Andmaybe youhave skippedoverthe
question:“Are youa loverof God?” You probablyfeltitwasnotrelevanttoyou?
It doesn’tbotheryouif someone lovesornotlovesGod. Otherscan love himor not;because itis not
relevanttoyou. You mightbe askingyourself aboutnow,Butwhatif it shouldbe relevanttoyou. What
if all of life comesdown to this one question? What if there isreallyisa God,and a heaven,andthere
couldbe an eternal love-fest,anditall hingeson that one question. Shouldn’tyou lookinto that
possibility? These thoughtsmayseemcompletely ridiculous,butif there isanypart of youthat is
consideringthatthere maybe some relevance toyou,thenisn’titworthlookingintothisquestion? As
youread thisbook,I hope thatyou wouldatleastconsiderthatthismay be the mostimportant
questionyouwill everconsider. Ibelieve thatthe reasonwe were putonthisearth isto answerthis
one question. Andbynotansweringthisquestion,we are answeringthisinthe negative.

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In myearlierbook,“WHY” I attemptedtosell peopleonSharingLove withGod. Afterreadingthisbook,
there will be peoplewhostill,willnotagree withme. Butall I will askisthat if you have notread my
earlierbook,“WHY” please doso,because thisquestionistooimportant. Youstill maynotagree with
me,but evenJesusinvitedpeopletolove God,there were stillpeople whowouldnotagree withJesus.
Time for the evaluation
So where doyoustart in determiningif youreallyaloverof God? How do youstart evendeciding
whetheryoushouldlove God? Youmay wantto start, bylookingat the statement:Love makesthe
worldgo round. Doesit? Well formostpeople,one of the goalsof becominganadult,isto find
someone whotheycanlove andbecome partnersina lovingrelationship.
Define the Relationship
In the physical world,there isusuallyaperiodof evaluationinanyrelationshiptodetermine the
relevance andcommitment. Thisisveryimportantina love relationship;youwanttodetermine where
thingsstandand to findoutif the love youare sharingisreal.
Everylovingrelationshipneedstomake thisevaluation. Isitcasual or committed? Have thingsmoved
beyondfriendshipandlikingtowardsa deeperlove (whereyouare readyto putthe other party’sneeds,
desires,etc. –have a higherprioritytoyouthanyour own) anddedicationtothat love relationship. You
needtointentionallyevaluatethe state of thatrelationshipandyourlevelof commitmenttothat
relationship.
Is yourrelationshipwithGodexclusive? Isitjusta casual Sundaymorning-one hourthingorhasit
movedpastthat? How wouldyourrelationshipwithGodbe defined? Whatexactlyisyourlevel of
love?
Whetheryou’ve calledyourself aChristian since childhood,orall of thisis new toyou. God has clearly
definedwhatkindof relationshiphe wantstohave withyou. He saidHe wants yourWHOLE HEART
MIND ANDSPIRIT. Or inanotherexplanationHe wantsyourWHOLE life. I hope you can’tstop
wonderingif thatquestion,“Are youaloverof God?” isrelevant.
It may seemthatthere are many loversof God,but if theywere honestlytodefine the relationshipthey
have withHim,I am not sure it wouldbe accurate to describe themaslovers.
The biggestthreatto the church and worldtodayisfans whocall themselvesChristiansbutaren’t
actuallyinterestedinfollowingJesusintoafullycommittedloveaffairwithGod. Theywanttobe close
enoughtoGod to get all the benefits,butnotsoclose thatit requiresanythingfromthem.
A Loving Evaluation
So,are you a Loverof God or not? Many individuals,mistakenlyidentifythemselvesasloversbyusing
comparisons. Theylookatthe commitmentlevelsof othersaroundthemand feel liketheirrelationship
isgood. Aslongas theyare more spiritual andlovingthanthe nextperson,everythingisgood.
Have you noticedthatwhenwe compare ourselvestoothers,we almostalwaysputourselvesupagainst
those whowouldmake uson the betterside.
Anothermeasurementwe use isthe one where we evaluate relationshipsusingreligiousrulesand
ritualsas evidence. Of course I’ma lover,I’mnotdoingitfor nothing!”

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We have otherwaysto determine if we are lovers:Denominational measurement,ourfamilyheritage,
and biblical knowledge are all wayswe tryto prove that we reallyare God lovers. Buthere’sthe real
question:howdoesGoddefineswhatitmeanstolove him?
The biblical accountsof God requiringpeople todefinethe relationshipandhonestlydetermine if they
were true lovers. Aswe studythese encounterswithJesustheywill actasa mirrorso we can have a
more honestevaluationof oursharedlove relationship.
Many Christiansadmitthattheydo notreallyKnow God. For otherbelievers,lackof knowledge of God
isthe cause of vacillatingspirituality,inconsistencybetweenthe talkandthe walkof faith,and
ineffectivenessinprayer. Forstill others,inadequate knowledge of Godaccountsforthe reluctant
response toholylivingandmoral responsibility….
What doesitmean toknowGod and live withaknowledge of Him? Itinvolvesbothintimacyand
integrity. The intimacyof the Thou-Irelationshipwe were createdtoexperience withGodrequiresthe
openingof ourinnermostbeingtoHimjustas He hasrevealedHisinnermostnature tous. The word
intimacy means“proceedingfromwithin,inward,internal.”InHebrew the wordforknowledge hasthe
same root as “to know.” It is alsothe physical andspiritual onenessof ahusbandandwife,we call
(shared) love.
“He placed onescoop of clay upon anotheruntila formlay lifeless on the ground….
All weresilent asthe Creatorreached in Himself and removed something yetunseen,“It’scalled choice.”
The seed of choice.
Creation stood in silence and gazed upon thelifeless form.
An angel spoke,“Butwhatif he …”
“What if he choosesnotto love?” the Creatorfinished. “ComeI will show you.”
Unbound by today,God and theangelwalked into the realmof tomorrow….
The angelgasped atwhathe saw. Spontaneouslove. Voluntary devotion. Neverhad heseen anything
like these… The angelstood speechlessasthey passed through centuriesof repugnance. Neverhad he
seen such filth. Rotten Hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties.
The Creatorwalked on in time, furtherand furtherinto the future,untilhe stood by a tree. A tree that
would be fashioned into a cradle. Evan then he could smell the hay thatwould surround him….
“Wouldn’tit be easier to notplantthe seed? Wouldn’tit be easier to notgive thechoice?”
“It would,”theCreatorspokeslowly “But to removethe choice is to removethe love.”
They stepped into the Garden again. The Makerlooked earnestly at theclay creation. A monsoon of
love swelled up within him. He had died forthe creation beforeHe had madehim. God’sformbent over
the sculptured faceand breathed. Duststired on the lips of thenew one. The chest rose,cracking the
red mud. The cheeksfleshened. A fingermoved. And an eye opened.

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But moreincredible than the moving of the flesh wasthe stirring of the spirit. Thosethat could see the
unseen gasped.
Perhapsit wasthe wind who said it first. Perhapswhatthestarsaw thatmomentis whatmadeit blink
ever since. Maybeit wasleft to an angel to whisperit:
“It lookslike … It appearsso much like … it is him!”
The angelwasn’tspeaking of theface,the features,orthe body. He waslooking inside – at the soul.
“It’seternal!” gasped another.
Within the man,God had placed a divine seed. A seed of His self. The God of mighthad created earth’s
mightiest. The Creatorhad created nota creature,butanothercreator. And the One who had chosen to
love had created one who could love in return.
Knowledgeof Godismore thanideasaboutHim. It involvesourtotal innerselves,intellect,emotion,
and will. Otherwise knownas“SharedLove”.

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Casual or a Commitment
John 3 – Nicodemus
In Johnchapter3 we read abouta religiouspersonnamedNicodemus. Youshould know thathe wasn’t
justany religiousperson. He wasa well knownandwell respectedmanof God. Nicodemuswasa
memberof the Sanhedrin,anelite groupof communityandreligiousleaders. He watchedasJesus
workedincredible miracles,butitwasn’tjusthispowerthatwasimpressive,itwashiscompassionand
love.
Nicodemuswasreadytotake hisrelationshipwithJesus,the sonof God,to anotherlevel,butitwasn’t
that easy. Beinga secretadmirerof the Son of God cost himnothing,butbecoming aloverof the Sonof
God and HisFathercame witha highprice tag. It alwaysdoes.
So,He wouldhave to choose betweenreligionanda sharedlove relationshipwiththe Sonof Godand
His Father. There wasno wayfor himto trulybecome a loverof the Son of God and His Father,without
losinghisreligion.
It wouldbe easyto overlookthisdetailanddismissitasnotrelevant. Butaskyourself,whywouldhe
come at night? If he coulddeveloparelationshipwiththe Sonof Godwithouthavingtomake any real
changes. He couldlove the Sonof God and hisFatherwithoutitimpactinghisjob. In fact,hisfriends
and familywouldn’thave toknow. He couldtalkto Jesusand at nightandquietlymake adecisioninhis
heartto love the Sonof God and his Father;that wayit wouldn’tdisrupthiscomfortable andestablished
life.
Here is the realitythatNicodemusisabouttohave impressedonhim. There isnowayto love God
withouthiminterferingwithyourlife. LovingGodwill costyousomething. Sharinglove withGod
alwayscostssomething. ForNicodemusitwouldcosthimapowerful position. Itwouldcosthimthe
respectof hisco-workers. Itwouldcost him hissource of income andlivelihood. Itwouldcosthim
friendships. Itwouldlikelycost himsome familyrelationships. How haslovingGod,interferedwith
your life?
_________________________________________________
What firstarousedyourinterestinJesus? Why?_______________________________________
Where are yourightnow inthe birthingprocessof spiritual life:Notyetconceived? Developing,butnot
so anyone couldtell? Heavywithchildandwaiting? Kickingandscreaminglike aninfant? Growing
daily? Explain. ___________________________________________
Most of us don’tmind Godmakingsome minorchange in ourlives,butGodwants to turnour lives
upside down. Godwantsa complete change. Godwill completelyoverhaul yourlife. He will makeover
your life. A complete remodelingiscoming. The guarantee isthatGod will interfere withyourlife.
NicodemusbeginshisconversationwithJesusbymakingitclearthathe has decidedthatJesusreally is
fromGod. He has come to this pointof belief,butwhere wouldhe gofromthere? Jesusdoesn’twaste
time butgetsright to the HEART of whyNicodemusiscomingtohimat nightinstead of the opennessof
the day. He tellsNicodemusinverse 3thathe mustbe bornagain. Nicodemusmusthumble himself
and be born againintoa WHOLE newwayof life –sharedlove.

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Decision or Love
There isa difference. Manyhave made a decisiontobelieveinJesuswithoutmakingacommitmentto
lovingGod. The Gospel allowsfornodistinction. Biblical belief ismore thanmental orverbal
agreement. Manynon-loverswerebaptizedorhave repeatedaprayeror raisedtheirhandor walked
forwardat the end of a sermonand made a decisiontobelieve –evenSatanandhisfollowers,butthere
was nocommitmenttolove Godwith theirWHOLE heart,mind,and spirit. Jesusneverofferedsuchan
option. He is lookingformore thanwordsof belief;he islooking tosee whatisinyourheart and how
that sharedlove islivedoutinyourlife.
Imagine aweddingandwatchingthe bride andgroom, withtearsin theireyesastheyspeakwordsof
devotion”…forsakingall othersuntil we are partedbydeath.” While theywere ontheirhoneymoon
and the bride wasunfaithful tohergroom. Suddenlythose wordswouldholdnovalue. Theywouldbe
worthless,becausetheywere notvalidatedbyfaithful loveandcommitment.
Biblical belief ismore thanjustanintellectual acceptance orasharedlovingacknowledgment;itisa
commitmenttoshare love. Lovingsomeone,bydefinitionrequiresmore thanmental agreement,it
callsfor action.
Sharinglove isthe essential part of faith. One can’tlive withoutthe other. If youtryand separate
sharedlove fromthe message of belief,belief diesinthe process. Andthe same holdstrue whenyou
reverse them. Love cannotexistif youdon’thave faithortrust.
Most ChristiansIhave talkedwithhave beeninchurchesorinChristiancommunitieswhere theirbelief
inJesuswasconstantlybeingemphasizedandstrength,but whatitactuallymeanttolove Godwas
nevermade clear.
Thisis whatwe have done withour approachto Christianity. Inteachingpeople whatitmeanstobe a
Christian,we spendmuchof ourtime and effortbringingthemtoa pointof belief withoutclearlycalling
themto share love withGod.
Most Christianshave heardverylittle abouthow sharinglove withGodwillchange the waytheylive.
Andthisis done,because of the commitmentandtrustthatis required.
Selling Christianity
The Christianchurchesof todayare either:
1. Sellingonlythe benefitsof Christianityandnotthe love andcommitmentsthatisrequired.
2. Sellingonlythe requirementsandcommitmentsbutnotthe benefits.
We,as Christianleadersneedtofindagoodbalance.
In thissectionwe will lookatall of Scripture. Mosescouldn’tlove Godwithoutstandinginfrontof
Pharaoh. Noah couldn’tlove Godwithoutbuildinganark that wouldbringridicule fromhisneighbors.
Daniel couldn’tlove Godbyprayingtohimalone withoutbeingthrowninto alions’den. Loving God
isn’tsomethingyoucando at nightwhere noone notices. It’sa twenty-four-hour-a-dayloveand
commitmentthatwill interferewithyourlife. That’saguarantee.

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Many Christiansneedtohearthe benefitsof beingaChristian: How wouldyoulike tolive forever?
Wouldyoulike tohave a freshstart? Do youwantto spendeternityinalove-fest? Yougetsuch other
benefitslike peace,joy,patience,goodness,kindness,andmore. Theywill be coveredinacoming
chapter.
But to getall these benefits,there isaprice to pay. You needto love GodwithyourWHOLE heart,mind,
and spiritandbe committedtoit. Thiscommitmentmeansyourlife hastochange. You have to start by
surrenderingthe control of yourlife toGod’scontrol of it. Thisis achievedbythe deathof yourdesires,
wants,control,etc.. There isno lovingGodwithoutcommittingtoit.
Let usgo back to coveringNicodemusandGod’sguidance tohislife sothathe can make that
commitment. We see thatoccurringwhenhe stands up and defendsJesus. Thiseffort putshisjoband
life atrisk. This includesotherrelationshipsandhisfinancial future. The Sanhedrinattackedhim, by
givinghima hard shotto hisegoand to hisreputationthathe had workedsohard to establish.
There isalwaysa moment like thisforpeople becomingloversof God. Theyare putin a positionwhere
theyhave to decide betweenGod’scontrol of theirlifeandcontrollingitthemselves.
Nicodemusisputinthispositionagain,whenJesus’sbodyistakendownfromthe crossand needstobe
buried. He chose to put hisfinancial resourcesundercontrol of God,and use themto buryHis Son.
There wasno longeranychance of hidinghislove.
Nicodemusmakesthisgreatgesture of love andcommitment. Christiantraditionstatesthathe was
martyredsometime inthe firstcentury.
It will be yourdecision,whetheryouwill choose tolove GodwithyourWHOLE heart,mind,andspirit
and committo that love forwhateverittakes. Orwill youchoose tomaintain control overyourlife.
Storiesfromthe undergroundchurchinthe formerSovietUnionneverfail tojoltusawake,Icame
across anotherone justthe past week. A house churchreceivedone copyof Gospel byLuke,the only
scripture mostof these Christianshadeverseen. Theytore itintosmall sectionsanddistributedthem
amongthe bodyof believers. Theirplanwastomemorize the portiontheyhadbeengiven,thenonthe
nextLord’sday theywouldmeetandredistribute the scripture sections.
On Sundaythese believersarrivedinconspicuouslyinsmall groupsthroughoutthe daysoas not to
arouse the suspicionof KGB informers. Bydusktheywere all safelyinside,windowsclosedanddoors
locked. Theybeganbysingingahymn quietlybutwithdeepemotion. Suddenly,the doorwaspushed
openand inwalkedtwosoldierswithloadedautomaticweaponsatthe ready. One shouted,“All right –
everybodylineupagainstthe wall. If youwishtorenounce yourcommitmenttoJesusChrist,leave
now!”
Two or three quicklyleft,thenanother. Afterafew more seconds,twomore.
Thisis yourlast chance. Eitherturn againstyourfaithin Christ.”he ordered,orstayand sufferthe
consequences.
Anotherleft. Finally,twomore inembarrassedsilence,theirfacescovered,slippedoutintothe night.
No one else moved. Parentswithsmall childrentremblingbeside themlookeddownreassuringly. They
fullyexpectedtobe gunneddownorat bestto be imprisoned.

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Aftera fewmomentsof complete silence,the othersoldierclosedthe door,lookedbackatthose who
stoodagainstthe wall and said,Keepyourhandsup – but thistime inpraise toour Lord JesusChrist,
brothersandsisters. We,too,are Christians. We were senttoanotherhouse churchseveral weeksago
to a group of believers –“
The other soldierinterrupted,“… but,instead,we were converted! We have learnedbyexperience,
however,thatunlesspeopleare willingtodie fortheirfaith,theycannotbe fullytrusted.”
In segmentsof the worldwhere Biblesare plentiful andchurchesare protected,faithcanrunawfully
shallow. Commitmentcanstayratherlukewarm. Eaglescanlearnto flydangerouslylow,“whatwe
obtaintoocheap,we esteemtoolightly.”
(FromLivingAbove the Level of Mediocrityby CharlesSwindoll)

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Knowing or Loving Him.
Luke 7
In Matthew15:8 Jesussaysthisabouta group of religiousleaderscalled,the Pharisees:
These peoplehonormewith their lips, but their hearts are farfromme.
TheyknewaboutGod, buttheydidn’t LOVE him.
Thisdescriptionseemstodescribemostpeople. Theyhave broughtGodintotheirminds,buttheyhave
neversurrenderedcontrol of theirlivesandtheirlove. It’sthe differencebetweenknowledge and
intimacy.
In Luke 7, Jesushad beeninvitedovertoeatwithSimon,aPharisee. Itbecame apparentthatSimonhad
invitedJesusashisjob,ratherthanas an honor.
For instance,the customarygreetingforanhonoredguestwouldhave beenakiss. Toneglect the
greetingkisswasthe equivalenttoopenlyignoringsomebody.
Anothercustominvolvedthe washingof feet. If youtrulywantedtohonor the guest,youwoulddoit
yourself. Atthe leastyouwere expectedtoprovide waterforthe guesttodo itfor themselves.

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For a special guest,youwould providethemsome olive oil foruse ontheirhead.
These were notjustoversights. Thiswasquite intentional. Jesuswasignoredandinsultedhim.
Don’tmissthe importance of thiseventinthe Bible. He had beenpreparinghislifeforthe comingof
the Messiah. Yet he didn’tacceptthat Jesuswasthe Messiah, eventhoughJesusmetthe requirement
for the MessiahstatedinhisownScriptures. He knew all about Jesus,buthe didn’t love Jesus. He
didn’tputJesusfirstinhispriority.
How difficultisitforyou to be demonstrativeinarelationshipwithJesus? Whathindersyoufrombeing
more openwithyourlove?______________________________________
Whenit comesto relationships,are youa “bigforgiver”or a “stingyone”? Why? How doesthistie in
withyourrelationshipwithGod?________________________________
What do youlearnfromthisstory that couldbe appliedtoyourlife?___________________________
Thinkaboutit: we love hearingandreadingBible stories. Butif theydon’tchange ourlives,theyare just
stories. The problemisn’tknowledge. The problemisthatunlessthe knowledgebringslove;itisjust
knowledge.
I am NOT saying, studdingandlearningaboutanindividual iswrong. Jesusreferenced,read,andquoted
passagesfromthe OldTestamentabouthisFather. Knowledgecanbe a false indicatorof love.
An example of thatisavailable inmanymarriagestoday. Over50% of marriagesendindivorce. Many
of those whoare gettingdivorced,knowquite alotabouttheirformer spouses. The usual problemis
that theydidn’tplace the persontheyare suppose tobe lovinginpriorityoverthemselves.
Clearlywhere there istrue love there shouldbe growingknowledge.
Part of the proof that I have an intimate relationshipwithmywifeishow muchI know abouther. I
know whatkindof shampooshe uses. Iknow what makesherupset. But these thingsdon’tbringus
deeperinlove. Ineedtobe committedtoher andwhat she needs,wants,desires,etc.;inordertobe
trulyinlove.
In our relationshipwithGod,we needtorealizethathe isnot impressedwithmyknowledge buthowit
bringsus deeperinlove. Itwon’thelpmyrelationship if Ican pointoutthe religioustraditionsIhave
followedandthe moral code I observed,unless Icanshow how itbroughtus together.
Knew, intimacy, commit
Probablythe bestbiblical wordforlove/intimacyisthe word“knew.” Butthisintimacygoesmuch
deeperthan knowledge. We see thatin Genesis4:1: Adam knew Eve his wife.
Here’sthe bestwayto define “knew”.
To knowcompletely and to becompletely known.
It’sthisintimate connectiononeverylevelistrue love. It’sabeautiful picture thathelpsusgetatwhat
it meanstoreallylove God. One Hebrew scholardefines the wordthisway: “A minglingof the
souls/spirits.”

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So letusnow take a lookat how God wantsto know and be knownbyus. In Psalm139 We see this
statement:OLord,you haveexamined my heartand know everything aboutme.
Thisshouldcompletelychange yourlife andthe wayyourelate toGod. Justas Jesuschangedthe life of
the womenwhogreetedJesusinthe PhariseeSimon’shome. Apparentlyshe hadherdJesusteaching,
and somethinghappenedinherheart. Andmaybe itwasthe way He lookedather. His eyes
communicatedhervalue andworth. She wasa beloveddaughter. Andperhapsshe knew thatGod
lovedherandhe hadn’tgivenuponher,evenif everyone else had.
She isso focusedonJesusthat she forgetsaboutherself. She isdesperate toexpressthe love and
affectionshe feelsforthe Sonof God.
But whenshe looksatJesus,he seemstoknow whathappenedinherheart. He giveshera warm smile.
He seemsdelightedthatshe hascome,and he looksat her withthe eyesof a lovingfatherwatchinghis
beautiful daughter,asshe entersthe room
She isso undone bythisthat the tears come,justa few at first,andthenmore. Withthe benefitof her
tearsshe washeshisfeet.
In the end,thisprostitute wholovinglyexpressedherlove isshowntomake hera God lover. Here,
then,isanotherimportantquestion:
Who am I mostlike in this story?
Whenis the lasttime youhad a momentwithGod like thiswomaninLuke 7 had? Whenisthe lasttime
the tears streameddownyourface as youexpressedyourlove forhim. Whenisthe lasttime you Loved
Godwith your WHOLE heart? __________________________________________

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Jonathan Edwardswasoneman who madea difference. Born in 1703, he wasperhapsthemostbrilliant
mind America ever produced. A pastor,writer,and later presidentof Prince, he and his wifehad 11
children. Of his male descendants:
Morethan 300 becamepastors,missionaries,ortheologicalprofessors;
120 wereprofessorsatvariousuniversities;
110 becameattorneys;
60 were prominentauthors;
30 were judges;
14 served as presidentsof universitiesand colleges;
3 served in the U.S.Congressand onebecameVice-Presidentof theUnited States.
Jonathon Edwards…wasjustoneman,buthe positively affected hundredsand even thousandsof his
descendantsafterhisdeath.
The destiny of thosefuturegenerationsis in yourhands. Thechoices you makewith yourfamily today
will determinethe qualityof life in yourfamily tree forgenerationsto come. That’swhy oneman can
makea difference.
(FromPointMan by Steve Farrar)

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Best Friend Forever (BFF)
Luke 14
In the modernworldof cell-phonesandsocial media,there isaterm“Best FriendForever”. Letustake
a lookat who shouldbe yourBFF.
In the fourteenthchapterof Luke’sgospel Jesushas atalk withanentire crowd. The time hascome in
Jesus’ministry whenhe drawsaline inthe sandand wantsto talkabout the relationship;he wantsto
knowwhere these people stand,whatwasthe level of loveandcommitment:
Large crowdsweretraveling with Jesus, and turning to them hesaid: “If anyonecomesto meand does
nothate his fatherand mother,hiswife and children,his brothersand sisters – yes even his own life – he
cannotbemy disciple” (Luke 14: 25-26).
Didyou notice the words:“If anyone?” That’s a fairlyinclusive word. WhatJesuswassayingistrue for
anyone whowantsto love God.
Obviouslyhatingyourfamilywouldcontradictthe otherteachingsof Jesus. Sowhythe strong
language? Jesusisbeinghonestwiththe crowdaboutwhatitmay cost to love God. He letsthemknow
that lovingGodmay meanoffendingyourparentsorotherfamilymembers.
The ContemporaryEnglishVersionBibleputsitthisway:“love me more.” But “hate”is alsoaccurate
because itcapturesthe degree towhichwe mustlove God. Rememberthatthe “GreatCommandment”
says:“Love God withyourWHOLE heart,mind,andspirit.” That doesn’tleave anylove leftoverfor
lovingyourselforothers. Whenwe compare our relationshipwithGodtoanyone else there shouldbe
no competition. Godwantsto be your BestFriendForever”
Is He Your One and Only?
An example of thistype of relationshipiswhenacouple getsmarried. Youare basicallysaying, Iam
giving you my heartand wantnothing morethan to spend the rest of my life with you.
Nowimagine thatyoursignificantothersayssomethinglikethistoyou: I loveyou too,but I would like to
love othersalso and commit to them also. If there are any problemsIreserve the rightto makeall
decisions. Do you knowof any successful marriagesthatfunctionlike this.
Yes,God wantsto marry you,withan exclusive relationship. AndHe wantsto be in charge. God makes
it clearthat he will notshare yourlove. FollowinghimrequiresyourWHOLEheart.
I wantto ask you some questionstohelpreveal if Godisone of many,or yourone and only. These are
not rhetorical questions. Take time toanswerthem. Grab a penandwrite youranswerson the lines
providedbelow eachquestionandexplanation. How youanswer these questionscanhelpshow youif
there isany competitioninsharingyourlove withGod.
1. For what do you sacrifice your money?
___________________________________________________

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The Bible says,“Where yourtreasure is,there yourheartwill be also.” What youspendyourtime and
moneyoftenrevealsthe true desire of yourheartandshowswhoor whatyouare trulyloving.
Many of us sacrifice ourtime andmoney forstuff because we thinkthat’show we findsatisfaction. But
God wantsto be oursatisfaction. He describedhimself asourlivingwaterthatquenchesourthirst
forever. Moneybecomesasubstitute forGodbecause itpromisestodofor uswhat God wantsto do
for us.
In Matthew6:24 Jesussaid, “No onecan serve two masters,either he will hatethe oneand love the
other,or he will be devoted to theone and despisethe other. You cannotserve bothGod and Money.
Those pathsgo in differentdirectionsandyouhave tochoose one.
How youspendyourmoneytellsastoryabout whatmattersthe mostto you.
2. When your hurting, where do you go for help?
___________________________________________________
Whenyouexperiencethe painof thislife where doyouturn? Maybe it is:Spouse,parents,food,or
work. All these,have the potentialtokeep youfromgoingtoGod for love andcare.
Whensomeone goesthroughadifficult challenge,whoorwhattheyare truly inlove withcomestothe
forefront.
So when-isthe lasttime youexperiencedsome of the painandsufferinginthislife? Sowhoorwhere
didyou turnto for comfort? The answertothat Questionrevealsyourtrue love.
3. What disappoints or frustrates you the most?
____________________________________________________
Whenwe feel overpoweredwith life’sconcerns,itoftenrevealssomethingthathasbecome too
important. Whenwe findthatthose thingshave the powertodetermine whowe are andwhat kindof
life we will have. Thatisa warningsign,that somethingismore importantthanitshouldbe. Thiswarns
youthat your relationshipwithGodisnotyour highestpriority.
4. What is it that really gets you going?
__________________________________________________
Like the thingsthat frustrate us,the thingsthatexcite uscan alsopointto somethingorsomeone that
youlove more than God. All these thingsare okay,buttheyhave the potential tobecome more
importantthanlovingGodwithyour WHOLE heart. LovingGodmeanslovinghimalone. Godwill not
share your love withanotherlover.
The prophetEzekiel describedwhatitwaslike forGodwhenwe share our love,attention,and
allegiance withanyoneoranythingelse. Itislike we’re havinganaffair. InEzekiel chapter16,here is
whatGod says to hispeople whohave beenworshipingothergods: You givegifts to all yourlovers …

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Some of you mayhave experiencedthe painof unfaithfulness. If someonewhoyouhave beensharing
love withhassharedlove withsomeone else atthe same time;youwouldnottolerate it. Yetwe expect
the HighestLovernot to dothe same. If you have experiencedthisinyourlife,youknow itisone of the
worstexperiences. Godlooksat inthe same way.
So inLuke 14, God definesthe relationshipbymakingitclear thatif we love him, we love himandhim
alone. He won’tshare us. God’srefusal to share our love withanyone oranythingoutsideof the
relationship;provesthatthisrelationshipistobe completelycommitted. Godisthe onlyone,that can
share love withothers.
While Jesusourmodel andteacheronearthlefthisfamilyandhadHis apostlesdothe same thing.
Tryingto love God part-time orhalfheartedisimpossible. SoHisterms are not negotiable.
If lovingGod costyou everything,woulditstillbe worthit?
_______________________________________________

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For many people,it is less difficult to committhe futureto the Lord than to commit to thepresent. Many
recognizethatwe are helpless in regard to the future,butwefeel as if the presentis in ourown hands
and mustbe carried on our shoulders.
I knewa Christian woman who had a great“burden”in her life. Her concern caused her to lose sleep and
her appetite,and soon herhealthwas in dangerof breaking down….Sherecognized,however,thatshe
could in no way alter her circumstancesand thereforeresolved to try a new plan.
She tookhercircumstancesto the Lord. She handed themoverto His management. Then shesimply
believed fromthatvery momentthatHe tookthem. Shedecided to leaveall responsibility,and her
mentalworrying and anxiousfeelingswith Him, too.
Of course all of thesetormenting thingstried time and again to return. And each time, she tookthem
backto the Lord. As a result – although theoutward circumstancesdid notchange – her soulbegan to
experienceperfect peacein the midst of trouble.
She rejoiced at having entered into such a practical secret of the spiritual life. And fromthattime, she
set this asher goal. Neverto carry her own burdensnorto manageherown affairs,butto hand them
overas fastas they aroseto the divineBurden-bearer.
The samesecret, which wasso effectivein dealing with outward circumstances,shebegan to apply to
her inward life – because,in fact,hermoodsand emotionswereeven more utterly unmanageable. So,
she abandoned herwholeself to the Lord,all thatshewas,as well as all thatshehad. She believed that
He tookwhatshe committed to Him, and determined thatshewould cease fretting and worrying.
And so she felt a newlight dawning within,and felt flooded with thegladnessthatcomeswhen we know
we belong to God. By applying thissimple secret, shediscovered it is possibleto obey God’sloving
commandment,contained in thewords. “Do notworry aboutanything.”
The inevitable resultis thatthe peaceof God,which comes when westep beyond ourunderstanding and
into trust,will takehold of ourheart and mind.
(From“The Christian’sSecretof aHappy Life”byHannah W. Smithin SafeWithin Your Love)

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21
Loving or following
Matthew 23
In Matthew23, Jesustriestogetthe attentionof some religiousleaders. Theyshouldhave beenlovers
or at leastfollowers. Theyhadthe knowledgeof the scripturesandwhere consideredexpertson
anythingGodrelated. Theywere the bestat followingrules. Followingthe ruleskeptthemfocusedon
the outside of theirheart. The inside of theirheartsdidnotmatch theiroutside.
Jesuscondemnedthesemen, becausetheirheartswherenotwhollyinlovewithGod. Theyfollowed
God’srules,buttheydidnot share love withHim.
Maybe youknowsome Christiansthatare acting like Christians,talkinglikeChristians,involvedwith
Christianmusic;buthave neverfalleninlovewithGod. These Christiansare focusingonactinglike
Christiansinsteadof usingthe religiontodevelopadeeperlove relationship withGod.

22
Or maybe theyare Christianworkers. Theymeasure theirfaithbytheirhardworkat learning abouthow
theycan put theirfaithintoaction. Theirtargetis to be the hardestworkersandsayingthe rightthings
while theirdoingthe rightthings. The trouble withthatapproachisthat itis notwhotheyare. It’snot
enoughforGod. He wants all of them.
Theylookreal good. Theyhave theirpartdownpat. They know whatto say andwhat notto say. They
can pray the prayersand theycan singthe songs. Theirheart,the mostimportantfactor,is notin it.
Your focus on the inside/outside
The main problemJesushadwiththese religiousleaderswasthattheywere hypocrites. He calledthem
that, eighttimes. Jesussaidinverse 5: Everything they do is for show. He alsowenton to say: But do
notwhatthey do, forthey do notpractice whatthey preach (v 3).
Jesuscondemns those whowere tryingtoimpressothersthroughtheirreligiouscredentials. Jesustook
the reverse approach,beingtenderandencouragingtothose whohave share theirlove withHim. His
loversneedtobe authentic.
What God wantsin a lover– someone whoisn’tpretendingonthe outside tohave itall together. That’s
one of the waysthe word hypocrisyisdefined,as “the act of pretending.”
In verses27 – 28 Jesusgoesonto say: You are like whitewashed tombs,which lookbeautifulon the
outside,buton the inside are full of dead men’sbonesand everything unclean. In thesame way,on the
outsideyou appearto people asrighteousbuton the inside you are full of hypocrisy …
On the inside theirfaithhasgrowncoldandwas dying.
Choosing following over a loving relationship
In verse 13, Jesusgivesanumberof indicatorsthatthe outside hadbecome more importantthanthe
inside:Woeto you,teachersof the law and Pharisees,you Hypocrites! You shutthe kingdomof heaven
in men faces. You yourselvesdo notenter, norwill you let thoseenter who aretrying to.
Theytaught that God’slove andJesus’salvation wassomethingthathadto be earned. Whenwe learn
to trulylove God,we findthat obedience toGodcomesfrom the inside out. SubmissiontowhatGod
wantsfor our livesflowsnaturallyoutof asharedlove relationship. It’snotto say that whatwe do or
don’tdo doesn’tmatter,butwhatwe do or don’tdo mustcome fromthat lovingrelationship.
Justlike the Phariseesin the Bible,some Christianslooklike goodChristians;buttheyneglecttoshare
God’slove withHimand others. Whenlookinggoodbecomesmore importantthansharinglove with
God; theyare aimingatthe wrongtarget.
Theyfindthemselveswearyof trying tolook goodinhopesof somehow earningGod’sfavorwithout
givingupcontrol to God and keepuptheirsecularlife. Whenall theyhave todoisto: Keep company
(loverelationship) withme and You’ll learn to live freely and lightly (Matt11:30).

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Missing what really Matters
In verses23-24 of Matthew23, Jesussays:… But you haveneglected the more importantmattersof the
law – Justice, mercy,and faithfulness. You should havepracticed thelater, withoutneglecting the
former. You blind guides!…
In the ChristianChurch we needtoemphasize sharinglovewithGodandeverythingelse will fallinto
place overtime.
Where doesJesuscatchyour attentioninthispassage? Whatpractices touch close-to-home inyour
life? Howcan youavoidwhat ispreachedagainstinthispassage?___________________________
How can youavoidmakingithard for othersto grow spiritually?__________________________
What abouttoday’schurch do youlamentover(asJesusdidoverJerusalem)?______________
From readingthispassage,whatshouldtoday’steachersandpastors be especiallymindful of? How
have youseenthe “powerof the pulpit”used?____________________________
Do youfeel Jesusisa little tootoughonthe Pharisees? Onyou? Whyor Whynot? ___________
God declaresthat He will faithfully removethecreated thingswhich can beshaken – the shakable
kingdom. Why? So,thatthe unshakeablemay remain. Created thingsgiveculturalChristianity its
toehold. Created thingsdefeatusand chokethe Word – the worriesof this life and the deceitfulnessof
wealth(Matthew13:22).
When we cross overthe line and refuseHim who speaks,He will separateus fromthecreated things –
the idols,the shakeablekingdom –which dilute ourdevotion to him. If we cannotremain obedient,if we
cannotbeholy,then He will discipline us forour own good,“thatwemay sharein His holiness.”…
Do notbe alarmed if God shakesup yourworld. Though yourfirstnaturalthoughtwill disagree,it is a
blessing. It is not a sign thatyou are unworthy –every oneof usis unworthy. Itis not a sign of hatred,
butlove. If He did notlove you,He would let you completely self destruct. Asit is, He cleanses yourlife
fromsin….
When God disciplines you by removing created things,by shaking up yourtemporalkingdom,rejoiceand
be glad. Created thingsdivide ouraffectionsfromGod and becomecompetition to our devotion. They
lure us into thewrong race. They consumeourcreativity and deflect ourthoughtsaway fromtheLord
Jesus.
I becamea cultural Christian. Created thingsbecameidols and divided me fromcomplete,faithful
devotion to ourLord. God removed mostof the created thingsI accumulated. Ibuilt a shakeable
kingdom,and God shookit. Words areinadequateto expressthe joy and gratitudeIfeel toward God for
the woundsHefaithfully inflicted. It may be the single greatestblessing of my spiritual pilgrimage.
(FromWalking withChrist in the Details of Life byPatrickM. Morley)

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Self or spirit-led
John 16
You cannot be a loverunless youare filledwiththe HolySpirit. Whenyoutryto love Godwithout
havingthe HolySpiritbeingwithinyou, itwillleaveyoutiredandfrustrated,makingyouoverwhelmed
by life’scircumstances. Youmaybe feelingthat youare sharinglove withGod,butthensomethinggoes
wrongand youdon’t have the powertoovercome it. Insteadof lovingGodand trustingHimyou
become discouraged. Itjustdoesn’tworkwithoutthe powerof the Spirit.
Are you a Spirit-filled Lover
In Acts1, Jesussaidtohis followers:“You will receive powerwhen theHoly Spirit comeson you;and you
will be my witnessesin Jerusalem,and in all Judea and Samaria,and to theendsof the earth.” Afterhe
said this, he wastaken up beforetheir very eyes,and a cloud hid him fromtheir sight (Acts1:8-9)
Jesusalsosaidto them: ButI tell you the truth:It is foryourgood thatI amgoing away. UnlessI go
away,theCounselorwill notcome to you,butif I go,I will send him to you (John 16:7).
Jesuscouldbe withhisfollowers,butthe HolySpiritwouldlive withinGodlovers.
PeterandJohn(twocommon fisherman),are broughtbefore the smartestmenof thattime,the
religiousleaders. PeterandJohn,wowthe leaderswiththeirknowledge. They didn’thave anyreligious
trainingandyetthese wise menare dumfounded.Sotheyquestionthem:
They had Peterand John broughtbeforethemand began to question them:“By whatpoweror what
namedid you do this?” (Acts4:7).
In verse 8, the answer’s explanationisgiven:
Then, Peter,filled withthe Holy Spirit, said to them…
AfterPeterspeakstothem,verse 13 tellsusthe conclusionreachedbythese spiritual leaders:
When they sawthe courageof Peterand John and realized thatthey wereunschooled,ordinary men,
they were astonished…
Theywere filledwiththe powerof the Spiritandthese ordinary,unschooledloversof Godchangedthe
world. InRomans 8:11 Paul says:
The Spirit of God,who raised Jesusfromthe dead,lives in you.
The same SpiritthatraisedChristfromthe dead,livesinGod’slovers.
Whenyouturn overcontrol of your life toGod,youreceive fromGodthe giftof the Holy Spirit. That’s
hisshowof love toall whoput theirfaithandtrust inHim. You needonlytrustGod to have the Holy
Spirituse poweraccordingto Hisplans.
Paul pointsoutthat tryingto live the Christianlifeoutof yourownpowerand control isridiculous:
Are you so foolish? After beginning withtheSpirit Are you now trying to attain yourgoal by human
effort?(Gal.3:3).

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How “at home”are the Father,Son,and Spiritinyourlife? Are theymore like owners,ortemporary
guests?______________________________
On a scale from1 (“smoothsailing”) to10 (“furiousstorm”),whatisyour“peace”quotient now? Why?
Where do youneedJesus’peace? Where canyoufindhope inthispassage? _____________________
Of the promisesmade here (vv16-18, 21, 23, 26-27), whichone meansthe mostto you/ Why?
____________________________________
Week is Strong
Beingfilledwiththe powerof the Spiritbeginswithanacknowledgmentof yourownweakness.
In Paul’ssecondlettertothe Corinthianshe spoke abouthow acknowledgingourweaknessmakesroom
for Christ’spower:
I will boastall the moregladly aboutmy weaknesses,so thatChrist’spowermay reston me. Thatis
why,forChrist’ssake,I delightin weaknesses…Forwhen I am weak,then I amstrong (2 Cor.12:9-10).
Paul understandsthatlivinginthe powerof the Spiritmeansgivingupall control of yourlife. Tohim,it
meansjustdoingthe nextthingGod givesyou todo. Thisis muchas a slave woulddo;justwhathe/she
isgivento do.
Since we live bythe Spirit,letuskeepinstepwiththe Spirit(Gal 5:25).
The picture is of a slave walking,andeveryactiontheydoisguidedbythe Spirit.
Spiritual Breathing
The basic ideaisthat youlive,momentbymomentawarenessof the Spirituntil followingthe guidance
providedbecomesasnatural – as habitual –as breathing. It will become apartof whoyouare.
The onlyway to be undercontrol by the Spirit;isto fullyandcompletelyturnovercontrol of yourlife to
Him. The more control you give Himthere islesscontrol foryou to messup. Whenthe Holy Spirit
movesinand takesupcontrol,thenyou shouldincreasinglyfindthatyourlife ismore peaceful;because
youare no longerresponsible forthe results. All youhave todois a quickcheck:“Wouldthisbe okay
withmyloverGod. Withthisapproach, youfindthat slowly youfindthatyourpride,yourimpatience,
your selfishness,yourlustistakenoutof yourlife.
God loverslive withacontinual awarenessof the Spirit’spresence andthe powertoaccomplishwhatHe
has openedthe doorforyouto do, throughHis power.
Followerseventuallyget burnedoutfromtryingtolive the Christianlifeoutof theirownefforts.
Followersof Christsoonfindthatthe Spiritneedstocome withthemthroughthiseffortandwiththe
powertheycan be excited.
Recently,my wife and I had thepleasureof spending an evening with formerastronautGeneralCharles
M. Duke. All of us in the roomsatin rapt fascination astheman told of the Apollo 16 mission to the
moon,including someinteresting tidbits related to driving “Rover.” The lunarvehicle, and actually
walking on the surfaceof the planet. We werefull of questionswhich GeneralDuke patiently and
carefully answered oneafteranother.

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I asked,“Onceyou were there,weren’tyou free to makeyourown discussionsand carry outsomeof
yourown experiments… you know,sortof do as you pleased – maybestay a little longerif you liked?”
He smiled back,Sure,Chuck,if we didn’twantto return to earth!”
He then described the intricate plan,the exactand precise instructions,theessentialdiscipline, the
instantobediencethatwasneeded right down to the split second. By theway,he said they had landed
somewhat“heavy”when they touched down on themoon. Hewasreferring to their fuel supply. They
had plentyleft. Guess howmuch? Oneminute. They landed with sixty secondsof fuel remaining. Talk
aboutbeing exact! I gotthe distinct impression thata rebel spirit doesn’tfit insidea space suit.
Whoeverrepresentsthe United Statesin the spaceprogrammusthavean unconditionalrespect for
authority.
(FromStrengthening YourGrip byCharlesSwindoll)

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You and God-a relationship.
Matthew 7
We beganthisbookwitha simple question:Are youaloverof God?” I want youto know it wasmy
objective tobringyouclosertoyour God,not to splityouup. I hope we have broughtyoucloserto your
God; that youhave beenaffirmedinyourfaithandconfirmedinyourcommitmentasaloverof God.
There may be some of you whoaren’tlovingGod. My prayeristhat you andthe Spiritwouldmake your
life more complete byimprovingthe kindof relationshipGoddesirestohave withyou.Iam prayingfor
youthat you notwaste anotherday fromthe joy youcan have by sharinglove withGod. If you do,you
will experience the life-giving,soul satisfyingexistence withinthe plansGodhas. I also feel thateternity
hangsin the balance. There will be aday whenwe will have toanswerforthe liveswe have beengiven.
In Matthewchapter7, Jesustalksabouttwodifferentroadsthatleadtodifferentplaces:
Enter through thenarrowgate. Forwide is the gateand broad is the road thatleads to destruction,and
many enterthrough it. But small is the gateand narrow theroad that leadsto life, and only a few find it.
(Matt. 7:13-14.
Jesussaysthat manypeople take the wrongroadand onlya few are onthe narrow path that takesusto
the eternal love-fest.
DonaldWhitneyonce said,“If a person iswrongabout beingrightwithGod,thenultimatelyitreally
doesn’tmatterwhathe or she is rightabout.” So before you continue driving downthe road. Checkthe
road out withJesus:
Noteveryonewho saysto me, “Lord,Lord” will enter thekingdomof heaven,butonly the onewho does
the will of my Fatherwho is in heaven. Many will say me on thatday,“Lord,Lord,did we notprophesy in
yournameand in yourname drive outdemonsand in yournameperformmany miracles?” Then I will
tell them plainly,“I never knew you. Away fromme,you evildoers!”(Matthew 7:21-23)
Consideringthe sermonasawhole,isyourfoundationonsolidrock? Oron sand butwitha nice view?
What wouldyouhave to teardownin orderto shore up that foundation? ______________________
At thispointinyourlife,isyourlife,isyourpressingneedtolearnmore orto practice whatyou have
alreadylearned? Why?______________________________________
In lightof thissection’sseriousness, whathope doverses7-9 give you? How about5:3? What attitude
of “kingdompeople’will youaskfor?____________________
On judgementday;theywillfind outthatheavenisnottheirdestination. Here are some questionsto
helpyoudecide if youare on the rightpath:
1. Does your Life Reflect what you believe?
___________________________________________________
We have convincedourselvesthatourbeliefsare sincere evenif theyhave noimpactonhow we live.

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We are savedby God’shelpwhenwe believe inJesusandputour faithinhim,butbiblical belief ismore
than somethingwe confesswithourmouths;It’ssomethingwe confesswithourlives.
The book of Jamesinthe Bible addressesthis:
Whatgood is it, my brothers,if a man claims to havefaith but hasno deeds? Can yourfaith savehim?
Supposea brotherorsister is withoutclothesand daily food. If oneof you saysto him,“Go, I wish you
well, keep warmand well fed,”but doesnothing abouthisphysicalneeds,whatgood isit? (James2:14-
16)
More Than a Feeling
A belief,nomatterhowsincere,if notreflectedinrealityisn’tabelief;it’sadelusion.
2. What you have done put you on the right road?
____________________________________________________
No matterhowmuch goodyou do,no matterwhat youaccomplishforthe kingdom, that’snotwhat
makesyoua true loverof God. These thingsmatter,butonlytothe extentthattheyreflectthe answer
to the last question.
3. Do I love God and does He love me?
____________________________________________________
That’s whatit comesdownto. That’sthe dividingline. Itcomesdowntoa personal relationshipwith
God throughsharinglove withHim. Jesusidentifieshistrue followersbasedona lovingrelationship.
What we say and whatwe do overflowsoutof the relationshipwe have withGod.
More than he wantsthe acts of piety,more thanhe wants ouradherence toreligion,more thanhe
wantsour observance of rulesandrituals,more thanhe wantsour wordsof love,he simplywantsto
love usand for usto love him. Andthat isthe bottomline. If thatisn’tthere,all the prophesying,
exorcism,andmiraclesinthe worldwill notmatter.
In Revelation3Jesussaysto the ChristiansinLaodicea, You areneither hot orcold but becauseyou are
lukewarm – I’maboutto spit you outof my mouth”. He saysyou can’tbemy followerif you don’tgive
up everything including controlof yourlife.
JesusandGod wantsto share love withyouandinexchange andfor that benefit,theywantyour
complete commitment.
Supposeyou gaveyourself to theLord - to be wholly and altogetherHis, madeand molded according to
His own divinepurpose,determined to follow Him whereverHe may lead you. It is justat thispoint that
you are faced witha new and very practical difficulty.
Howare you to know thevoice of theGood Shepherd,whomyou havepledged to follow?
Many Christianslive in constantdoubtand confusion asto His will forthem.

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And this confusion isfurthercompounded. Maybetherearecertain “paths”into which God seems to be
calling you,of which yourfriendsdisapprove – and it may be thatthese disapproving friendsareolder
than yourself in theChristian life. You can hardly bearto disagreewith them,or to see thedistress in
their faces.
The first thing you mustdo is to askthe Lord to help you quietly examinethe motivesof yourheart. Be
sure thatyou really haveset yourwill to obey theLord in every respect. If this is yourpurposethen,and
yoursoulis merely waiting to knowthewill of God in order to consentto it, then you havedoneyour
part.
Fromthis point,you can be certain thatHe will makehis mind known to you and will guideyou on the
right paths,for“He calls his own sheep by nameand leadsthem out… he goeson ahead of them,and his
sheep followhim becausethey knowhis voice” (John 10:3-4) … And “if any of you lackswisdom,he
should askGod,who givesgenerously to all withoutfinding fault,and it will be given him” (James1:5).
Let no hintof doubtturn you froma steadfastfaith in God’swillingness and ability to guide you.
Rememberthis though,OurGod hasall knowledgeand all wisdom. Thereforeit is very possibleHe may
guideyou into pathswherein He knowsgreatblessingsareawaiting you justaround thenextfearsome
turn – pathson which,to ourshort-sighted humaneyes,thereseemsto be only confusion and loss.
You mustbecomesettled on this spiritualfact: God’sthoughtsarenotlike man’sthoughts,norareHis
wayslike our ways. He alone,who knowstheend of thingsfromtheir beginning, isable to determine
whatthe resultsof any courseof action may be.
(From“The Christian’sSecretof aHappy Life”byHannah W. Smithin Safewithin Your Love)

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Anyone – an invitation
The journeyfromJesusfollowertoGod loverhasbeencoveredin the previouschapters. Now letus
delve deeperintolovingGod. What are the termsforbeinga loverof God? ____________________
For God so loved the world thatHe gave his only Son thatwhosoeverbelievesin Him will notperish but
haveeternal life. John 3:16
We readin this verse thatGod lovesus. But Jesusgoesonto say inLuke 9:23:
If anyonewould comeafterme, he mustdeny himself and take up his crossdaily and follow me.
Believingandfollowinggotogether.
Anyone Means Everyone
God isinvitinganyone/everyone. One of the fearsthat keepusfromacceptingisthe fear that our
failureswillbe exposed. Maybe youare nota thief,butwe have all become disappointmentsto
someone.
Because of that, youmay be askingGod: “Do youstill love me?” AndGod iswhisperingdown:“You
couldneverdoanythingthatwouldstopme from lovingyou.” Butyou still wrongedthe personwho
lovesyou. Soyou mustdeal withthat;so you will notrepeatitagain.
It’simportantto understandthatthe love of God doesn’tsimplyinviteustolove himback … it teaches
us to love Him. While we are onthat path to learninghow tolove Godback, we will receive challenges
and assignments thatwill teachuslessons.
It turnsout that anyone couldmeanyou.
A passionate pursuit
The nextpart of God’[sinvitationtoshare love withHiminLuke 9:23 will make completesenseto
lovers,butseemalittle crazyto others:
If anyonewould comeafterme, he mustdeny himself and take up his crossdaily and follow me.
The part of the verse I wantto draw yourattentiontois “Come after.” It’sa phrase that wascommonly
usedinthe contextof a romantic/lovingrelationship. WhenJesussaid“come after,”he’sdescribinga
passionate pursuitof someoneyoulove. Sothe best way to understandwhatJesusiswantingfromHis
followersistocompare howwe pursue lovingGodtohow we pursue lovingsomeone onearth.
Most of us have done some illogical andirrational thingsinthe passionate pursuitof someone we love.
It’sa pursuitthatcan easiyconsume ourthoughts,ourresources,andour energy. That’swhatGod is
lookingforfroma loverwhenJesussaid;“Come after.”
Loving others
On the earth,the relationshipwe tendtobe the mostpassionate aboutisaromantic relationship. We
are overwhelmedbymessagesthatemphasize romanticlove asthe ultimate humanexperience.

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Pursuinga romanticlove andmake us dosome unusual things. It’seasytoget odd duringthe course of
our earthlylove relationships. Have we done the same whenwe pursue lovingGod.
God wantsus to understandthatfollowinghimisapursuitthat requireseverythingwe have. Jesustells
a parable inMatthew 13 called:“The Pearl of Great Price.” It givesapicture of whatGod had inmind
whenhe invitedustocome afterhim.
The kingdomof heaven islike treasurehidden in a field. When a man found it,he hid it again,and then
in his joy wentand sold all he had and broughtthatfield (Matt.13:44)
Whenwe discoverthe life thatwe can have inloving God,we are to come afterhimlikedthisman
pursuedthispearl of greatprice. LoversunderstandthatlovingGodis a pursuitthat maycost them
everything,butitisthe bestinvestmenttheycouldevermake. Loverswill dosome crazythingsforlove,
but non-loverswanttoplayit safe.
Cohabiting with God
There isa fearamongnon-loversthatbygoingall in,they’re goingtolose anyearthlybenefits. Non-
loverswantto have enough of the benefitswithouthavingtoriskearthlybenefits. We wantto enjoy
what’savailable nowwithouthavingtorisketernity.
Insteadof “come after” we holdback. It’snot thatwe don’twanta relationshipwithGod;we do. We
justdon’twant itto cost us verymuch.
Non-loverswanttomove intogetherwithGod, but don’twantto committo anything. If theyhave to
have vows,howabout, I’ll love you,aslong asthingsare good and you hold up yourend of the deal. I’ll
love you aslong asyou don’tasktoo much of me.
We are afraidto passionatelypursue himwithour wholeheartsbecause we know thatif we make such
a commitmentlike thatwe are puttingourselvesonthe line. Itwill require ourresources notleaving
enoughtoletus live ourlike we wantto.
But didyounotice inthe parable of “The Pearl of Great Price”the man sacrificedeverythinghe hadfor
the treasure whichbroughthimgreatjoy because he knew itwasworthit.
Do You Like Me
Remember,thesewordsof Jesusare aninvitation,notacommand. Jesusbeginsthe invitationto“come
after”himwith the word “If.” That indicatesthatthere isa choice inthe mater. One of the most basic
truthsabout love isthat itcan’t be forcedon anyone. If youtry and force someone tolove youit’sa
guarantee thattheywon’t.
PursuingGod’ssharinglove isyourchoice andGod wants to make itclear whatyouare agreeingtoif
yourespondto hisinvitation. He will settlefornothinglessthantobe the great love andpursuitof your
life. That’swhatHe commands.
If you don’tworshipHim,the Bible says thatthe rocks and treeswill cryout. The reasonwe talkabout
whatGod needsor wants,isnot because Godneedsorwantsthings;it’sbecause He wantsto share love
withyou. He longsforyou to passionatelypursue Him, andall those thingsthatare part of the package.
Theyare outersignsthat pointtoan innerrealitythatyoulove God more than anythingelse.

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One of the greatestmotivationsof ourlove andpassionate pursuitof Godisa betterunderstandingof
howgreat Hislove isfor us. Beinglovedcausesustolove. We read in1 John4:19:
We love Him, becauseHe first loved us.
God put onflesh,came to thisearth,anddiedforus. He tookthe initiative andpursuedyou. Thisisa
devotedlove,soitshouldchange yourheart.
Lost that Loving Feeling
So whatdo youdo if you wantto love God butyour heartis notyetcaught up withyour “mind.” You
wantto “come after”God witha passionate pursuit,butyouare apatheticandindifferent.
There isno pursuit. That’swhat happenedtothe ChristiansinEphesus. InRevelation2:4-5,Jesussays
to the church:
I hold this againstyou:You haveforsaken yourfirstlove. Remember theheight fromwhich you have
fallen! Repentand do the thingsyou did at first, if you do notrepent,I will come to you and removeyour
lampstand fromitsplace.
That love referstoa lossof enthusiasmorpassionforGodhimself. InJeremiah2:2,God says to his
people thatHe remembers“the devotionof youryouth,how asa pride youlovedme.” Your
honeymoonwith Godshouldneverbe over.
Whenthere isa love-affairof a lengthof time,it’snatural tofindthatsome of the feelingshave started
to fade. The commitmentmightbe strong,butthe passiongotlost alongthe way. The bestthingthey
can do to rekindle thatlove istostart pursuingeachotherthe waytheyusedto. He beginstobuyher
flowersthe wayhe usedto. She writeshimlove lettersthe wayshe usedto. She dressesupforhim.
He takesherout on dates. Asthey“come after”eachotherwith extravagantandsacrificial actsof love
and devotionthe feelingsandthe passionwillstarttoreturn.
That’s a greatway to start inyour “sharedlove”relationshipwithGod. Getonyour kneesnexttoyour
bedand talkto God about yourday. Turn on some worshipmusicinyourcar and singalong. Grab a
bible andstart readingandmeditatingonGod’sWord. Evenif you don’tinitiallyfeel likedoingsome of
those things,itwill begintostirthe fire thathas growndim.
I wouldalsochallenge you towake upthisSundaymorningandgatherwithotherloverswhoare
passionatelypursuingGod’ssharedlove. Ithinkyou’ll findthe adultSundayschool class’spassiontobe
contagious. Recommityourlove toGod andthenpassionatelypursueHim. David putitthisway in
Psalm63:8:
MY soulfollowethhard afterthee.
Why doesGod use the love betweenahusbandanda wife? Isuppose it’sbecause it’sthe deepestkind
of love we cancomprehend. Butreally, the kindof relationshiphe wantswithusismuch deeperand
richerthan that.

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In themidst of playing baseballin the backyard Jim’ssix-year-old son’sbestfriend,and nextdoor
neighbor,cameoutof his house. “Dad can I go play with Brad?” he asked. “Butson,we’re playing
baseball. Don’tyou wantto play withme?” Jim asked,notreally wanting to hear the answerheknew
wascoming. “Nah,I’d ratherplay withBrad,” his son replied,all too honestly. Jim had a rival forhis
son’saffection,and hewasa six-year-old.
As hestruggled with that thoughtknowing thathe’d bettergeta handleon it becauseit wasonly going
to escalate,he suddenly wasreminded thatGod felt the sameway abouthim. He jealously desiresour
affection and attention aswell. It breakshis heartwhen we show moreinterest in cars,sports,
newspapers,television,yard work,hobbies,books,and family activitiesthan wedo in reading his word
and prayer. It saddenshimwhen weare more committed to serving ourselvesand pursuing ourown
interests than weare in serving him.
If God were to examineyourhearttoday whatrivalsforhis attention would He find.
(FromA Dad’sBlessing by Gary SmalleyandJohnTrenth)

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Total Surrender
In Luke 9:23 Jesusmakesitclear that if we are to love him, acasual no-stringsattachedarrangement
isn’ta possibility:
If anyonewould comeafterme, he mustdeny himself …
You can’t “come after”Jesuswithoutdenying yourself. The phrase “denyyourself”isn’tjust the ideaof
sayingnoto yourself –evenresistingyourself. The ideahere isthatyoudo not evenacknowledge or
recognize yourownexistence.
How doyou denyyourself inaculture thatsays it’sall aboutyourself?
In Matthewchapter19 we meetaman whose name we don’tknow. We learnenoughabouthimfrom
the Gospelsthathe isreferredtoas the “Rich Young Ruler.” He followedapaththat has ledtowealth
and power. Inverse 16 He asked:
Teacher,whatgood thing mustI do to get eternal life.
EventuallyJesustellsthismanwhathe needstodo. In verse 21 Jesussays:
Sell yourPossessionsand giveto thepoor,and you will havetreasurein heaven. Then come,follow me.
There isno way to follow Jesuswithoutdenyingyourself.
So whatdoesall thismeanfor youand me? Issellingeverythingarequirementtolove God? Well,it
may be,infact, I wouldsay,the more defensive youare of Jesus wordstothisman,the more likelyitis
that Jesusmightbe sayingthemtoyou. What choice will you make?
Living in Denial
Whenwe sacrificiallydenyourselvestoshare God’slove itisthe clearestevidence of ourcommitted
love. A committedlove. A committedlove isbestdemonstratedthroughsacrifice. Whenwe deny
ourselvesforanotherpersonit communicatestrue love.
No exception clause
If you call yourself aChristian,bydefinitionyouare committedtofollowingJesuswitheveryareaof
your life. Youcan’tsay “I am a Christian”andthenrefuse tofollow Christwhenitcomestocertain
people orplacesorpracticesor love GodwithyourWHOLE heart,mind,andspirit.
“Flexetarian”isa goodwayto describe how manypeople approachtheircommitmenttoGod. And
that’sthe waymanyChristiansapproachtheircommitmenttoJesusandthe Bible.
 I reallylike Jesus –butI don’tlike servingthe poor
 I’mnot real big intothe ideaof goingto church-butmyresourcesare spokenfor.
 I love Jesus-butI’mnot100 % committed

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Theycall themselvesChristians. Theyfollow Jesusbuttheyhave exceptions.
The Fine Print
For manyChristiansthe conceptof denyingthemselveswasnotapart of the deal. Theygrew up with
the message thatsuch a radical decisionreallyisn’tnecessary. Sotheysigneduptofollow Jesus. In
part, thisisdue to the collisionof ChristianitywithAmericandemocracyandcapitalism. Ithascreateda
culture of consumersinour churches. Insteadof approachingtheirfaithwithaspiritof denial that says,
“What can I do for God?” theyhave a consumermentalitythatsays,“Whatcan God do for me?”
Contrastthe image of consumerwithamuch differentBiblicalimage thatScripture usestodescribe
followers. The Bible would describe afollowerasa “slave.” That is the exactopposite of aconsumer.
The image of slave providesapicture of what“denyyourself”lookslike.
A slave hasno rights. A slave hasno possessionstocall theirown. A slave inJesus’daydidn’tevenhave
a personal identity. A slave doesn’tgettime off orgetto clockout at the endof the day. A slave
doesn’tgetto negotiate. But“slave”isthe way manyof the followersof Christintroducedthemselves.
One of the reasonsit’ssohard for us to denyourselvesisbecause the whole ideaseemstogoagainst
our greatestdesire inlife. Mosteveryone wouldsaywhattheywantmore than anythingelse istobe
happy. We’re convinced thatthe path to happinessmeanssayingyestoourselves. Indulgence isthe
path to happiness,sotodenyourselvesseemtogoin the opposite directionof whatwill make us
happy. The rightto pursue happinessseemstobe indirectconflictwiththe call todeny. The Bible
teachesthatthe highestcallingforyouistobe a slave whodenieshimself andlove sGod.
“Slave”isa common wordusedforfollowers,soitonlymakessense thatJesusisoftencalled“Lord.”
Whenwe read inthe NewTestamentthatJesusiscalledLordwe equate thatwithhisDivinity. We think
of “Lord” as a synonymfor“God.” Insteadthe word thatis translatedasLord in the New Testament is
mostoftenthe word Kurios. It showsuphundredsof times. And Kuriosx isaslaveryword. Kurios is the
wordgivento the masteror ownerof a slave.
The other wordwe needtounderstandisthe word doulos. That’sthe wordusedto describe afollower.
The definitionof thiswordisn’tdifficult. Itisa wordthat ismost accuratelytranslatedasslave. Really
“slave”isthe onlyway the wordshouldbe translated. Thatwordappearsabout 130 timesinthe New
Testament. Fora numberof differentreasonsthatwordisusuallytranslatedas“servant.” InScripture.
But the most literal translationis“slave.” Thatwithoutquestionthe wayreaderswouldhave heard it.
But there isa huge difference.
A servantworksforsomeone;aslave isownedbysomeone.
Withthese wordsinmind,whatI’mabout to say seemslike itshouldbe prettyobviousbutmaycome as
a surprise.
You can’t call JesusLord withoutdeclaring yourselfhisslave.
You can’t call yourselfa slave withoutreleasingcontrol of life.
Doesthat make sense?

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Signing up for Slavery
Whenwe accept the invitationtolove Godandto turn overcontrol of yourlife,we become lovers
rather thanslaves. Thisisa completelydifferentwaytolookat who has control of yourlife. We thinkof
slaveryassomethingyou’re forcedinto,butGodinvitesustolove him – doingeverythingtoplease Him.
Why wouldanyone everwanttobe a slave?
Deuteronomy15:16-17 explains:“Butif yourservantsaysto you,‘Ido not wantto leave you,becausehe
lovesyou and yourfamily and is well off with you,then takean awland posh it through hisearlobe into
the door,and hewill becomeyourservantforlife.”
Choosingtobecome a bondslave wasanact of complete selfdenial. A bondslavegave upall theirrights
to the Master. He is agreeing to give up all his possessionsto themaster. A slavecouldn’tpick and
choosewhatwaspartof the deal. He was saying, “Everything I have,everything Iam,I sign over to
you.”
Notice thata personbecame abondslave is“because he lovesyou”.
So outof love we become aslave toJesus. Whenyoufinallysurrenderall thatyouhave and all that you
are,you will discoverthe strangestthing. It’sonlybysurrenderingall thatyouhave and all that youare,
will youfindtrue freedom.
We thinkthatby turningcontrol of your life can,yourloverGod can trulycontrol your life andthe world
accordingto His PowerandHis plan. It’sonlywhen Youshare love thatyoucan trulyhave all the
benefits.
As God’slover,mayI tell youaboutyourlover. Your loverwill provideforyou. He can take care of your
needs. Yourloverwill protect you. He speaksandeventhe windwill obeyhim.. Yourlovercanforgive
you. Your lovercan take the piecesof yourlife andturnthemintoa beautiful mosaic. If you are worn
out andexhausted,yourlovergivesresttothose whoare wearyandheavyburdened.
One more thing.Whenyouaccept beinga lover;he will make youHiswife.
Whenyou decide toshare love withGodyouare signingovercontrol overyourhouse,yourcar, your
bankaccounts, yourcareer,your marriage,yourchildren,yourfuture,andanythingelsethatyouonce
had control of. You have no more rightsand nothing can be withheld.
It’saboutgivingup, period.
That’s whatit meanstogive up control overyourlife.
No Control-any-day.
If anyonewould “comeafter”me,he mustdeny himself and takeup hiscross daily. Luke 9:23
What wouldyouratherwake up each morning, to a cross or a love affair. If isa love affair,you’llbe
doingthingsbecause youare inlove or because youare a slave. Itwill be eitherlove ordeath.
The cross is a symbol of humiliation. The heartsymbol isthe symbol of love. Whichdrawsyouin more.

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Loving God Theology
Contrastthe symbol of the crosswiththe symbol of a love-fest. Bothrequire,yougive upcontrol of
your life.We are bynature,loversof love,notcrossbearers.
Whenwe turnovercontrol of our life sowe can trulylove Him, we discovertrue life. Inatwistof irony,
we findthat givingupcontrol overour lives,givesusthe life we sodesperatelywantedall along. An
eternal love fest.
What Real Love is.
(Song8:6-7) Inthisfinal descriptionof theirlove, the girl includessome of itssignificantcharacteristics
(see also1 Corinthians13). Love is as strongas death,it cannotbe killedbytime ordisaster,andit
cannot be boughtfor anyprice because itis freelygiven. Love ispriceless,andeventhe richestperson
cannot buyit. Love mustbe acceptedasa giftfromGod and then sharedwithinthe guidelinesGod
provides. Acceptthe love Godgivesyouasa gift,andstrive tomake your love of Hima reflectionof the
perfectlove thatcomesfromGod.
(1 Cor: 13;13) InmorallycorruptCorinth,love hadbecome a mixeduptermwithlittle meaning. Today
people are still confusedaboutlove. Love isthe greatestof all humanqualities,anditisanattribute of
God himself (1John4:8). Love involvesunselfishservicetoothers,toshow itgivesevidencethatyou
love God. Faithis the foundationandcontentof God’smessage,hope isthe attitude andfocus,love is
the action. Whenfaithandhope are inline,youare free to love completelybecause youunderstand
howGod shareslove wityou.
(1 John3:16) Real love isanaction,not a feeling. Itproducesselflesssacrificial giving. The greatestact
of love isgivingoneselfforothers. Howcan we laydownour lives? BylovinGodand otherswith no
thoughtof receivinganythinginreturn. Sometimesitiseasiertosaywe’ll die forothersthanto truly
live forthem– thisinvolves puttingothersdesiresfirst. Jesustaughtthissame principle of love inJohn
15:13.
God’s reason for creating the world
(Gn 1:1) God didnotneedto create the universe,he chose tocreate it. Why? God islove,andlove is
bestexpressedtowardsomethingorsomeone else –soGod createdthe worldandpeople asan
expressionof hislove. RememberthatGod created the universe becausehe loveseachof usandwants
each usto joinHimin an eternal love-fest;if we chose toshare that love.
God’s patience with us should cause us to lov e Him.
(Gn 19:24) In the story of Sodomand Gomorrah,we see two facetsof God’scharacter, hisgreat
patience (agreeingtospare a wickedcityfortengood people)andHisfierce anger(destroyingboth
cities). Aswe growspiritually,we shouldfindourselvesdevelopingadeeperrespectforGod because of
hisanger towarssin,andalso aq deeperlove forGodbecause of hispatience whenwe don’tloveHimin
return.
Relationship between fear and love.
(Ex 20:20) Throughoutthe Bible we findthisphrase,“Donotbe afraid.” God wasn’ttryingtoscare the
people. He wasshowinghismightypowersothe Israeliteswouldknow he wasthe true God and would
therefore love andobeyHim. If theywoulddothis,he would make hispoweravailable tothem. God

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wantsus to followhimoutofrlove ratherthanfear. To overcome fearwe mustthink more aboutHis
love anttrust Him.1 John4:18 says,“Perfectlove drivesoutfear.”
Could you love God if you lost everything.
(Jb1:20-22(2)) Jobhad losthispossessionsandfamilyinthisfirstof Satan’stests,buthe reactedrightly
towardGod by acknowledgingGod’s sovereignauthorityovereverythingGodhadgivenhim. Satanlost
thisfirstround. Job passedthe testandprovedthat people canlove Godfor whoHe is,notfor what He
gives.
Suffering can’t separate us from God’s love
(Jb3:23-26) Jobhad beencareful nottoworshipmaterial possessions,buttoworshipGodalone. Here
he was overwhelmedbycalamitiesthatmockedhiscaution,andhe complainedabouttrialsthatcame
despite hisrightliving. All the principles by whichhe hadlivedwere crumbling andJobbegantolose his
perspective. Trialsandgrief,whethertemporaryorenduring,donotdestroythe real purpose of life.
Life isnot givenmerelyforhappinessandpersonal fulfilment,butforusto learnto love andtrust God.
The worth and meaningof life isnotbasedonwhatwe feel,butonthe one realitynoone can take
away- God want’sto share love withus. Don’tassume that because Godtrulylovesyou,he will always
preventsuffering. The oppositemaybe true. God’slove cannotbe measuredotlimitedbyhow greator
howlittle we maysuffer.
Loving those who who wrong us.
(Mt 5:38-42) Whenwe are wrngedoftenourfirstreactionistoget even, InsteadJesussaidwe should
do GOOD to those whowrongus! Our desire shouldnotbe tokeepscore,butto love andforgive. This
isnot natural – it issupernatural. OnlyGodcan give usthe strengthto love asHe does. Insteadof
planningvengeance,prayforthose whohurtyou.
Talking about love vs . demonstrating it.
(Mt 9:5-6) It’seasyto tell someone hissinsare forgiven,itisw alotmore difficult toreverse acase of
paralysis! Jesusbackeduphiswordsbyhealingthe man’slegs. Jesus’actionshowedthathiswords
were true,he had the powerto forgive aswell astoheal. Talk ischeap,but our wordslackmeaningif
our actionsdo notback themup. We can say we love Godor others,butif we are not takingpractical
stepsto demonstrate thatlove,ourwordsare emptyandmeaningless. How well doyouractionsback
up whatyou say.
Measured by how we treat others.
(Mt 10:42) Howmuch we love God can be measuredbyhow well we treatothers. Jesusexample of
givinga cupof coldwater to a thirstychildisa goodmodel of unselfishservice. A childusuallycan’tor
won’treturna favor. God noticeseverygooddeedwe doordon’tdo as if he were the one receivingit.
Is there somethingunselfishyoucando forsomeone else today? Althoughnoone else maysee you,
God will notice.
(Lk 6:37-38) A forgivingspiritdemonstratesthatapersonhas placedGod’sdesire sfirst;God’sdefinition
of love. Jesususesthe picture of measuringgrainina baskettoensure the full amount. If we are critical
rather thancompassionate,we will alsoreceive criticism. If we treatothersgenerously,graciously,and

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compassionately,however,thesequalitieswillcome backinfull measurer. We are to love others
(placingtheirneedsanddesiresabove yoursandbelow God’s),notjudge them.
The focus of all God’s laws.
(Mk 12:29-31) God’slawsare not burdensome. Theycanbe reducedto twosimple principles. Love God
(placingGod’sdesiresfirstabove oursandothers) andHe will give youthe powertolove others. These
commandsare fromthe OldTestament(deuteronomt6:5,Leviticus19:16). Whenyou love God
completelyandcare forothers,thenyouhave fulfilledthe intentof God’slaws. AccordingtoJesus
these twocommandmentssummarize all God’slaws. Letthemrule yourthoughts,decisions,and
actions. Whenyou are uncertainaboutwhat to do,ask yourself whichcourse of actionbest
demonstrateslove forGodandlove forothers.
What else didJesussayaboutlove? Godlovesus(John3:16). We are to love God (Matthew 22:37).
Because God lovesus,he caresfor us (Matthew 6:25-34). God wantseveryone toknow how muchHe
lovesthem (John17:23). God loveseventhose whohate Him, we are to do the same Matthew 6:43-47;
Luke 6:35). God must be yourfirstlove and priority(Matthew 6:24; 10:37). You show that you love God
whenyouobeyHim(John14:21; 15:10. God lovesJesusHisSon(John5:20; 10:17)). JesuslovesGod
John 14:31). Jesusprovedhislove of Godand us bydyingon the cross sothat we could live eternally
withHim(John3:14, 15; 15:13, 14). The love betweenGodandJesusisthe perfectexample of howwe
are to love Godand therebytoreceive the powertolove others(John17:21-26). We are not to love the
praise of men(John12:43), selfishrecognition(Matthew 23:6) earthlybelongings(Luke 16:19-31),or
anything more than God(Luke 16:13). Jesuswantsus to love himthroughthe goodand throughthe
difficulttimes(Matthew26:31-35). Jesuswantsourlove to be genuine (John21:15-17).
Difficult to love if you think only of yourself.
(Mt 24:12) Withself-love andloose moralscomesaparticularlydestructivedisease –the loss of true
love forGod. Sincoolsyour love forGod by turningyourfocuson yourself. Yoycannottrulylove if you
thinkonlyof yourself.
Genuine vs superficial love.
(Mk 10(21) Jesusshowedgenuine loveforthisman,eventhoughhe knew thatthe man mightnot
followHim. Love isable togive toughadvice. It doesn’thedge aroundthe truth. Christlovedusenough
to die forus, and He alsolovesusenoughto talkstraightto us. If His love were superficial,he would
give usonlyhisapproval,butbecause islove iscomplete,he givesuslife-changingchallenges.
Loving your neighbor.
(Lk 10:27-37) Fromthisparable we learnthree principlesaboutlovingourneighbor:(1) lackof love is
ofteneasytojustify,eventhoughitisneverright,(2) our neighborisanyone of anyrace, creed,orsocial
backgroundwhoisin need,and(3) love meansactingto meetthe person’sneed. Whereveryoulive
there are realyneedypeople closeby. There isnogoodreasonfor refusingtolove them.
God’s love basis for self-worth
(Lk 12:7) Our true value isGod’sestimate of ourworth,not ourself orour peers. Otherpeople evaluate
and categorize usaccordingto howwe perform, whatwe achieve,andhow we look. ButGod cares for
us,as He doesfor all Hiscreation,because we belongtoHim. So we can face life withlove withoutfear.

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Consistency of God’s love.
(Lk 15:20). In the twoprecedingstoriesthe seekeractivelylookedforthe coinandthe sheep,which
couldnot returnby themselves. Inthisstory, the fatherwatchedandwaited. He was dealingwita
humanbeingwitha will of hisown,buthe was readyto greethissonif he returnedinthe same way.
God’slove isconstantand patientandwelcoming. He will searchforusand give usopportunitiesto
respond,butHe will notforce us to come to Him. Like the fatherinthisstory,God waitspatiently forus
to come to our senses.
God’s love is bigger than any problem.
(Jn1;3-5) Do youeverfeel thatyourlife istoocomplex forGod to understand? Remember,God
createdthe entire universe,andnothingistoodifficultforHiim. Godcreatedyou;He isalive todayand
His love isbiggerthananyproblemyoumayface.
God sets the pattern for love.
(Jn3:16) The entire gospel comestoafocus inthisverse. God’slove isnotstatic or self-centered. It
reachesoutand draws othersin. Here God setsthe patternof true love,the basisforall love
relationships –whenyoulove someone dearly,youare willingtogive freelytothe pointof self-sacrifice.
God paiddearlywiththe life of HisSon,the highestprice He couldpay. Jesusacceptedourpunishment,
paidthe price for our sins,andthenofferedusthe new life thatHe has broughtforus. Whenwe share
God’slove withothers,ourlove mustbe like Jesus’ –willinglygivingupourowncomfortand securityso
that othersmightjoinusinsharingGod’s love.
God’s love can change life’s outcome.
(Jn13:27-38) John describesthese fewmomentsincleardetail. We can see that Jesusknew exactly
whatwas goingto happen. He knewaboutJudasand aboutPeter,butHe didnot change the situation,
nor didHe stoplovingthem. Inthe same way,Jesusknowsexactlywhatyouwill dotohurt Him. Yet he
still lovesyouundonditionlyandwill forgive youwheneveryouaskforit. Judascouldn’tunderstand
this,andhis life endedtragically. Peterunderstoodanddespitehisshortcommings,hislife endedf
triumphantlybecause he neverletgoof Hisfaithinthe One wholovedhimandforgave himbecause He
was sorryfor hisfailure.
Love tied to obedience.
(Jn14:21) JesussaidthatHis followersshow theirloveforhimbyobeyingHim. Love ismore thaen
lovelywords,itisa commitmentandconduct. If youlove God,thenprove it byobeyingwhatHe says in
His Word.
Don’t let small problems hinder your sharing of love.
(15:17) Christianswill getplentyof hatredfromthisworld,fromfellow loversof Godwe needlove and
support. Do youallowsmall problemstogetinthe way of lovingotherbelievers? Godcommandsthat
youlove them,andhe will give youthe strengthtodo it.
Jesus talks to Peter about love.
(Jn21;15-17) JesusaskedPeterthree timesif he lovedHim. The firsttime Jesussaid,“Doyoutrulylove
(Greekagape,volitional,self-sacrificial love)me more thanthese? The secondtime,Jesusfocusedon
Peteralone andstill usedthe wordtranslatedintoGreek,agape. The thirdtime ,Jesususedthe word

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(translatedintoGreek,phileo(signifyingaffection,affinity,orbrotherlylove) andaskedineffect,“Are
youevenmyfriend?” Each time Peterrespondedwiththe wordtranslated intoGreekas phileo. Jesus
doesn’tsettle forquicksuperficialanswers. He hasa wayof gettingtothe heart of the matter. Peter
had to face histrue feelingsandmotiveswhenJesusconfrontedhim. How wouldyourespondif Jesus
askedyou,“Do youtruly love me? Doyou trulylove Godcompletely? Are youevenHisfriend?
Love is contagious.
(Acts2:47) A healthyChristiancommunityattractspeople toChrist. The Jerusalemnchurch’szeal for
lovingGodand brotherlylove of otherswascontagious. A healthylovingchurchwill grow innumbers.
What are youdoingto make yourchurch the kindof place that will attractothersto God?
Why it is a key to the Christian life.
(Ro5:2-5) As Paul statesclearlyin1 Corinthians13:13, faith,hope,andlove are at the heart of the
Christianlife. OurrelationshipwithGodbeginswithfaith,whichhelpsusrealize thatwe are delivered
fromour past by Christ’sdeath. Hope growsas we learnall that God hasin mindforus. It givesusthe
promise of the future. And,“sharinglove withGodliftsourlivesandgivesusthe abilitytoreachoutto
others.
Real love takes effort.
(Ro12:9) Most of us have learnedhowtopretendtolove others – how to speakkindly,avoidhurting
theirfeelings,andappeartotake an interestinthem. We may evenbe skilledinpretendingtofeel
movedwithcompassionwhenwe hearof others’needs,ortobecome indignatwhenwe learnof
injustice. ButGodcallsus to real and sincere love thatgoesfarbeyondpretense andpoliteness. Sincere
lovesrequiresconcentrationandeffort. Itmeanshelpingothersbecomebetterpeople. Itdemandsour
time,money,andpersonal involvement. Noindividual hasthe capacitytoexpresslove toawhole
community,butthe bodyof Christin yourtowndoes. Look forpeople whoneedyourlove andlookfor
waysyou andyour fellowbelieverscanlove yourcommunityforChrist.
God’s challenges is a sign of His love.
(Heb12:1-5) Who loveshischildmore –the fatherwhoallowsthe childtodowhat will harmhim,or the
one whocorrects, trains,andevenpunishesthe childtohelphimlearnwhatisright? It’sneverpleasant
to be correctedand disciplinedbyGod,butHisdiscipline isasignof hisdeeplove forus. WhenGod
corrects you,see itas proof of Hislove andask Him, what isHe tryingto teachyou?

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Sharing Love Day to Day
At thispoint,since youare still readingthis,youare readytostart livinginthateternal love-fest.
As youstart livingthatsharedlove,youwill findyourlover’sPresence. Youwill be developinga
convertedheart. Youwill alsodevelopanew spiritual quest. One were youwill workonlivingwi tha
lovingheart.
The challengesyouwill face duringthesetimeswillbringyoucloser toGod. You will still dealwith
spiritual warfare andreceive protection.
You will startto developyourcommunicationwithGod. Butbefore Yougetthere,youwill needto
developtrust,love andcloseness.toGod.
From there youwill needtodevelopyourlistening ability. Asyouadvance,youwill startdevelopinga
sense of peace and trust.
“God causes everythingto work together for the goodof those who LOVE Him.
“For I knowtheplansI haveforYou, declaresthe Lord,“plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11
It all starts with SHARED LOVE.

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Shared Love
Let usdelve intowhatSharedLove is. It isbasicallyyourrelationshipwithGod. Before youcanhave a
Relationshipwithsomeone,youneedtomeetthem, know them, andrealize thatbeingfriendswith
themisimportantto yourlife. ThisrelationshipwithGodiscoveredindepthinmyotherbook“Why”.
So,in thisbook,we are goingto start withthe premise thatyouknow andbelievethere isaCreatorand
Controllerof the universe. Alsowe hope youhave come tothe conclusionthatGod hasplacedyouhere
on earth,to learnhowto make the decisiontoLove God with your WHOLE heart, mind,and Spirit. The
part of learninghow to “Love God withyour WHOLE heart, mindand spirit,” iswhat thisbook covers.
Andthe keyto learningaboutmakingthisdecisionisthe conceptof “SharedLove.” Letus getstarted.
SoftlyGod announcesHe wantsus to Share Love. Though He have all powerin the heavensandon
earth,He wantsyour love.. The weakeryouare,the more gentlyHe approach’syou. Let yourweakness
be a doorto Your SharedLove. Wheneveryou feel inadequate,rememberthatHe want’sto be your
everydaypresentLover.
Your Human
It’sall right to be human. Whenyour mindwanderswhile youare praying,don’tbe surprisedorupset.
Simplyreturnyourattentiontoyourlover. Share a secret“Thanks” withHim, knowingthatHe
understands. Rejoicein yoursharedlove withHim,whichhasnolimits. WhisperHis Name inloving
contentment. Interspersethese peaceful interludesabundantlythroughoutyourday. Thispractice will
enable youtoattaina quietandgentle spirit,whichispleasingtoHim.
As youlive inclose contactwithHim,the sharedlove you have filtersthroughyoutoblessothers. Your
weaknessandlove are the openingthroughwhichyourSharedLove shinesforth.. Mystrengthand
power showthemselvesmosteffective throughyour weakness.

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I am with you always
These were the lastwordsGod’sSon spoke before ascendinginto heaven,afterHisvisithere onearth.
God continuestoproclaimthispromise toall whowill listen. People respondinvariousways. Most
Christiansacceptthisteachingastruth,but ignore itin theireverydaylife. A few people centertheir
livesaroundthislovingpromiseandfindthemselvesblessed beyondall expectations.
As yougaze at God throughthe eyesof yourSharedLove you can see the worldaroundyoufrom His
perspective. The factthat He is withyoumakeseverymomentof yourlife meaningful.
Where is your Center?
Learn to live fromyourtrue CenterinHim. He reside’sinthe deepestpartof yourbeing,ineternal
unionwithyourspirit. Itis at thisdeeplevel thatHis Peace reignscontinually. Youwill notfindlasting
peace inthe worldaroundyou,incircumstances,orin humanrelationships. The external worldis
alwaysinchange – underthe curse of deathand decay. But there isa bigtreasure deepwithinyou,
waitingtobe used. Take time todelve intothe richesof YourSharedLove. I wantyouto live
increasinglyfromyourreal Center,where yourSharedLove hasan eternal griponyou.
Be Still
In the lightof your SharedLove,while He communicatesLove toyou. There isno force in the universe
as powerful as yoursharedlove. Youare constantlyaware of limitations:your ownandothers’. But
there isno-limittoMy Love;itfillsall of space,time,andeternity.
Nowyousee througha glass,darkly,butsomedayyouwill see Me face toFace. Thenyouwill be able to
experience fully howwide andlong and high and deepis My Love for you. If you were toexperience
that nowyou wouldbe overwhelmedtothe pointof feelingcrushed. Butyouhave an eternityaheadof
you,absolutelyguaranteed. Duringwhichyoucan enjoyoursharedlove inunrestrictedecstasy. For
now,the knowledge of oursharedlove issufficienttocarry youthrougheach day.
Rest in Our Shared Love
AllowingMe totake charge of thisday. Do not jumpintothe day like arace horse suddenlyreleased.
Instead,walkpurposefullywithMe,lettingMe directyoureffortsone stepata time. ThankMe for each
blessingalongthe way;thisbringsJoytoboth youand Me. A grateful heartprotectsyoufromnegative
thinking. Thankfulnessenablesyoutosee the abundance Ishoweruponyoudaily. Yourprayers and
petitionsare carriedintoheaven’sthrone roomwhentheyare filledwiththanksgiving. Ineverything
give thanks for thisis My will for you.
Rest In Our Shared Love
The worldaround youseemstospinfasterand faster,till everythingisablur. Yet there isa cushionof
calm at the centerof yourlife,where youliveinunionwithMe. ReturntothissoothingCenterasoften
as youcan, for thisis where youare energized;filledwithMyLove,joy,andPeace.
The worldis a needyplace,donotgo there forenergy. Instead,come toMe. Learn to dependonMe
alone,andyourweaknesswill whenitbecomessaturatedwithHis Power,whereyoufindyour

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completenessinHim,youcanhelpotherpeople withoutusingthemtomeetyourownneeds. Live in
your SharedLove,andyour love will shine tenderlyintothe lifeof others.
You are His
For all time – and beyondtime,intoeternity. Nopower,beyondyourownmind,canrejectyour
inheritance inheaven. Godwant’syouto realize how utterlysecure you are! Evenif youfalterasyou
journeythroughlife,He willneverletgoof your hand.
Know that yourfuture isassuredthisday foryou withthe mosttenderconcernand attentiontodetail.
Insteadof approachingthe dayas a blankpage that youneedto fill up,tryliftingitina responsive
mode;beingonthe lookoutforall that He is doing. Thissoundseasy,butit requiresadeeplevelof
trust,basedon the knowledge that Myway is perfectlove.
The Song of Love.
Listentothe Love songthat He issharingwithyou. The voicesof the worldsoundchaos,pullingyouthis
wayand that. Don’t listentothese voices;challenge themwithHis Love. Learntotake minibreaksfrom
the world,findingaplace tobe still inyourSharedLove.
There isimmense hiddentreasure to be foundthroughlisteningtoHim. ThoughHe pours outblessings
uponyou always,some of His richestblessingshave tobe activelysought. He lovestoreveal Himself to
you,and yourseekingheartopensyouupto receive more of His love. Askand it will be givento you;
seekand you will find; knock and the door will be openedto you.
He is in the Depths of Your Being.
Hear Himsayingsoothingwordsof peace,assuringyouof His Love. Do not listentovoicesof
accusation,fortheyare not fromHim. He speaksto youin love-tones,liftingyouup. His Spiritconvicts
cleanly,withoutcrushingwordsof shame. Letthe Spirittake charge of yourmind. Be transformedby
the truth that He live’swithinyou.
The SharedLove isshininguponyou,inbenedictionsof Peace. LetHis love shine inyou,don’tdimit
withworriesorfears. HolinessislettingHimlivethroughyou. Since He dwellsinyou,youare fully
equippedtobe holy. Pause before respondingto peopleorsituations,givingHisSpiritspace toact
throughyou. Hastywords and actionsleave noroom forHim; thisisliving. He wantsto inhabitall your
moments– gracingyour thoughts,wordsandbehavior.
Hold on to Your Shared Love
Soakin Your SharedLove eventhoughcountlesstasksclamorforyourattention. Nothingisas
importantas spendingtime withHim. While yousoakinYour SharedLove,he doesHis bestworkwithin
youtransforming you by the renewingofyour mind. If youcut back on thistime withHim,youmay
become involvedwiththe wrongactivities,missingthe richnessof whatHe has plannedforyou.
Do not lookforHim primarilyforwhatHe can give you. RememberthatHe the Giver,isgreaterthan
any giftHe mightimpart to you. ThoughHe delightsinblessingHischildren,He isdeeplysaddened
whenHis blessingsbecomeidolsintheirhearts. Anythingcanbe an idol if itdistracts youfromHim as
your FIRSTLOVE. WhenHe isthe ultimate desire of yourheart,youare safe fromthe dangerof idolatry.

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He is For You.
The questioniswhetheryouare withHimand forHim. ThoughHe will neverleave you,youcan
essentially“leave”HimbyignoringHim;thinkingoractingas if He is notwithyou. When youfeel
distance in yourrelationship,youknow where the problemlies. His love foryouisconstant: I am the
same yesterday,today, and forever. It is youwhochangeslike shiftingsand,lettingcircumstancestoss
youthisway and that.
Whenyoufeel farfrom Him,whisperHis Name. Thissimple act,done inchildlikefaith,opensyourheart
to Your SharingLove. Speakto Him in love tones;prepare toreceive His Love whichflowseternally. He
isdelightedwhenyouopenyourself toYourSharingLove.
Your Focal Point
Make itGod, as you move throughthisday. Just as a spinningballerinamustkeepreturninghereyesto
a givenpointtomaintainherbalance,soyoumust keepreturningyourfocustoHim. Circumstancesare
inchange,and the worldseemstobe circullingaroundyou. The onlyway tokeepyourbalance isto fix
your eyeson Me, the One whoneverchanges. If yougaze toolongat yourcircumstances,youwill
become dizzyandconfused. LooktoHim, refreshingyourself inyourSharedLove,andyourlife will be
steadyandsure.
Everlasting Love
He has lovedyouwithaneverlastingLove. Before time began,He knew you. Foryear’syouswam
aroundin a seaof meaninglessness,searchingforlove,hopingforhope. All thattime He waspursuing
you,achingto embrace youin His compassionate arms.
Whentime wasright,He revealedHimself toyou. He liftedyououtof that seaof despairandsetyou
downon a firmfoundation. Sometimesyoufeltnaked –exposedtothe possibilitytohave SharedLove.
He sangyou a love song,whose beginningand endare veiledineternity. He infusedmeaningintoyour
mindand harmonyinto yourheart. JoinHiminsingingHis song. Togetherwe will draw others outof
darknessinto My marvelousLove.
Let His Love Stream to You,
Washingawayfear anddistrust. A trustingresponse includesHim inyourthoughtsas youconsider
strategiestodeal withthe situation. YourSharedLove isa promise,guaranteeingthatyouneverhave
to face anythingalone. His childrengrow up on the truththat He is alwayswiththem, yettheystumble
aroundin confusion,unaware of the potential SharedLove theycanhave. How that makesHim sad.
Whenyouwalkthrougha day intrustingdependence onHim. His sorrowfull heartissatisfied. Gently
bringyour attentionbacktoHim wheneveritwandersaway. He look’sforpersistence –ratherthan
perfection –inyour walkwithHim.
Nowthat youhave a basicunderstandingof SharedLove,Ihope thatyouare readyto move aheadand
start to share love withHim. But before youcanstart sharinglove withHim, maybe youshouldgetto
knowHimbetter.

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Come to Me
God’s presence helps us handle change.
(Nm10:21) Those who travel,move,orface new challengesknow whatitistobe uprooted. Life is full
of changes,andfewthings remainstable. The Israelites were constantlymovingthroughthe desert.
Theywere able tohandle change onlybecause God’spresence inthe tabernacle wasalwayswiththem.
The portable tabernacle signifiedGodandHispeople movingtogether. Forus,stabilitydoesnotmean
lack of change,but lovingGodineverycircumstance.
Yours is more important than words.
(Jb2:13) Why didthe friendsarrive andthenjustsitquietly? AccordingtoJewishtradition,peoplewho
come to comfortsomeone inmourningshouldnotspeakuntil the mournerspeaks. Oftenthe best
response toanotherperson’ssufferingissilence. Job’sfriends realizedthathispainwastoo deeptobe
healedwithmore words,sotheysaidnothing(if onlytheyhadcontinuedtositquietly!) Often,we feel
we must saysomethingspiritualandinsightful toahurtingfriend. Perhapswhathe orshe needsmostis
justour presence,showingthatwe care. Pat answersandtrite quotationssaymuch lessthan
empatheticsilence andlovingcompanionship.
Pride and God’s presence incompatible.
(Ps10:11) There isan incompatibilitybetweenblindarrogance andthe presence of Godinour hearts.
The proud persondependsonhimself ratherthanonGod. ThiscausesGod’sguidinginfluencestoleave
hislife. WhenGod’spresence iswelcome,thereisnoroomfor pride because He makesusaware of our
true selves.
Desire to be in God’s presence.
(Ps27:4) Davidmay have usedthe word temple tomean“the presence of the Lord.” His greatestdesire
was to live inGod’spresence eachdayof hislife. Sadly,thisisnotthe greatestdesire of manywho
claimto be believers. Butthose whodesire tolive inGod’spresence eachdaywill be able toenjoythat
relationshipforever.
God’s presence in challenges.
(Ps34;18-19) We oftenwishwe couldescape challenges –the path of grief,sorrow and failure,oreven
the small dailyfrustrationsthatconstantlywearusdown. Godpromisestobe “close to the
brokenhearted,”tobe our source of power,courage,andwisdom, helpingusthroughourchaqllenges.
Whenchallengesare partof your life,don’tgetfrustratedwithGod. Instead,admitthatyouneedGod’s
helpandthank himforbeingbyyour side.
God never leaves us.
(Ps140:12) To whomcan the poorturn whentheyare persecuted? Theylackthe moneytoget
professionalhelp,theymaybe unable todefendthemselves. Butthere isalwayssomeone ontheirside
– the Lord will standbythem and ultimatelybringaboutjustice. Thisshouldbe acomfortfor us all. No
matterwhat our situationmaybe the Lord iswithus. But thistruthshouldalsocall us to responsibility.
As God’speople,we are requiredtodefendthe rightsof the powerless.

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Witha teachable spirit,eagertobe changed. A close walkwithyourloverisa life of continual newness.
Do not clingto oldwaysas youstepintoa sharedlove relationship. Instead,seekHis Peace withan
openmind. Knowthatyour newlife willneedtobe transformedbythe renewingof yourmind.
As youfocusyour thoughts onHim,be aware that He is fullyattentivetoyou. He seesyouwitha steady
eye,because His attention spanisinfinite. He knowsandunderstandsyoucompletely:His thoughts
embrace youin everlasting Love.
You knowthat thisdaywill bringdifficulties,andyouare tryingto thinkyour waythroughyour
challenges. Asyouanticipate whatisaheadof you,you tendto forgetthatI, the Creator and Controller
am with you – nowand always. Rehearsingyourtroublesresultsinexperiencingthemmanytimes,
whereasyouare meantto go throughthemonlyonce,whentheyactuallyoccur. Do not multiplyyour
sufferinginthisway! Instead,come toHim, andrelax inHis love.He will strengthenyouandprepare
youfor thisday,transformingyourfearsintoconfidenttrust.
Seek Him
SeekHim,andyou will findmore thanyoueverdreamedpossible. LetHim replace worryat the center
of yourbeing. He is like asupersaturatedcloud,showeringLove intothe Peace of yourmind. His
Nature isto bless. Yournature isto receive withthanksgiving. Thisisatrue fit,designedbeforethe
foundationof the world. GlorifyHimbyreceivingHis blessingsgratefully.
He shouldbe the goal of all yoursearching. WhenyouseekHim, youfindHim.Andyouwill be satisfied.
Whenlessergoalscapture yourattention. Godwill fade intothe backgroundof yourlife. He will stillbe
there, watchingandwaiting:butyourfunctionasif you were alone. Actually,Hislove shinesonevery
situationyouwill everface. Live radiantlybyexpandingyourfocustoinclude Him inall yourmoments.
Facing nothing alone
I am withyouand for you. You face nothingalone – NOTHING! Whenyou feel anxious,know thatyou
are focusingon the visible worldandleavingHim outof the picture. The remedyissimple: Fixyoureyes
not on what isseenbut on what is not seen. Verbalize yourtrustinHim. He will getyousafelythrough
thisday and all yourdays. Butyou can findHim onlyinthe present. Eachday isa preciousgiftfrom
Him. Howridiculoustograspfor future giftswhentoday’sissetbefore you. Receive today’sgift
gratefully,unwrapping ittenderlyandindelving intoitsdepthsyouwill findalovingGod.
Seek Him More and More.
You are justbeginningyourjourneyof SharedLove withHim. Itis notan easyroad,but itis a delightful
and privilegedway;atreasure hunt. God is the Treasure,and your love glistensandshimmersalongthe
way. Hardships are part of the journeytoo. He givesthemouteverso carefully,injustthe rightdosage,
witha tendernessyoucanhardlyimagine. Donotwithdraw fromchallenges(e.g.afflictions) since they
are amongHis mostfavoredgifts. Trust Me and don’t be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song.
Nearby is good.
I am alwaysnearyou,hoveringoveryourshoulder,readingeverythought. People thinkthatthoughts
are fleetingandworthless,butyoursare precioustoHim.He smileswhenyouthinklovinglyof Him. His
Spirit,wholiveswithinyou,helpsyoutothinkHis thoughts. Asyour thoughts. Asyourthinkinggoes,so
goesyour entire being.

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Let Himbe yourpositive focus. When youlooktoHim, knowingHe as God withyou,youexperience
Joy. This isaccordingto His design,whenHe firstcreatedhumans. Modernmenseek hispositive focus
elsewhere insports,sensations,acquiringnew possessions. Advertisingcapitalizesonthe longingof
people forapositive focusintheirlives. God plantedthatdesire in humansouls,knowingthatonlyHe
couldfullysatisfyit. DelightyourselfinMe;letMe become the Desire ofyour heart.
Come to Him, Weakling,
Withall your weaknesses, physical,emotional,andspiritual. Restinthe comfortof Our SharedLove,
rememberingthatnothingisimpossiblewithHim.
Pry yourmindaway fromyourchallengessoyoucan focusyour attentiononHim. Recall thatHe is able
to do immeasurably morethan all you askor imagine. Insteadof tryingto directHim to do thisand that,
seektosee and feel whatHe is alreadydoing.
Whenanxietyattemptstoforce itswayintoyour thoughts,remindyourself that Iam your shepherd.
The bottom line isthatGod is takingcare of you;therefore,youneedn’tbe afraidof anything. Rather
than tryingto maintaincontrol overyourlife,releaseyourself toHis will.
Save your Best Effort for God.
God isconstantlycommunicatingwithyou. TofindHimand hearHis voice,youmustseekHim above all
else. Anythingthatyoudesire more thanHim becomesanidol. Whenyouare determined togetyour
ownway,you blotHim out of yourconsciousness. Insteadof single-mindedly pursuingsome goal,talk
withGod aboutit. Let the Lightof yourSharedLove shine onthispursuit,sothat you can see itfrom His
perspective. If the goal fitsintoHisplansfor you,He will helpyoureachit. If it isdifferentthanHis will
for you, He will graduallychange the desire of yourheart. SeekMe First andforemost;thenthe restof
your life willfall intoplace,piece bypiece.
Basic Training
I am callingyouto a life of constantcommunicationwithHim. Basictrainingincludeslearningtolive
above yourcircumstances,evenwhile interactingonthatclutteredplainof life. Youyearnfora
simplifiedlifestyle,so thatyourcommunicationwithHim canbe uninterrupted. ButI challenge youto
give upthe fantasyof an unclutteredworld. Accept eachdayjust as itcomes,and findHim inthe midst
of itall.
Talk withHimabouteveryaspectof your day,includingyourfeelings. Rememberthatyourultimate
goal is notto control or fix everythingaroundyou,itisto keepincommunicationwith Him. A successful
day isone in which youhave stayedintouchwithyour Lover,evenif manythingsremainundone atthe
endof the day. Do notletyour to-dolist(writtenormental) becomeanidol directingyourlife. Instead,
ask HisSpiritto guide you momentbymoment. He will keepyouclose toHim.
A Heavy Life
Whenthe challengesof Life weighheavilyuponyou,come to Him. Stay inour sharedlove,receiving
cleansing,andhealing. Wheneveryoustumbleorfall,He is there to helpyouup.

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Man’s tendencyistoindulge inself-pity,denial,self-righteousness,blaming,andhatred. But I am the
Light of the world. Come close toMe and letOur SharedLove envelopyou,drivingoutthatwhichisnot
Love and fill withPeace.
Now,don’tyouthinkHe will be anawesome lover. Letusnow take a lookat communicatingwithHim.

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Communication
Why many are afraid to talk with God.
(Is7:12) Ahaz appearedrighteousbysayinghe wouldnottestGodwitha sign(“Iwill notask,I will not
put the Lord to the test”). In fact God hadtoldhim to ask,but Ahazdidn’treallywanttoknow whatGod
wouldsay. Oftenwe use some excuse,suchasnot wantingtobotherGod,to keepusfrom
communicatingwithHim. Don’tletanythingkeepyoufromhearingandobeying God.
He speakstoyou continually. His nature isto communicate,thoughnotalwaysinwords. He provides
glorioussunsetsacrossthe sky,dayafterday afterday. He speaksinthe facesandvoicesof lovedones.
He caressesyouwitha gentle breezethat refreshesanddelightsyou. He speakssoftlyinthe depthsof
your spirit,where He hastakenHis residence.
You can findHim in eachmoment,whenyouhave eyesthat see andearsthat hear. AskHis Spiritto
sharpenyourspiritual eyesightandhearing. He rejoiceseachtime youdiscoveryourSharedLove.
Practice lookingandlisteningforHim duringquietintervals. Graduallyyouwill findHim duringquiet
intervals. GraduallyyouwillfindHim inmore andmore of yourmoments. Youwill seekMe and find
Me,when you seekMe and findMe above all else.
Oftenwe use some excuse,suchasnotwantingto botherGod,to keepusfrom communicatingwith
Him. Don’tletanythingkeepyoufromhearingandobeyingGod.
Nowthat youhave a BFF(BestFriendForever) whoyoucanshare love withandcommunicate with. You
needtotake a lookat the needto release control of yourlife toyourLoverscontrol.

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Control
You must choose what will control you.
(Jos24:15) The people hadtodecide whethertheywould obeythe Lord,whohadprovenhis
trustworthiness,orobeythe local godswhichwere onlyman-made idols. It’seasytoslipintoalocal
rebellion –goingaboutlife inyourownway. But the time comeswhenyouhave tochoose whoor what
will control you. The choice isyours. Will it be God, yourown limitedpersonality,oranotherimperfect
substitute? Once youhave chosentobe controlledbyGod’sspirit,reaffirmyourchoice everyday.
Satan’s temporary control of earth
(Mt 4:8-9) Didthe devil have the powertogive Jesusthe kingdomsof the world? Didn’tGod,the
Creatorof the world,have control overthese kingdoms? The devil mayhave beenlyingabouthis
impliedpower,orhe mayhave basedhisofferon histemporarycontrol andfree reinover the earth
because of humanity’ssinfulness. Jesus’temptationwastotake the worldas a political rulerrightthen,
withoutcarryingouthisplan tosave the worldfromsin. Satan wastryingto distortJesusperspectiveby
makinghimfocuson worldlypowerandnotonGod’s plans.
Submitting to God’s control.
(Mt 4:17) Jesusstartedhisministrywiththe verywordpeople hadheardJohnthe Baptistsay:“Repent.”
The message isthe same today as whenJesusandJohngave it. Becominga followerof Christ means
turningawayfrom our self-centerednessand“self”control andturningourlivesovertoChrist’s
directionandcontrol.
God’s control over Satan
(Mk 3:27) AlthoughGodpermitsSatanto workin ourworld. God is still incontrol. Jesus,because He is
God, haspoweroverSayan. Jesusisable todrive outdemonsandend theirterrible workinpeople’s
lives. One daySatanwii be boundforever(Revelation20:10).
God always in ultimate control.
(Ps24:15) God saidthe citiesandterritoriesof Israel were his,andhe knew the future of eachof the
nations. Whenthe worldseemsoutof control,we mustremindourselvesthatGodownsthe citiesand
knowsthe future of everynation. Godis incontrol. In and throughHimwe will gainthe victory.
(Mk 14:27) It’s easyto thinkthatSatan temporarilygainedthe upperhandinthisdrama aboutJesus’
death. But we alsosee laterthat God wasin control,eveninthe deathof His Son,Satangainedno
victory – everythingoccurredexactlyasGodhas planned.
Practicing thought Control
(Mt 5:21-22) Killingisaterrible sin,butangerisa greatsintoo because italsoviolatesGod’scommand
to love. Angerinthiscase refersto a seething,broodingbitternessagainstsomeone. Itisa dangerous
emotionthatalwaysthreatenstoleapout of control,leadingtoviolence,emotional hurt,increased
mental stress,andspiritual damage. Angerkeepsusfrom developingaspiritpleasingtoGod. Have you
everbeenproudthatyou didn’tstrike outandsay whatwas reallyonyourmind? Self-controlisgood,
but Christwantsus to practice thoughtcontrol as well. Jesussaidthatwe will be heldaccountableeven
for our attitudes.

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Approachthisday withawarenessof whoisboss. Asyou make plansforthe day,rememberthatitis
God whois incontrol of thiseventinyourlife. Ondayswhenthingsgosmoothly,accordingtoyour
plans,youmay be unaware of His control. On dayswhenyourplansgo badly,be onthe lookoutfor
Him! He may be doingsomethingimportantinyourlife,somethingquite differentfromwhatyou
expected. Itisessentialatsuchtimes to stayin communicationwithHim, acceptingHis wayas better
than yours. Don’ttry to figure outwhat ishappening. SimplytrustHimandthank Him in advance for
the good that will come outof it all. I know the plansI have for you, and theyare good.
Amazing freedom.
Keepyourfocuson Him. He has giftedyouwithamazingfreedom,includingthe abilitytochoose the
focal pointof your spirit. Thisisa signof beingmade inHis image.
Let the goal of thisday be to bringeverythoughtcaptive toHim. Wheneveryourmindwanders,Grab
those thoughtsandbringthem to Him. His powerwill shrinkanxiousthoughtsandshrivelthemaway.
Judgmental thoughtsbyyourlove,andconfusedthoughtsare untangledwhile yourestinthe simplicity
of Hislove andPeace.
Releasing Control
You mustlearnto letgo of lovedones,of possessions,of control. Inordertoletgo of somethingthatis
precioustoyou,you needtolove Him more,where you are complete. Take time toimmerse yourself in
His love. Asyourelax,more andmore your graspinghandgraduallyopensup,releasingyour prized
possessionsintoHis care.
You can feel secure,eveninthe midstof disastrous changes,throughawareness of Hiscontinual Shared
Love. The love whichneverleavesyouthe same. The Love whichneverlessens. Iam the same
yesterday,today, and forever. Asyou release more andmore thingsintoHis care,rememberthatI
neverletgoof yourhand. Thisisyour REAL security,whichnoone andno circumstancescan take from
you.
Let Him Control Your Mind
The mindis the mostrestless,unrulypartof mankind. Longafteryouhave learnedthe discipline of
holdingyourtongue,yourthoughtsdefyyourwill andsetthemselvesupagainstMe. Man is the
pinnacle of mycreation,andthe humanmindis complex. I riskedall bygrantingyoufreedomtothink
for yourself. Thisisgodlike privilege,foreversettingyouapartfromanimalsandrobots. I made you in
My image.
Your mindisin rebellion. Openyourself toOurSharedLove,lettingittake control of your mind. When
My Spirit is controllingyour mind,you are filledwithLife and Peace.
Nowthat youhave made the decisiontoturnovercontrol of yourlife toyourloverGod. He will help
yoube more comfortable withthisarrangementbygivingyouchallengestomaster. Bymasteringthem
throughHis control,youwill discoverhow love worksinarelationship.
You may findthishardto believe,so,letustake anin-depthlookatthisarea.

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Challenge Overload
The world will challenge our faith.
(2 Pt 3:18) Peterconcludesthisbrief letterashe began,byurginghisreadersto grow in the “shared
love”andknowledge of the LordandSaviorJesusChrist – to get to know himbetterandbetter. Thisis
the most importantstepindealingwiththe challengesof life. Nomatterwe are in our spiritual journey,
no matterhowmature we are in our faith,the worldalwayswill challenge ourfaith. We still have much
room forgrowth. If everydaywe findsome wayto draw closertoGod, we will be preparedtostand for
truth inany and all circumstances.
Let God help you with Life’s challenges.
(Jos1:5) Joshua’snewjobconsistedof leadingmore thantwomillionpeople intoastrange new land
and conqueringit. Whata challenge –evenfora manof Joshua’s caliber. Everynew jobisa challenge.
WithoutGod itcan be frightening. WithGodit can be a greatadventure. JustasGod was withJoshua,
he is withusas we face our newchallenges. We maynot conquernations,buteverydaywe face tough
situations,difficultpeople,andtemptations. However,Godpromisesthathe will neverabandonusor
fail to helpus. By askingGodto directus we can conquermany of life’schallenges.
Blaming others for ours
(Gn 16:5) AlthoughSari arrangedforHagar to have a childbyAbram, she laterblamedAbramfor the
results. Itis ofteneasiertostrike outinfrustrationandaccuse someone else thantoadmitanerror and
ask forforgiveness.
Don’t run away from Challenges
(Gn 16:8) Hager wasrunningawayfrom hermistressandherproblem. The angel of the Lord gave her
thisadvice:(10 to returnand face Sarai, the cause of herproblem, and(2) to submitto her. Hagar
neededtoworkonher attitude towardSari,nomatter how justifieditmayhave been. Runningaway
fromour problemsrarelysolvesthem. Itiswise toreturnto our problems,face themsquarely,accept
God’spromise of help,correctour attitudes,andact as we should.
None are too complicated for God.
(Gn 18:14) “Is anythingtohard for the Lord?” The obviousansweris,“Of course not!” This question
revealsmuchaboutGod. Make ita habitto insertyourspecificneedsintothe question,“Isthisdayin
my life toohardfor the Lord?” “Is thishabitI’m tryingtoobreak toohard for Him?” Isthe
communicationproblemI’mhavingtoohardfor him? Askingthe questionthiswayremindsyouthat
God ispersonallyinvolvedinyourlife andnudgesyoutoaskfor His powertohelpyou.
Lying brings more.
(Gn 18:15) Sarah liedbecause she wasafraidof beingdiscovered. Fearisthe mostcommonmotive for
lying. We are afraidthat our innerthoughtsandemotionswill be exposedorour wrongdoings
discovered. Butlyingcausesgreatercomplicationsthentellingthe truthandbringsevenmore
problems. If Godcan’t be trustedwithour innermostthoughtsandfears,we are ingreatertrouble than
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God will help solve yours.
(Gn 20:11-13) Because AbrahammistakenlyassumedthatAbimelechwasa wickedman,he made aquick
decisiontotell ahalf-truth. Abrahamthoughtitwouldbe more effective todeceive Abimelechthanto
trust God to workinthe king’slife. Don’tassume thatGod will notworkina situationthathas potential
problems. Youmaynot completelyunderstandthe situation,andGodmay intervenewhenyouleast
expectit.
God overcomes the impossible ones.
(Gn 21:1-7) Whocould believe thatAbrahamwouldhave asonat 100 yearsof age – and live toraise
himto adulthood? Butdoingthe impossibleiseverydaybusinessforGod. Ourbigproblemswon’t
seemsoimpossibleif we letGodhandle them.
Christianity doesn’t guarantee problem free life
(Gn 35;10) God remindedJacobof hisnew name,Israel,whichmeant “He struggleswith God.”
AlthoughJacob’slife waslitteredwithdifficultiesandtrials,hisnew name wasatribute tohisdesire to
stay close toGod despite life’sdisappointments.
(Ps18:32-34) God promisestogive usstrengthto meetchallenges,buthe doesn’tpromise toeliminate
them. If He gave us no roughroads to walk,nomountainstoclimb,andno battlestofight,we would
not grow. He doesnot leave usalone withourchallenges,however,insteadhe standsbesideus,
teachesus,and strengthensustoface them.
What they can teach us.
(Jas1;2-4) We can’t reallyknowthe depthof our character until we see how we reactunderpressure. It
iseasyto be kindtootherswheneverythingisgoingwell,butcanwe still be kind whenothersare
treatingyouunfairly? Godwantsto make us mature and complete,nottokeepusfromall pain.
Insteadof complainingaboutourstruggles,we shoulduse themasopportunitiesforgrowth. ThankGod
for promisingtobe withyouinrough times. Askhimtohelpyousolve yourproblemsorto give youthe
strengthto endure them. Godwill notleave youalone withyourproblems,He will stayclose andhelp
yougrow.
Wrong solutions worse than no solution.
(Gn 37:26-27) The brotherswere worriedaboutbearingthe guiltof Joseph’sdeath. Judahsuggestedan
optionthatwas not rightbut wouldleave themguiltlessof murder. Sometimeswe jumpata solution
because itisthe lesserof twoevils,butitstill isnotthe rightactionto take. Whensomeone proposesa
seeminglyworkable solution,firstask,“isitright?”
Let them make you better, not bitter.
(Ex 1;12) The Egyptianstriedtoweardownthe Hebrew people byforcingthemintoslaveryand
mistreatingthem. Insteadthe Hebrewsmultipliedandgrew stronger. Whenwe are burdenedor
mistreated,we mayfeel defeated. Butour burdenscanmake us strongerand developqualitiesinus
that will prepare usforthe future. We cannot be overcomerswithouttroublestoovercome. Be true to
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When you can’t solve your problems, God can.
(Ex 2:9) Moses’motherwasreunitedwithherbaby! God usedhercourageousact of savingand hiding
herbaby to beginhisplantorescue hispeople fromEgypt. God doesn’tneedmuchfromusto
accomplishhisplanforour lives. Focusingonourhumanpredicamentmayparalyze usbecause the
situationmayappearhumanlyimpossible. ButconcentratingonGod and hispowerwill helpussee the
wayout. Rightnow,you mayfeel unable tosee throughyourtroubles. Focusinstead onGod,andtrust
Him forthe way out. That isall He needstobegin Hisworkin you.
How God views our problems.
(Ex 6:6) Small problemsneedonlysmall answers. Butwhenwe face greatproblems,Godhasan
opportunitytoexercise Hisgreatpower. Asthe Hebrews’troublesgrew steadilyworse. Godplannedto
intervene withhismightypowerandperformgreatmiraclestodeliver them. How bigare your
problems? Bigproblemsputyouina perfectpositiontowatchGod give biganswers.
Maintain your faith despite them.
(Ex 9:1) Thiswas the fifthtime GodsentMosesback to Pharaohwiththe demand,“Letmy people go!”
By thistime,Mosesmayhave beentiredanddiscouraged,buthe continuedtoobey. Isthere a difficult
conflictyoumustface again and again? Don’tgive up whenyouknow whatisright to do. AsMoses
discovered,persistence isrewarded.
(Mt 14:28) PeterwasnotputtingJesustothe test,somethingwe are toldnotto do(4:7). InsteadHe
was the onlyone inthe boat to react infaith. His impulsive requestledhimtoexperience arather
unusual demonstrationof God’spower. Peterstartedtosinkbecause he tookhiseyesoff Jesus and
focusedonthe highwavesaroundhim. His faithwaveredwhenhe realizedwhathe wasdoing. We
may notwalkon water,but we dowalkthroughsituations. If we focusonthe wavesof difficult
circumstancesarounduswithoutlookingtoJesusfor help,we toomaydespairandsink. To maintain
your faithwhensituationsare difficult,keepyoureyesonJesus’powerratherthanonyour
inadequacies.
(Mk 5:35-36) Jairus’scrisismade himfeel confused,afraid,andwithouthope. Jesus’wordstoJairusin
the midstof crisisspeaktous as well. “Don’tbe afraid,justbelieve.” InJesus’mind,there wasboth
hope and promise. The nexttime youfeelhopelessandafraid,lookatyourproblemfromJesus’point
of view. He isthe source of all hope andpromise.
God can get you out of any-kind.
(Ex 14:21) There wasno apparentwayof escape,butthe Lord openedupa dry paththroughthe sea.
Sometimeswe findour-selvescaughtina problemandsee nowayout. Don’tdespair,Godcan opena
way.
Do you complain or pray about them.
(Ex 17:2) Againthe people complainedabouttheirproblemsinsteadof praying. Some problemscanbe
solvedbycareful thoughtorby rearrangingourpriorities. Some canbe solvedbydiscussion andgood
counsel. Butsome problemscanbe solvedonlybyprayer. We should make a determinedefforttopray
whenwe feel likecomplaining,because complainingonlyraisesourlevelof stress. Prayerquietsour
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God is concerned over each of yours.
(Ex 39;32) The tabernacle wasfinallycomplete tothe lastdetail. Godwaskeenlyinterestedinevery
minute part. The Creatorof the universe wasconcernedabouteventhe littlethings. Matthew 10:30
saysthat God knowsthe numberof hairs onour heads. Thisshowsthat God is greatlyinterestedinyou.
Don’tbe afraidto talkwithHimabout anyof your concerns – no matterhow small orunimportantthey
mightseem.
Finding hope in the midst of challenges.
(Lv 26:40-45) These versesshowwhatGod meantwhenHe saidHe isslow to anger(Exodus34:6). Even
if the Israeliteschose todisobeyandwere scatteredamongtheirenemies. Godwouldstill give them
the opportunitytochange and returnto Him. His purpose wasnot to destroythem, buttohelpthem
grow. Ourday-to-dayexperiencesandhardshipsare sometimesoverwhelmingunlesswe cansee that
God’spurpose isto bring about continual growthinus,we may despair. The hope we neediswell
expressedinJeremiah29:11: “For I know the plansI have foryou,”declaresthe Lord,“plansto prosper
youand not to harm you,plansto give youhope anda future. Thenyou will call uponme andcome and
pray to m e,and I will listentoyou.” To retainhope while we suffer,showswe understandGod’s
merciful waysof relatingtoHispeople.
(Jn5:6) After38 years,thisman’sproblemhadbecome awayof life. Noone hadeverhelpedhim. He
had no hope of everbeinghealedandnodesire tohelphimself. The man’ssituationlookedhopeless.
But no matterhowtrappedyoufeel inyourinfirmities. Godcan ministertoyourdeepestneeds. Don’t
leta problemorhardshipcause you tolose hope. God mayhave special workforyou to do inspite of
your condition,orevenbecause of it. Manyhave ministeredeffective elytohurtingpeople becauser
theyhave triumphedovertheirownhurts.
Focus on positive aspects of Challenge.
(Num13:25-29) God toldthe Israelitesthatthe promisedlandwasrichandfertile.. Notonlythat,He
promisedthatthis bountiful landwouldbe theirs. Whenthe spiesreportedbacktoMoses,theygave
plentyof goodreasonsforenteringthe land,buttheycouldn’tstopfocusingontheirfear. Talkof giants
(descriptionof Anak) andfortifiedcitiesmade iteasytoforgetaboutGod’spromise tohelp. When
facinga tough decision,don’tletthe negative3scause youtolose sightof the positives. Weighboth
sidescarefully. Don’tletpotentialdifficultiesblindyoutoGod’spowertohelpandHis promisesto
guide.
Challenges from failing to trust God.
(Nm14:34) God’s judgementcame inthe formthe people learnedmost. The peoplewere afraidof
dyinginthe desert. So God punishedthembymakingthemwanderinthe desertuntil theydied. Now
theywishedtheyhadthe problemof facingthe giantsandthe fortifiedcitiesof the promisedland.
FailingtotrustGod oftenbringsevengreaterproblemsthanthose originallyfaced. Whenwe runfrom
God, we inevitablyrunintomore problems.
Overrating your challenges.
(Num16:13-14) One of the easiestwaystofall awayfrom followingGodisto lookat yourpresent
problemsandexaggerate them. DathanandAbiramdidjustthat whentheybeganto longforbetter
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and better– not because of slaveryandtaskmasters,of course,butbecause of itsmouth-watering
foods! These twomenand theirfollowershadcompletelylosttheirperspective. Whenwe take our
eyesoff Godand start lookingatourselvesandourproblems,we begintolose ourperspective aswell.
OverratingproblemscanhinderourrelationshipwithGod. Don’tletdifficultiesmake youlose sightof
God’sdirectionforyourlife.
Do you believe God can help you with?
(Num21;34) God assuredMosesthat Israel’senemywasconqueredevenbefore the battlebegan. God
wantsto give usvictoryoverour enemies(whichare usuallyproblemsrelatedtosinratherthanarmed
soldiers). Butfirstwe mustbelieve thatHe canhelpus. Second,we musttrustHim to helpus. Third,
we must take the stepsHe showsus.
Not usually solved by change of location.
(Num23:27) Balak tookBalaamto several placestotry to entice himtocurse the Israelites. He thought
a change of scenerymighthelpchange Balaam’smind. Butchanginglocationswon’tchange God’swill.
We mustlearnto face the source of our problems. Movingtoescape problemsonlymakessolvingthem
more difficult. Problemsrootedinusare notsolvedbya change of scenery. A change inlocationor job
may onlydistractus fromthe needforus to change our heart(sharedlove).
Sometimes caused by allowing sin to remain in your life.
(Num33:55) If youdon’tdo the jobright the firsttime,itoftenbecomesmuchmore difficultto
accomplish. Godwarnedthat if the Israelitesdidnotdrive the wickedinhabitantsoutof the promised
land,laterthese people wouldbecomeasource of great irritation. Thatisexactlywhathappened. Just
as the Israeliteswere hesitanttclearoutall the wickedpeople,we are sometimeshesitanttoclearout
all the sinin our lives,eitherbecausewe are afraidof it(asthe Israelitesfearedthe giants),orbecause it
seemsharmlessandattractive (assexual sinseemed). ButHebrews12:1-2 tellsustothrow off “the sin
that so easilyentangles”us. We all have “idols”we don’twant to letgoof (a badhabit,an unhealthy
relationship,acertainlife-style). If we allow these idolstodominate us,theywill cause serious
problemslater.
How to keep them from getting the upper hand.
(Dt 1:22) The spieswere sentintothe landtodetermine notwhethertheyshouldenter,butwhere they
shouldenter. Uponreturning,however,mostof the spiesconcludedthatthe landwasnot worththe
obstacles. Godwouldgive the Israelitesthe powertoconquer the obstacles. Godwouldgive the
Israelitesthe powertoconquerthe land,buttheywere afraidof the riskanddecidednotto enter. God
givesusthe powerto overcome ourobstacles,butlike the Israelites filledwithfearandskepticism, we
oftenletourselvescontrol ourlives. FollowingGod, regardlessof the difficulties inthe wayto have
courageousfaith.
Our problems are no problem for God to solve.
(Dt 3:1-3) The Israelitesfaced abigproblem–the well-trainedarmyof Og,kingof Bashan. The Israelites
hardlystooda chance. But theywonbecause Godfoughtfor them. God can helpHispeople regardless
of the problemstheyface. Nomatterhow insurmountable the obstaclesmayseem, rememberthjat
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Turn to God first when problems develop.
(Jgs4:3) After20 years of unbearable circumstances,the Israelitesfinallycriedtothe Lordfor help. But
God shouldbe the firstplace we turn whenwe are facingstrugglesordilemmas. The Israeliteschose to
go theirownwayand got intoa mess. We oftendothe same. Tryingto control our ownliveswithout
God’shelpleadstostrugglesandconfusion. Bycontrast,whenwe stayin dailycontactwiththe Lord,
we are lesslikelytocreate painful circumstancesfor ourselves. Thisisa lessonthe Israelitesneverfully
learned. Whenstrugglescome ourway,Godwants usto come toHim first,seekingHisstrengthaand
guidance.
Look first within yourself for why they come.
(Jgs6:13) GideonquestionedGodaboutthe problemshe andhisnationfacedandabout God’slack of
help. Whathe didn’tacknowledge wasthe factthat the people hadbroughtcalamityuponthemselves
whentheydecidedtodisobeyandneglectGod. How easyit isto overlookpersonal accountabilityand
blame ourproblemsonGod and others. Unfortunately,thisdoesnotsolve ourproblems. Itbringsus
no closerto God,and it escortsusto the veryedge of rebellionandbacksliding. Whenproblemscome,
the firstplace to lookiswithin. Ourfirstactionshouldbe confessiontoGodof sinsthat may have
createdour problems.
Don’t complain about them without doing something about them.
(1 Sm 7:2-3) Israel mournedandsorrowgrippedthe nationfor20 years. The ark was putaway like an
unwantedbox inanattic, and itseemedasif the Lord had abandonedHispeople. Samuel,now agrown
man,rousedthemto actionby sayingthat if theywere trulysorry,theyshoulddosomethingaboutit.
How easyitis forus to complainaboutour problems,eventoGod,while we refuse toact,change,and
do whatHe requires. We don’teventake the advice He hasalreadygave us. Do youeverfeel asif God
has abandonedyou? Checktosee if there isanythingHe has alreadytoldyouto do. You maynot
receive newguidance fromGoduntil youhave actedonHis previousdirections.
Putting giant ones in perspective.
(1 Sm 17:26) What a difference,perspectivecanmake. Most of the on-lookerssaw onlyagiant. David,
however,sawamortal man defyingalmightyGod. He knew he wouldnotbe alone whenhe faced
Goliath. God will fightwithhim. He lookedathissituationfromGod’spointof view. Viewing
impossible situationsfromGod’spointof view helpsusputgiantproblemsinperspective. Once we see
clearly,we canfightmore effectively.
Let them drive you toward God, not away from Him.
(2 Cor 1:8-10) We oftendependonourownskillsandabilitieswhenlife seemseasy,butwe turntoGod
whenwe feel unable tohelpourselves. DependingonGodisa realizationof ourownpowerlessness
withoutHimandour needforHis constanttouch inour lives. Godisour source of power,andwe
receive HishelpbykeepingintouchwithHim. Withthisattitude of dependence,problemswill drive us
to God ratherthan away fromHim. Learnhow torelyon God only.
(Rv2:9-11) Painis part of life,butitis nevereasytosuffer,nomatterwhatthe cause. Jesus
commendedthe churchat Smyrnafor itsfaithin suffering.He thenencouragedthe believersthatthey
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turn youaway fromGod, insteadletthemdraw youtowardsgreaterfaithfulness. TrustGod and
rememberyourheavenlyreward(seealso22:12-14).
Look for solutions rather than blame.
(1 Sm 30:6) Facedwiththe tragedyof losingtheirfamilies,David’ssoldiersbegantoturnagainsthim
and eventalkedaboutkillinghim. Insteadof planningarescue,theylookedforsomeonetoblame. But
DavidfoundhisstrengthinGod and beganlookingforasolutioninsteadof ascapegoat. Whenfacing
problems,rememberthatitisuselesstolookforsomeone toblame orcriticize. Insteadconsiderhow
youcan helpfindasolution.
Challenges come from excusing sin.
(1 Kgs 11:9-10) Solomondidn’tturnawayfromGod all at once or ina brief moment. Hisspiritual
coldness startedwithaminordeparture fromGod’slaws(3:1). Overthe years,that little sin grewuntil
it resultedinSolomon’sdownfall. A little sincanbe the firststepinturningawayfromGod. It is not the
sinswe don’tknowabout,but the sinswe excuse,thatcause usthe greatesttrouble. We mustneverlet
any singo unchallenged. In yourlife. Itisan unchallengedsinspreadinglike adeadlycancer? Don’t
excuse it. ConfessthissintoGod andask himfor strengthtoresisttemptation.
Seek God before Challenges come.
(1 Chr 14:10) Before Davidwenttobattle,he inquiredof Godfirst,askingforHis presence andguidance.
Too oftenwe waituntil we are introuble before turningtoGod. By thenthe consequencesof our
actionsare alreadyunfolding. Doyouask forGod’s helponlyasa desperate lastresort? Instead,goto
himfirst! Like David,youmay receive incredible helpandavoidserioustrouble.
Don’t question God’s goodness in Challenges.
(Jb2:10) Many people thinkthatbelievinginGodprotectsthemfromtrouble,sowhencalamitycomes,
theyquestionGod’sgoodnessandjustice. Butthe message of Jobisthat youshouldnotgive up onGod
because He allowsyoutohave bad experiences. FaithinGoddoesnot guarantee personal prosperity,
and lackof faithdoesnot guarantee troublesinthislife. If thiswere so,people wouldbelieveinGod
simplytogetrich. God iscapable of rescuingusfromsuffering,butHe mayalsoallow sufferingtocome
for reasonswe cannotunderstand. ItisSatan’s strategytoget us to doubtGod at exactlythismoment.
Here Job showsa perspectivebroaderthanseekinghisownpersonal comfort. If we always knewwhy
we were suffering,ourfaithwouldhave noroomto grow.
Refines our character.
(Ps66:10-12) Justas fire refinessilverinthe smeltingprocess,trialsrefine ourcharacter. Theybringus a
newand deeperwisdom,helpingustodiscernthruitfromfalsehoodandgivingusthe disciplinetodo
whatwe knowisright. Above all these trialshelpusrealizethatlife isagiftfromGod to be cherished,
not a rightto be takenforgranted.
Give us the potential for praise.
(Ps107:32) Those whohave nevertrulysufferedmaynotappreciate Godasmuch as those whohave
maturedunderhardship. Those whohave seenGodworkintimesof distresshave a deeperinsightinto
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Many people believe thatChristianityshouldofferaproblemfree life. Consequently,aslife getstough,
theydraw backdisappointed. Instead,theyshoulddetermine toprevail withGodthroughlife’sstorms.
Problemsanddifficultiesare painful butinevitable;youmightaswell see themasopportunitiesfor
growth. You can’t prevail withGodunlessyouhave troublestoprevail over.
Why God is able to help us with our challenges.
(Ps145:14) Sometimesourburdensseemmore thanwe can bear,and we wonderhow we can go on.
Davidstandsat this bleakintersectionof life’sroadandpointsto the Lord, the greatburden-bearer.
God isable to liftusup because:(1) the greatnessisunfathomable(145:3);(2) He doesmightyacts
across manygenerations(145:4);(3) He isfull of glorioussplendorandmajesty (145:5);(4) He does
wonderful andawesomeworks(145:5, 6); (5) He isrighteous(145:7); (6) He isgracious,compassionate,
patient,andloving(145:8, 9); He rulesoveraneverlastingkingdom(145:13); (8) He isour source of all
our dailyneeds(145:15, 16); (9) He isrighteousandlovinginall Hisdealings(145:17); (10) He remains
nearto those whocall onHim (145:18); (11) He hearsour criesand savesus (145:19, 20). If you are
bendingunderaburdenandfeel thatyouare about tofall,turnto God for help. He is readyto liftyou
up and bearyourburden.
Are You just using God to escape your challenges.
(Jer21:1-14) JeremiahhadforetoldJerusalem’sdestruction. The city’sleadershaddeniedhiswordand
mockedhisannouncements,indesperations. KingZedekiahturnedtoGodfor help,butwithout
acknowledgingGod’swarnings oradmittinghissin. Toooftenwe expectGodtohelpusout in ourtime
of trouble eventhough we have ignoredHiminourtime of prosperity. ButGod wantsa lasting
relationship. Are youtryingtobuilda lastingfriendshipwithGod,orare youmerelyusingHim
occasionallytoescape trouble? Whatwouldyouthinkof yourfamilyorfriendsif theythoughtof you
onlyas a temporaryresource.
Do you rejoice at other’s problems?
(Ob12) Edomwas gladto see Judahin trouble. Theirhatredmade themwant the nationdestroyed.
For theirwrongattitudesandactions,GodswipedoutEdom. How oftendoyou findyourself rejoicing
at the misfortunesof others? Because Godalone isthe judge,we mustneverbe happyaboutothers
misfortunes,evenif we thinktheydeserve them(see Proverbs24:17).
Jesus controls the storms of life.
(Mt 8:25) Althoughthe discipleshadwitnessedmanymiracles,theypanickedinthisstorm. As
experiencedsailors,theyknewitsdanger,whattheydidnotknow wasthat Christcould control the
forcesof nature. There isoftena stormyarea of our humannature where we feel Godcan’tor won’t
work. When we trulyunderstandwhoGodis,however,we willrealize thatHe controlsboththe storms
of nature andthe stormsof the troubled heart. Jesus’powerthatcalmedthisstormcan alsohelpus
deal withthe problemswe face. Jesusiswillingtohelpif we onlyaskHim. We shouldneverdiscount
His powereveninterribletrials.
Trusting God with challenges.
(Mk 4:38-40) The disciplespanickedbecause of the stormthreatenedtodestroythemall andJesus
seemedunaware andunconcerned. Theirswasaphysical storm, butstormscome inotherforms. Think
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have twooptions. You can worryand assume that Jesusnolongercares,or youcan resistfear,putting
your trustin Him. Whenyou feel likepanicking,confessyourneedforGod,andthentrust Him to care.
How we underestimate Jesus’ help in challenges.
(Mk 4:41) The discipleslivedwithJesus,buttheyunderestimatedhim. Theydidnotsee thatHispower
appliedtotheirveryownsituation. JesushadbeenwithHispeople for20 centuries,andyetwe, likethe
disciples,underestimate Hispowerstohandle crisisinourlives. The disciplesdidnotyetknow enough
aboutJesus. We cannotmake the same excuse.
Should not keep us from God.
(Mk 5:25-34) The womanhad a seeminglyincurableconditioncausing hertobleedconstantly. Thismay
have beena menstrual oruterine disorderthatwouldhave made herrituallyunclean(Leviticus15:25-
27) andwouldhave excludedherfrommostsocial contact. She desperatelywantedJesustoheal her,
but she knewthat her bleedingwouldcause Jesustobe uncleanunderJewishlaw if she touchedhim.
Still the womenreachedoutinfaithandwas healed. Sometimeswe feel thatourproblemswillkeepus
fromGod. But He is alwaysreadytohelp. We shouldneverallow our feartokeepusfrom approaching
Him.
God hasn’t lost sight of your challenges.
(Mk 6:49) The discipleswere surprisedtosee Jesuswalkingbeside themonthe water. Buttheyshould
have realizedthatJesuswouldhelpthemwhentheywereintrouble. Thoughtheyhadlostsightof
Jesus,he hadnot lostsightof them. His concernfor themovercame theirlackof faith. The nexttime
youare in “deepwater,”rememberthatChristknowsyourstrugglesandcaresfor you.
Why we should be able to help others with challenges.
(Mt 9:35-38) Jesusneedsworkerswhoknow how todeal withpeople’sproblems. We cancomfort
othersand showthemthe wayto live because we have beenhelpedwithourproblemsbyGodandHis
laborers(2 Corinthians1:3-7).
How the church should resolve them.
(Mt 18:18) Thisbindingandloosingreferstothe decisionsof the churchinconflicts. Amongbelievers,
there isno court of appealsbeyondthe church. Ideally,the church’sdecisionsshouldbe Godguided
and basedondiscernmentof HisWord. Believershave the responsibility,therefore,tobringtheir
problemstothe church, andthe church hasthe responsibilitytouse God’sguidance inseekingto
resolve conflicts. Handlingproblems God’swaywill have animpactnow and foreternity.
Developing a new attitude toward challenges.
(Lk 12:13) Problemslike thiswereoftenbroughttorabbisforthemtosettle. Jesus’response,though
not directlytothe topic,isnot a change of subject. Rather,Jesusispointingtoahigherissue – a correct
attitude towardthe accumulationof wealth. Life ismore thanmaterial goods,farmore importantisour
relationshipwithGod. JesusputHisfingeronthisquestioner’sheart. Whenwe bringproblemstoGod
inprayer,He oftendoesthe same – showingushow we needto change and grow in ourattitude toward
the problem. The answerisoftennotthe one we were lookingfor,but it ismore effective inhelpingus
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Your life is not too complex for God.
(Jn1:3-5) Do youeverfeel thatyourlife istoocomplex forGodto understand? Remember,Godcreated
the entire universe,andnothingistoodifficultforHim. God createdyou,He is alive today,andHis
shared-loveisbiggerthananyproblemyoumayface.
Don’t let them hinder shared-love.
(Jn15:17) Christianswillgetplentyof hatredfromthe world,fromeachother,we needtoshare love
and support. Do youallowsmall problemstogetinthe wayof sharinglove withotherbelievers? Jesus
commandsthat youlove them,andHe will give youthe strengthtodoit.
Make prayer your first step in solving challenges.
(Acts1:12-13) AfterChristwas takenupintoheaven,the disciplesimmediatelyreturnedtoJerusalem
and had a prayermeeting,Jesushadsaidtheywouldbe baptizedwiththe HolySpiritinafew daysso
theywaitedandprayed. Whenyouface a difficulttask,animportantdecision, orabafflingdilemma,
don’trush intoworkand justhope itcomesout the way itshould. Instead,yourfirststepshouldbe to
pray forthe HolySpirit’spowerandguidance.
Keeping proper focus on Challenges.
(Acts5:1) InActs 5:1 – 8:3 we see bothinternal andexternal problemsfacingthe earlychurch. Inside,
there wasdishonesty(5:1-11) andadministrative headaches(6:1-7). Outside,the churchwasbeing
pressuredbypersecution. While churchleaderswere careful andsensitive indealingwiththe internal
problems,there wasnotmuchtheycoulddo to preventthe externalpressures. Throughitall,the
leaderskepttheirfocusonwhatwas mostimportant – spreadingthe gospel of JesusChrist.
How God works them all for good.
(Rom8:28) God worksin “all things”– not justisolatedincidents –forour good. Thisdoesnotmean
that all that happenstous isgood. Evil ispresentinourfallenworld,butGodisable to turn every
circumstance aroundfor ourlong-range good. Note thatGod is notworking tomake ushappy,but to
fulfillHispurpose. Note alsothatthispromise isnotforeverybody. Itcanbe claimedonlybythose are
“called,”are those the HolySpiritconvincesandenablestoreceiveChrist. Suchpeople haveanew
perspective,anewmind-setonlife. TheytrustinGod,not inlife’streasures;theylookfortheirsecurity
inheaven,notonearth, theylearn toaccept. Notresent,painandpersecutionbecauseGodiswith
them.
Why some churches seem to have so many Challenges.
(1 Cor 3:10-17) Inthe church builtonJesusChrist,eachchurchmemberwouldbe mature,spiritually
sensitive,anddoctrinallysound. However,the Corinthianchurchwasfilledwiththose whoseworkwas
“wood,hay,straw,” memberswhowere immature,insensitive toone another,andvulnerabletowrong
doctrine (3:1-4). No wondertheyhadso manyproblems. Local church membersshouldbe deeply
committedtoChrist. Can yourChristian characterstand the test?
Legalism causes us to look for Challenges.
(1 Cor 10:25-27) Paul gave one answerto the dilemma –to buy whatevermeatissoldatthe market
withoutaskingwhetheritwasofferedto idols. Itdoesn’tmatteranyway,andnoone’sconscience
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cannot enjoylife. EverythingbelongstoGod,and He has givenall thingstoenjoy. If we know
somethingisaproblem,thenwe candeal withit,but we don’tneedtogo lookingforproblems.
Must be confronted in the church.
(1 Cor 16:24) The church at Corinthwas a church introuble. Paul lovinglyandforcefullyconfronted
theirproblemsandpointedthembacktoChrist. He dealthwithdivisionsandconflicts,selfishness,
inconsiderate use of freedom,disorderinworship,misuse of spiritual giftsandwrongattitudesabout
the resurrection.
In everychurchthere are enoughproblemstocreate tensions anddivisions. We shouldnotignore or
glossoverproblemsinourchurchesor inour lives. Instead,likePaul,we shoulddeal withproblems
headon as theyarise. The lessonforus in 1 Corinthiansisthatunity andlove ina church are far more
importantthanleadersandlabels.
Challenges may be a sign of effective living.
(1 Thes3:1-3) Some thinkthattroublesare alwayscausedbysinor lackof faith. Trialsmaybe part of
God’splan forbelievers. Experiencingproblemsandpersecutionscanbuild character(James1:2-4),
perseverance (Romans5:3-5),andsensitivitytowardotherswhoalsoface trouble (2Corinthians1:3-7).
Problemsare unavoidable forGod’speople. Yourtroublesmaybe a signof effective living.
You are beingoverwhelmedbya lotof challenges,bothbigandsmall. Theyseemtorequire more and
more of yourattention,butyoumustnot give into those demands. Whenthe difficultiesinyourlife
feel asif theyare bringingyoudown,breakfree byspendingqualitytimewithHim. Youneedto
rememberwhoHe isinall His PowerandGlory. Then,humblybringHim yourprayersand petitions.
Your problemswill palewhenyouviewthemincomparison toHisPower. Youcan learn to be joyful
withHim,eveninthe midstof adverse circumstances. RelyonHim,yourStrength.
Flood of Challenges
KeepyoureyesonHim! A floodof Challengesmaybe washingoveryou,andyoufeel temptedtogive
up. Asyou face the challenges,theymayconsume more andmore of yourattention,youare losing
sightof Him. Yes I am withyou always,holding you by yourrighthand. He isfullyaware of your
situation,and Iwill notallow you to be tempted beyond whatyou areableto bear.
Your gravestdangerisworryingabouttomorrow. If youtry to carry tomorrow’sburdenstoday,youwill
staggerunderthe loadand eventuallyfall flat. Youmustdiscipline yourself tolive withinthe boundaries
of today. It isin the presentmomentthatHe walksclose toyou,helpingyoucarry yourburdens. Keep
your focusonthe present.
Challenges are your Friend
Make Friendswiththe problemsinyourlife. Thoughmanythingsfeel randomandwrong,remember
He isin charge overeverything. He canfiteverythingintoapatternforgood,but only to the extentthat
youtrust Him. Everychallenge canteachyousomething,transformingyoulittlebylittleintothe
masterpiece He createdyoutobe. The verysame challenge canbecome astumblingblockoverwhich
youfall,if youreact withdistrust anddefiance. The choice isupto you,and youwill have tochoose
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The bestway to getvalue fromyour challengesistothankHim forthem.Thissimple actopensyour
mindto the possibilityof benefitsflowingfromyourchallenges. Youcan evengive persistentchallenges
nicknames,helpingyoutoapproachthemwithfamiliarityratherthanwithdread. The nextstepisto
introduce theminyourSharedLove. I will notremove yourchallenges,butHis guidance issufficientto
bringgood outof everyone of them.
Keep walking the path.
Enjoyyour SharedLove evenwithinthe challenge. He is alwaysbefore you,aswell asalongsideyou.
See Himcallingtoyou: Come FollowMe. The One whogoesahead of you,openingupthe wayis the
same One whostays close andneverletsgoof yourhand. He is everywhere ateverytime carelessly
workingonyour behalf. Thatiswhyyour besteffortsare trustingHimand livingclose toHim.
Let Him Help You
Throughthisday. The challengesyouface are fartoo greatfor youto handle alone. Youare keenly
aware of yourhelplessnesstothose eventsyouface. Thisawarenessopensupachoice to doggedl ygo
it alone orto walkwithHim in humble stepsof dependence. Actually,thischoice iscontinuallybefore
you,challengeshighlightthe decision-makingprocess. Doconsiderit all joy wheneveryouare
envelopedinvarioustrials. These are giftsfromHim, remindingyoutorelyonHim alone.
Live above Your Challenges.
Thisrequiresfocusedtime withHim,the One WhoOvercame The World. Trouble and distressare
wovenintothe relationships of thisperishingworld. OnlyyourSharedLove canempoweryouto face
thisendlessriverof challengeswithyousharinglove withothers.
As youare SharingLove,He givesPeace intoyourtroubledmindandheart. Little bylittle,youare freed
fromearthlytiesandliftedupabove yourchallenge. YougainHis perspectiveonyourlife,enablingyou
to distinguishbetweenwhatisimportantandwhatisnot. Rest inHis love, receiving Joy thatno one can
takeaway fromyou.
Welcoming Challenges
Welcome themasperspective Lifters. We as one of your children,tendtosleepwalkthroughourdays,
until we bump intoan obstacle thatstopsus.
If you encounterachallenge withnoimmediate solution,yourresponsetothatsituationwill take you
eitherupor down. You can lashout at the challenge,resentingitand feelingsorryforyourself. Thiswill
take you downintothe pitof self-pity. Alternatively,the problemcanbe a ladder,enablingyoutoclimb
up and see yourlife fromHis perspective. Viewedfromabove,the obstaclethatfrustratedyouisonlya
temporary stop.Once your perspective hasbeenheightened,youcanlookawayfrom the challenge
altogether. Turnto him,andsee yourSharedLove shininguponyou.

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Challenges
Do not longforthe absence of challengesinyourlife. Thisisanunrealisticgoal,since inthisworldyou
will have troubles. Youhave an eternityof challenge-free livingreservedforyouinheaven. Rejoice in
that inheritance,whichnoone cantake awayfrom you,butdo not seekyourheavenonearth.
Begineachday anticipatingchallenges,askingHimto equipyouforwhateverchallengesyouwill
encounter. The bestequippingisyourSharedLove. DiscusseverythingwithHim. Take alighthearted
viewof challenges,seeingitasa challenge thatYouand He togethercan handle. RememberthatHe is
on yourside,andHe is in control of the world.
Don’tbe sohard on yourself. He can bringgoodevenoutof yourmistakes. Yourmindtendstolook
backward,longingtoundodecisionsyouhave come toregret. Thisis a waste of time and energy,
leadingonlytofrustration. Insteadof flounderinginthe past,releaseyourmistakestoHim. Lookto
himin trust,anticipatingthatHis creativitycanweave bothgoodchoicesandbad intoa lovingdesign.
Because youare human,youwill continue tomake mistakes. Thinkingthatyoushouldlive anerror-free
life isnothingbutpride. Yourfailurescanbe a source of blessing,humblingyouandgivingyouempathy
for otherpeople intheirweaknesses. Bestof all,failure highlightsyourdependence onHim. He is able
to bringbeautyoutof the morass of your mistakes. TrustHim, andwatch to see whatHe will do.
Resisting Challenges
Do not resistorrun from the challengesinyourlife. These challengesare notrandommistakes; they
are hand-tailoredblessingsdesignedforyourbenefitandgrowth. Embrace all the circumstancesthat
He will allowinyourlife,trustingHim tobringgoodout of them. View challengesasopportunitiesto
relymore fullyonHim.
Whenyoustart to feel stressed, letthose feelingsalertyoutoyourneedforHim. Thus, yourneeds
become doorwaystodeepdependenceonHimandincreasinglove betweenthe twoof you. Although
self-sufficiencyisacclaimedinthe world,relianceonGodproducesabundantlivinginHis kingdom.
Thank Himfor the challengesinyourlife,since theyprovide protectionfromthe idolatryof self-reliance.
Welcome Challenging Times
As opportunitiestotrustHim. You will have Himbeside youandHis Spiritwithinyou,sonosetof
circumstancesistoomuch for youto handle . Whenthe path before youisdottedwithchallenges,
beware of measuringyourstrengthagainstthese challenges. Thatcalculationiscertaintoriddle you
withanxiety. WithoutHim,youwouldn’tmake itpassthe first hurdle!
The way to walkthroughdemandingdaysistogrip His hand tightlyandstayin close communication
withHim. Let your thoughtsandspokenwordsbe withtrustand thankfulness. Regardlessof the day’s
challenges. Ican keepyou in love as you stay close to Me.
“A man oncefound a cocoon of an Emperormoth and keptit with the purposeof watching thebeautiful
creature emerge. Finally the day cameand it began to strugglethrough thesmall opening atoneend of
the cocoon. Thestrugglecontinued forhours,butthe moth could neverforce its body beyond a certain
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Finally believing that something waswrong and thattheopening should havebeen larger,theman took
a pair of scissorsand carefully clipped the restraining threads. The moth emerged easily and crawled out
onto the windowsill. It’sbody waslarge and swollen,its wingssmall and shriveled. He supposed thatin
a fewhoursthe wingswould develop into the beautifulobjectsthathehad expected. But it did not
happen. Themoth thatshould havebeen a thing of greatbeauty freeto floatand fly,spent it’s shortlife
dragging around theswollen body and shriveled wings.
The constricting threadsand thestrugglenecessary to passthrough thetiny opening had been God’s
method of forcing fluidsfromthe body into the wings. The “merciful” snip of thethreadswasthe most
cruel thing possible.
Often God lets usstrugglerather than stepping in like a big brotherto do ourfighting forus. No doubt
he could makeit all so easy and every momentof life so pleasant,butaswe struggle,becoming
exhausted almostbeyond endurance,changesoccurin uswhich could nothappen otherwise;the“fluids”
expand ourwings,and in time we can fly. Cut the struggleshortatsome crucial pointand we are
crippled forever… or until God givesanotheropportunity forstrugglethatwill do whatthe firstaborted
struggleshould havebeen allowed to do.
(FromTemptation;Help forStruggling Christians byCharlesDurham)
Nowthat youhave a handle onhowto processthe challengesyoumayface,youare readyto face the
day.

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Preparation for the day.
Staying prepared for opportunities.
(Gn 41:14) Our mostimportantopportunitiesmaycome whenwe leastexpectthem. Josephwas
broughthastilyfromthe dungeonandpushedbefore Pharaoh. Didhe have time toprepare? Yes and
no. He hadno warningthat he wouldbe suddenlypulledfromprisonandquestionedbythe king. Yet
Josephwasreadyfor almostanythingbecause of hisrightrelationshipwithGod. Itwas notJoseph’s
knowledge of dreamsthathelpedhiminterprettheirmeaning. Itwasknowledge of God. Be readyfor
opportunitiesby gettingtoknowmore aboutGod. Thenyou will be readytocall on himwhen
opportunitiescome yourway.
How God was preparing Moses for leadership
(Ex 3:1) What a contrast betweenMoseslifeasanEgyptianprince and hislife asa Midianite shepherd!
As a prince he had everythingdone forhim;he wasthe famous sonof an Egyptianprinces. Asa
shepherdhe hadto doeverythingforhimself;he washoldingthe veryjobhe hadbeentaughtto
despise (Genesis43:32, 46:32-34) and he livedasan unknownforeigner. Whata humblingexperience
thismusthave beenforMoses! But God waspreparinghimforleadership. Livingthe life of ashepherd
and nomad,Moseslearnedaboutthe waysof the people he wouldbe leading andalsoaboutlife inthe
desert. Mosescouldn’tappreciate thislesson,butGodwasgettinghimreadyto free Israel from
pharaoh’sgrasp.
Preparing ourselves for fulfilment of God’s promises.
(Ex 12:11) Eatingthe Passoverfeastwhile dressedfortravel wasasignof the Hebrewsfaith. Although
theywere notyetfree,theywere toprepare themselves,forGodhad saidHe wouldleadthemoutof
Egypt. Theirpreparationwasanact of faith. Preparingour-selvesforthe fulfilmentof God’spromises,
howeverunlikelytheynowseem,demonstratesourfaith.
Prepare leaders to succeed you.
(Nm27:15-21) Mosesdidnot wantto leave hisworkwithoutmakingsure anew leaderwasreadyto
replace him. Firsthe askedGod to helphimfindareplacement. Then,whenJoshuawasselected,
Mosesgave hima varietyof tasksto ease the transitionintohisnew position. Mosesalsoclearlytold
the people thatJoshuahadthe authorityandthe abilitytoleadthe nation. Hisdisplayof confidencein
Joshuawasgood for bothJoshuaand the people. Tominimizeleadershipgaps,anyone inaleadership
positionshouldtrainotherstocarry onthe dutiesshouldhe orshe suddenlyoreventuallyhave toleave.
While youhave the opportunity,followMoses’pattern:pray,select,develop,andcommission.
Good leaders prepare their people to function without them.
(Dt 3:26-28) God had made it clearthat Moseswouldnotenterthe promisedland(Numbers20:12). So
God toldMosesto commissionJoshua astheirleaderandencourage himinthisnew role. Thisisa good

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example tochurchesandorganizationswhomusteventuallyreplace theirleaders. Goodleaders
prepare theirpeople tofunctionwithoutthembydiscoveringthose withleadershippotential,providing
the trainingtheyneed,and lookingforwaystoencourage them.
To serve God often begins at a young age.
(Jgs13:25) Samson’stribe,Dan,continuedtowanderintheirinheritedland(18:1),whichwasyet
unconquered (Joshua19:47-48). Samsonmust have grownup withhiswarlike tribe’syearningsfora
permanentandsettledterritory. Thushisvisitstothe tribal armycamp stirredhisheart,and God’s
Spiritbeganpreparinghimforhisrole as judge andleaderagainstthe Philistines.
Perhapsthere are thingsthatstir yourheart. These mayindicate areaswhere Godwantsto use you.
God usesa varietyof meansto developandprepare us,hereditarytraits,environmental influencesand
personal experiences. AswithSamson,thispreparation oftenbeginslongbeforeadulthood. Workat
beingsensitive tothe HolySpirit’sleadingandthe tasksGodhas preparedforyou. Your past may be
more useful toyouthan youimagine.
Preparing children to fulfill God’s call.
(1 Chr 22:7-10) God toldDavidhe wouldnotbe the one to buildthe temple. Insteadthe taskwouldbe
lefttohisson Solomon. Davidgraciouslyacceptedthis“no”fromGod. He was not jealousof the fact
that hisdonwouldhave the honorof buildinggod’stemple,butinsteadmade preparationsforSolomon
to cary out histask. Similarly,we shouldtake stepsnow toprepare the wayforour childrenwill have to
make theirowndecisions,butwe canhelpbysupplyingthemwiththe propertools,showingthemhow
to pray and studyGod’sWord, the difference betweenrightandwrongandthe importance of church
involvement.
Leads to peace.
(2 Chr 14:7) “Rest oneveryside,meansthatJudahhadpeace withall her neighbors. Timesof peace are
not justfor resting. Theyallowustoprepare fortimesof trouble. KingAsarecognizedthe periodof
peace as the right time tobuildhisdefenses –the momentof attack wouldbe toolate. It is alsodifficult
to withstandspiritual attack unlessdefensesare preparedbeforehand. Decisionsabouthow toface
temptationsmustbe made withcool headslongbefore we feel the heatof temptation. Buildyour
defensesnowbefore temptationstrikes.
Vital to project well done.
(Ezr 3:8) It took fromSeptember(3;1:Septemberwasthe seventhmonthbecause the yearbeganin
March) to June justto prepare to buildthe temple. The exilestooktime tomake plansbecause the
projectwasimportantto them. Preparationmaynotfeel heroicorspiritual,butitisvital toany project
meantto do be done well.
Making spiritual preparations.
(Ezr 8:21-23) Before makingall the physical preparationsforthe journey,Ezramade spiritual
reparations. Theirprayersandfastingpreparedthemspirituallybyshowingtheirdependence onGod
for protection,theirfaiththatGodwasin control,andtheir affirmationthattheywere notstrong
enoughtomake the tripwithoutHim. Whenwe take time to putGod firstinany endeavor,we are
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Combining prayer with preparation.
(Neh4:9) Nehemiahconstantlycombinedprayerwithpreparationandplanning. Hispeople trustedGod
and at the same time keptvigilantwatchoverwhathad beenentrustedtothem. Toooftenwe pray
withoutlookingforwhatGodwantsus to do. We show God we are seriouswhenwe combine prayer
withthoughtpreparationandeffort.
Preparation for temptation.
(Prv5:11-13) At the endof your life,itwill be toolate toaskfor advice – theywantsatisfaction. The
besttime to learnthe dangersandfoolishnessof goingafterforbiddensex (oranythingelse thatis
harmful) islongbefore the temptationcomes. Resistance iseasierif the decisionhasalreadybeen
made. Don’twait to see whathappens. Prepare fortemptationby decidingnow how youwill actwhen
youface it.
Preparation for those who challenge your faith.
(2 Pt 3:18) Peterconcludesthisbrief letterashe began,byurginghisreadersto grow in the grace and
knowledge of the LordandSavior,JesusChrist – to getto know himbetterand better. Thisisthe most
importantstepinrefutingfalse teachers. Nomatter where we are inour spiritual journey,nomatter
howmature we are in our faith,the sinful world alwayswill challengeourfaith. We still have much
room forgrowth. If everydaywe findsome wayto draw closertoChrist,we will be preparedtostand
for truthin anyand all circumstances.
Let God prepare youforthe daythat stretches outbefore you. He knowsexactlywhatthisdaywill
contain,whereasyouhave onlyvague ideasaboutit. Youwouldlike tosee amap, showingall the
twistsandturns of your journey. You’dfeel more preparedif youcouldsomehow visualizewhatison
the road ahead. However,there isa betterwayto be preparedforwhateveryouwill encountertoday:
Spendqualitytime withHim.
He will notshowyouwhatis onthe road ahead,butHe will thoroughly equipyouforthe journey. His
livingpresenceprovidesyouwithacompanioneachstepof the way. Stayin continual communication
withHim,whisperingsome praiseorthanksalongwithHis name wheneveryouneedtoredirectyour
thoughts. Thus,youcan walkthroughthisdaywithyour focuson Him.
Daily adventure
Try to vieweachday as an adventure,carefullyplannedoutby your guide,MySon-JesusChrist. Instead
of staringintothe day that isaheadof you,attemptingto programit accordingto yourwill,be attentive
to Him andto all that He has preparedforyou. Thank Himfor thisday of life,recognizingthatitis
precious,unrepeatablegift. TrustthatHe is withyou eachmoment,whetheryousense yourShared
Love or not. A thankful trustingattitude helpsyouto see eventsinyourlifefromHis perspective.
A life livedclose toHim will neverbe dull orpredictable. Expecteachdayto containsurprises! No
matterhow steeportreacherousthe pathbefore you,He iswithyou. Be willingtofollow whereverHe
leads.
One Step at a Time
FollowHimone stepat a time. That isall He requiresof you. Infact, that isthe onlywayto move
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overthem. Meanwhile,becauseyouare notlookingwere youare going,youstumble onthe easypath
where He isleadingyounow. AsHe helpsyougetback on yourfeet,youtell Him how worriedyouare
aboutthe cliffsupahead. But you don’tknow whatwill happentoday,muchlesstomorrow. Yourpath
may take an abrupt turn,leadingyouawayfromthose mountains. There maybe an easierwayupthe
mountains,thanisvisible fromthisdistance. If He doesleadyouupthe cliffs,He will equipyou
thoroughlyforthe strenuousclimb. Keepyourmindon the presentjourney,enjoyingHis walkwithyou.
Walkby faith,notby sight,trustinghim tohelpyouthrough.
Rest and refreshments
Go to himfor restand refreshments. The journey mayhave beentoomuchforyou,because youhave
not heldonto His hand tightenough. Donot be ashamedof yourexhaustion. Instead, see itasan
opportunityforHim to take control of yourlife.
RememberthatHe can fiteverythingintoHis plans. Startwithwhere youare at thispointin time,
acceptingthat thisiswhere He intendsyoutobe. Youwill getthroughtodayone step,one momentat a
time. Your mainresponsibilityistoremainattentivetoHim, lettingHim guide youthroughthe many
choicesalongthe pathway.
Thissoundslike aneasyassignment,butitisnot. Your desire tolive close toHim,goesagainstthe grain
of “the world,the flesh,andthe devil. Muchof yourwearinessresultsfromyourconstantbattle against
these opponents. However,youare on the pathof His choosing,sodonot give up.
He isabove all things:yourproblems,yourpain,andthe swirlingeventsinthisever-changingworld.
Whenyougrab holdof Him,you rise above circumstancesandrestwithHim. Thisis the wayof Peace,
livinginthe Lightof your SharedLove. He guaranteesthatyouwill alwayshave problemsinthislife,but
theymustnot become yourfocus. Whenyoufeel yourself sinkinginthe seaof circumstances,say“Help
me loverGod! AndHe will drawyouback toHim. If you have to say that thousandsof times daily,don’t
be discouraged. He knowsyourweakness,andHe will meetyouinthatveryplace.
One Day at a Time.
Trust Himone dayat a time. Thiskeepsyouclose toHim, responsive toHis will. Trustisnota natural
response,especiallyforthose whohave beendeeplywounded. His Spiritwithinyouisyourresident
guide,guidingyouinthissupernatural effort. YieldtoHisgentle touch,be sensitivetoHisguidance.
Encourage your will totrustHim inall circumstances. Don’tletyourneedto understand,distractyou
fromyour SharedLove. He will equipyoutogetthroughthisday,as you live indeepdependence on
Him. Trust Him,one dayat a time.
Do only what I give you to do.
Stoptryingto work thingsoutbefore theirtimeshave come. Acceptthe limitationsof livingwhatHe
givesyouto doat that moment. Whensomethingcomesto yourattention,askHim whetherornot itis
part of today’splanforyou. If it isn’trelease it intoHis care and go on to the nextassignmentHe gives
you. When youfollowthispractice,there will be abeautifulsimplicitythroughyourlife: atime for
everythingand everythinginits time.
A life livedclose toHim isnot complicatedorcluttered. Whenyourfocusisonyour SharedLove,many
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confusing,rememberthat Ihave overcome the world. I have told you these things,so that you may
have Peace.
This is the Day
Beginthe day withopenhandsof faith,readytoreceive all thatI am pouringintothisbrief portionof
your life. Be careful nottocomplainaboutanything,eventhe weather,since He is the Authorof your
circumstances. The bestway to handle unwantedsituationsistothankHim for them. The act of faith
freesyoufromresentmentandfreesHimtoworkHis waysintothe situation,sothatgood emerges
fromit.
To findjoyinthisday, youmust live withinitsboundaries. He knew whatHe wasdoingwhenHe divided
time intotwenty-four-hoursegments. He understoodhumanfrailty,andHe knew thatyou can bear the
weightof onlyone dayat a time. Donot worry abouttomorrow or getstuck inthe past.
Choice Points
As youlookintothe day that stretchesoutbefore you,yousee manychoice-pointsalongthe way. The
manypossibilitiesthesechoicespresentcanconfuse you. Draw your mindbackto the thresholdof this
day,where He stood beside you,lovinglypreparingyouforwhatisahead.
You mustmake your choicesone at a time,since eachiscontingentuponthe decisionthatprecedesit.
Insteadof tryingto create a mental map of your paththroughthe day,focuson your SharedLove. He
will equipyouasyougo, sothat you can handle whatevercomesyourway. “Trust Him tosupplywhat
youneedwhenyouneedit.”
There will come timeswhenGod,yourlover,seemsnottobe there at the moment. Here isa little help
infindingHim.

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Find Him
Approacheach newdaywithdesire tofind Him. Before yougetout of bed,He has alreadybeen
workingtoprepare the path that will getyouthroughthe day. There are hiddentreasuresstrategically
placedalongthe way. Some of the treasurersare challenges,designedtoshake youfree fromearth-
shakles. Othersare blessingsthat reveal yourSharedEarth;sunshine,flowers,birds,friendships,
answeredprayer. He has notabandonedthisworld;He is still involvedwithit.
Searchfor deeptreasure asyougo through thisday. You will findHimall alongthe way.
Start with Him
Start withHimat the beginningof yourday. This practice enablesyouto“put Himon” and wearHim”
throughoutthe day. Most people putonclothessoonafterarisingfrombed. Similarly,the sooneryou
“put Himon” by communicatingwithHim,the betterpreparedyouare forwhatevercomesyourway.
To “wear Him”is essentiallytohave Hismind;tothinkHis thoughts. Askthe HolySpiritto control your
thinking;be transformedbythisrenewal withinyou. Thusyouare well equippedtoface whatever
people andsituationsHe willbringyourway. ClothingyourmindinHim isyour bestpreparationfor
each day. This discipline bringsLove andPeace toyouandthose aroundyou.
He is involved
ineach momentof yourlife. He will have carefullymappedouteveryinchof yourjourneythroughthis
day,eventhoughmuchof itmay feel haphazard. Because the worldisina fallencondition,things
alwaysseemtobe unravelingaroundthe edges. Expecttofindtrouble inthisday. Atthe same time,
trust that My way isperfect,eveninthe midstof suchmessyimperfection.
Stay consciousof Me as yougo throughthisday, rememberingthatIneverleave yourside. Letthe Holy
Spiritguide youstepbystep,protectingyoufrom unnecessarychallengesandequippingyoutoget
throughwhatevermustbe endured. Asyoutrudge throughthe sludge of thisfallenworld,keepyour
mindinheavenlyplaceswithHim. ThusyourSharedLove shinesthroughyou,givingothersPeace and
Joythat circumstancescannottouch.
Nowthat God has become yourlover,youmayhave concernsthat we are notrespectingyourLoveras
the God, Creatorand Controllerof thisworld. Letusdig intothisarea.

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He is God
What Creation teaches about Him.
(Gn 1:1) The creationstoryteachesusabout God andourselves. First,we learnaboutGod:(1) He is
creative;(2) as the CreatorHe is distinctfromthe creation;(3) He iseternal andincontrol of the world.
We alsolearnaboutourselves:(1) Since Godchose tocreate us, we are valuable inHiseyes;(2) we are
more importantthanthe animals.
Did He really create the world.
(Gn 1:1) Almosteveryancientreligionhasitsownstorytoexplainhow the earthcame to be. And
almosteveryscientist hasan opiniononthe originof the universe. Butonlythe Bible showsone
supreme Godcreatingthe earthout of Hisgreat love andgivingall humansaspecial place init. We will
neverknowall the answerstohowGod createdthe earth,but the Bible tellsusthatGod didcreate it.
That fact alone givesworthanddignitytoall people.
How we are made in His image
(Gn 1:26) Inwhat waysare we made inGod’s image? God obviouslydidnotcreate usexactlylike
himself becauseGodhasno physical body,Instead,we are animage of God’sSpirit. Some feel thatour
reason,creativity,speech,orself-determinationoraswe call it our spirit/soul isthe image of God. We
will neverbe totallylike Godbecause he isoursupreme Creator. Butwe do have the abilityto reflect
hischaracter inour love,patience,forgiveness,kindness,andfaithfulness.
Can’t hide from Him.
(Gn 3:8) The thoughtof two humanscoveredwithfigleavestryingtohide fromthe all-seeing,all-
knowing,Godishumorous. Howcouldtheybe so sillyasto thinktheycouldactuallyhide? Yetwe do
the same,actingas thoughGod doesn’tknow whatwe’re doing. Anddon’ttryto hide – it can’t be
done. Honestywill strengthen yourrelationshipwithGod.
Knowingthatwe are made inGod’s image andthusshare manyof His characteristicsprovidesasolid
basisfor self-worth. Humanworthisnotbasedon possessions,achievements,physical attractiveness,
or publicpraise. Insteaditisbasedonbeingmade inGod’simage. Because we bearGod’s image, we
can feel positive aboutourselves. CriticizingordowngradingourselvesiscriticizingwhatGodhas made
and the abilitieshe hasgivenus. Knowingthatyouare a personof worthhelpsyou“sharinglove”with
God, knowHimpersonally,andmake avaluable contributiontothose aroundyou.
(Gn 9:5-6) Here God explainswhymurderissowrong. To kill a personisto kill one made inGod’s
image. Because all humanbeingsare made inGod’simage,all people possessthe qualitiesthat
distinguishthemfrom animals,morally,reason,creativityandself-worth. Whenwe interactwe are
interactingwithbeingsmade byGod,beingstowhomgodofferseternal life. Godwantsus to recognize
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How we build our relationship with Him.
(Gn 3:24) Thisishow Adamand Eve broke theirrelationshipwithGod:(1) theybecame convincedtheir
way wasbetterthan God’s;(2) theybecame self-consciousandhid;(3) theytriedtoexcuse anddefend
themselves. Tobuilda relationshipwithGodwe mustreverse those steps;(1) we mustdropour
excusesandself-defenses;(2) we muststoptryingto hide fromGod; (3) we must become convinced
that God’sway isbetterthanour way.
Pleasing Him.
(Gn 6:6-8) The people’ssingrievedGod. OursinsbreakGod’s heartas much as sindidin Noah’sday.
Noah,however,pleasedGod,althoughhe wasfarfromperfect. We can follow Noah’sexample andfind
“favorin the eyesof the Lord” in spite of the sinthat surroundsus.
Letting others see God in you.
(Gn 14:20) Abram gave one-tenthof the bootytoMelchizedek. Eveninsome paganreligions,itwas
traditional togive atenthof one’searningstothe gods. Abram followedacceptedtradition,however,
he refusedtotake any bootyfromthe kingof Sodom. Eventhoughthe huge amount wouldsignificantly
increase whathe couldhave giventoGod, He chose to rejectitformore importantreasons –he didn’t
wantthe ungodlykingof Sodomtosay, “I have made Abramrich.” In thiscase acceptingthe giftswould
have focusedeveryone’sattentiononAbramorthe kingof Sodomratherthan on God,the giverof
victory. Whenpeople lookatus,theyneedtosee whatGod has accomplishedinourlives.
Why we should obey Him.
(Gn 17:1) The Lord toldAbram,“I am God Almighty,walkbefore me andbe blameless.” Godhas the
same message forus today. We are to obeythe lord ineveryrespectbecause he isGod(Creatorand
Controller) –thatis reasonenough. If youdon’tthinkthe benefitsof obedience are worthit,consider
whoGod is – the onlyone withthe powerandabilitytomeetyoureveryneed.
Nothing is too hard for Him.
(Gn 18:14) “is anythingtoohard forthe Lord (CreatorandController)?” The obviousansweris“Of
course not!” ThisquestionrevealsmuchaboutGod. Make it a habitto insertyourspecificneedsinto
the question. “Isthisdayin mylife toohard for the Lord?” “Is the habitI’m tryingto breaktoohard for
him?” Askingthe questionthiswayremindsyouthatGodis personallyinvolvedinyourlife andnudges
youto ask for hispowerto helpyou.
Does God change His mind.
(Gn 18;20-33) WhydidGod letAbrahamquestionhisjustice andintercedeforawickedcity? Abraham
knewthatGod must punishsin,buthe alsoknew fromexperience thatGodismerciful to sinners. God
knewthere were nottenrighteouspeople inthe city,butHe was merciful enoughtoallow Abrahamto
intercede. He wasalsomerciful enoughtohelpLot,Abraham’snephew,getoutof Sodombefore itwas
destroyed. Goddoesnottake pleasure indestroyingthe wicked,butHe mustpunishsin. He isbothjust
and merciful. We shouldbe thankful thatGod‘smercyextendstous.
(Ex 32:14) HowcouldGod relent? God didnotchange Hismindinthe same waythat a parent decides
not to discipline achild. InsteadGodchangedHisbehaviortoremainconsistentwithHisnature. When
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intercededforthe people,Godrelentedinordertoact consistentlywith Hismercy. Godhadoftentold
the people thatif theychangedtheirways,He wouldnotcondemnthem. Theychanged,andGod didas
He promised.
We must seek His perspective not ours.
(Gn 18:20-33) God showedAbrahamthataskingforanythingisallowedwiththe understandingthat
God’sanswerscome from God’sperspective. Theyare notalwaysinharmonywithour expectationsfor
onlyHe knowsthe whole story. Are youmissingGod’sanswerstoa prayerbecause youhaven’t
consideredanypossible answersotherthenthe one youexpect?
(Mt 16:23) Inhis deserttemptations,Jesusheardthe message thatHe couldachieve greatnesswithout
dying(4:6). Here He heardthe same message fromPeter. PeterhadjustrecognizedJesusasMessiah,
here,however,He forsookGod’sperspective andevaluatedthe situationfromahumanone. Satan is
alwaystryingto getus to leave Godoutof the picture. JesusrebukedPeterforthissituation.
His justice vs His mercy.
(Gn 18:20-33) WhydidGod letAbrahamquestionhisjustice andintercedeforawickedcity/ Abraham
knewthatGod must punish sin,buthe alsoknew fromexperience thatGodismerciful tosinners. God
knewthere were nottenrighteouspeople inthe city,buthe wasmerciful enoughtohelpLot,
Abraham’snephew,getoutof Sodombefore itwasdestroyed. Goddoesnottake pleasure in
destroyingthe wicked,butHe mustpunishsin. He is both,justand merciful. We shouldbe thankful
that God’smercy extendstous.
Was His punishment unfair to Sodom’s righteous people.
(Gn 18:25) Was God beingunfairtothe people of Sodom? DidHe reallyplantodestroythe righteous
withthe wicked? Onthe contrary God’sfairnessstood out:(1) He agreedto spare the entire cityif only
10 righteouspeoplewere there,(2) He showedgreatmercytowardLot, apparentlythe onlymaninthe
citywho hadany kindof relationshipwithHim(andeventhatwasquestionable),(3) He showed great
patience towardLot,almostforcinghimto leave Sodombefore itwasdestroyed. RememberGod’s
patience whenyouare temptedtothinkhe isunfair. Eventhe mostgodlypeople deserve Hisjustice.
We shouldbe gladGod doesn’tdirecthisjustice towardusasHe didtowardSodom.
We must seek His perspective, not ours.
(Gn 18:33) God showedAbrahamthataskingfor anythingisallowedwiththe understandingthatGod’s
answerscome fromGod’s perspective. Theyare notalwaysinharmonywithourexpectations,for only
He knowsthe whole story. Are youmissingGod’sanswertoa prayerbecause you haven’tconsidered
any possible answersotherthanthe one youexpect.
(Mt 16:23) InHis deserttemptation,Jesusheardthe message thatHe couldachieve greatnesswithout
dying(4:6). Here He heardthe same message fromPeter. Peterhadjustrecognized JesusasMessiah,
here however,he forsook God’sperspective andevaluatedthe situationfromahumanone. Satan is
alwaystryingto getus to leave Godoutof the picture. Jesusrebukedpeterforthisattitude.
His great patience vs. His fierce anger.
(Gn 19:24) In the story of Sodomand Gomorrah,we see two facetsof God’scharacter, His great
patience (agreeingtospare a wickedcityfortengood people)andHisfierce anger(destroyingboth

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cities). Aswe growspiritually,we shouldfindourselvesdevelopingadeeperrespectforGod because of
His angertowardsin,and also a deeper“sharedlove”forgodbecause of Hispatience whenwe sin.
He often works in ways we can’t see.
(Gn 20:6) Abimelechhadunknowinglytakenamarriedwomantobe hiswife andwasaboutto commit
adultery. ButGod somehowpreventedhimfromtouchingSarahandheldhimbackfromsinning. What
mercyon God’spart! Howmany timeshasGod done the same for us,holdingusback fromsinin ways
we can’t evendetect? We have no way of knowing – we justknow thisstory that He can. God works
justas ofteninwayswe can’t see as in ways we can.
Often does the Impossible.
(Gn 21:1-7) Whocould believe thatAbrahamwouldhave asonat 100 yearsof age – and live toraise
himto adulthood? Butdoingthe impossibleiseverydaybusinessforGod. Ourbigproblemswon’t
seemsoimpossibleif we letGodhandle them.
Focus attention on God, not yourself.
(Gn 40:8) Whenthe subject of dreamscame up,Josephfocusedeveryone’sattention onGod. Rather
than usingthe situationtomake himselflookgood,he turneditintoapowerful witnessforthe Lord.
One secretof effective witnessingistorecognize opportunitiestorelate Godtothe otherperson’s
experience. Whenthe opportunity arises,we musthave the courage tospeakas Josephdid.
Looking to Him for provision and care.
(Gn 48:15) Jacob spoke of God as hisshepherdthroughouthislife. Inhisoldage,he couldclearlysee his
dependence uponGod. Thismarksa total attitude change fromthat of hisscheminganddishonest
youth. To developanattitude like Jacob’s,letGodshepherdyouasyoutrustin hisprovisionandcare.
Whenyourealize thateverygoodthingcomesfromGod, youcan quittryingto grab themfor yourself.
Brings good out of evil.
(Gn 50:20) God broughtgood fromthe brothers’evil deed. Potiphar’swife’sfalseaccusation,the cup
bearer’sneglectandsevenyearsof famine. The experiencesinJoseph’slife taughthimthatGodbrings
goodfrom evil forthose whotrustHim. Do youtrust God enoughtowaitpatientlyforHimto bring
goodout of badsituations? Youcan trust himbecause asJosephlearned. God can overrule people’s
evil intensionstobringabout hisintendedresults.
Let Him deal with your problem.
(Ex 2:9) Mosesmotherwas reunitedwithherbaby. Godusedhercourageousact of savingand hiding
herbaby to beginhisplantorescue hispeople fromEgypt. God doesn’tneedmuchfromusto
accomplishHisplanforour lives. Focusingonour humanpredicamentmayparalyze usbecause the
situationmayappearhumanlyimpossible. ButconcentratingonGod and Hispowerwill helpussee the
wayout. Rightnow,you mayfeel unable tosee throughyourtroubles. FocusinsteadonGod,andtrust
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Often uses unexpected sources when working in our lives.
(Ex 3:2) God spoke toMoses froman unexpectedsource,aburningbush. WhenMosessaw it,he went
to investigate. Godmayuse unexpectedsourceswhencommunicatingtoustoo,whetherpeople,
thoughts,orexperiences. Be willingtoinvestigate,andbe opentoGod’ssurprises.
Acting reverently before Him.
(Ex 3:5-6) At God’scommand,Mosesremovedhissandalsandcoveredhisface. Takingoff hisshoeswas
an act of reverence,conveyinghisownunworthinessbeforeGod. God isour lover,butHe is alsoour
sovereignLord. Toapproach Him frivolouslyshowsalackof respectandsincerity. Whenyoucome to
God inworship,doyouapproach himcasually,ordo you come as thoughyouwere an invitedguest
before aking? If necessary,adjustyourattitude soitissuitable forapproachingaholyGod.
Do you want Him in or out of your life.
(Ex 11:9-10) You maywonderhowPharaohcouldbe sofoolishasto see God’smiraculouspowerand
still notlistentoMoses. But Pharaohhad hismindmade up longbefore the plaguesbegan. He couldn’t
believethatsomeone wasgreaterthanhe. Thisstubbornunbelief ledtoa heartso hard that evena
majorcatastrophe couldn’tsoftenhim. Finally,ittookthe greatestof all calamities,the lossof hisson,
to force himto recognize God’sauthority. Buteventhenhe wantedGodto leave,nottorule his
country. We mustnot waitfor greatcalamitiesto drive usto God, butmust openourhearts andminds
to His directionnow.
Using His name irreverently.
(Ex 20:7) God’s name isspecial because itcarriesHispersonal identity. Usingitfrivolouslyorina curse
isso commontoday that we mayfail to realize how seriousitis. The waywe use God’sname conveys
howwe reallyfeel aboutHim. We shouldrespectHisname anduse it appropriately,speakingitin
praise or worshipratherthanin a curse or joke. We wouldnottake lightlythe abuse ordishonor of His
name.
Wants to be with you.
(Ex 29:45-46) God’s actioninbringingthe Israelitesoutof EgyptshowedHisgreatdesire tobe withthem
and protectthem. Throughoutthe Bible,GodshowsthatHe isnot an absentee landlord. He wantsto
live amongus,eveninourhearts. Don’texclude Godfromyourlife. Allow Himtobe yourGod and
Loveras you obeyHisWord and communicate withHiminprayer. LetHim be your residentlover.
Are you trying to shape him to your liking?
(Ex 32:1-10) Idolsagain! EventhoughIsrael hadseenthe invisible Godinaction,theystill wantedthe
familiargodstheycouldsee andshape intowhateverimage theydesired. How muchlike themwe are!
Our greattemptationisstill toshape Godto our liking,tomake Himconvenienttoobeyorignore. God
responds ingreatangerwhenHis mercyistrampledon. The godswe create bindus to the love our
lovingGodwantsto share withus. God cannot workinus whenwe elevate anyoneoranythingabove
Him. What false godsinyourlife are pervertingthe true Godfromlivinginyou?
Ways He speaks to us.
(Lv 9:24) Asa displayof Hismightypower.Godsentfire fromthe skyto consume,Aaron’soffering. The
people felltothe groundinawe. Some people wonderif Godreallyexistsbecausetheydon’tsee His

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activityinthe world.ButGod is at workin today’sworldjustas He was inMoses world. Where a large
bodyof believersisactive forhim. Godtendsnotto displayHispowerinthe formof mighty physical
acts. InsteadHe worksto change the worldthroughthe workof these believers. Whenyourealizethat,
youwill begintosee actsof love andfaiththat are justas the supernatural.
Our easy access to God,
(Lv 16:1-25) Aaronhad to spendhours preparinghimself tomeetGod. But we can approach God
anytime (Hebrews4:16). What a privilege! We are offeredeasieraccesstoGod than the high priestsof
OldTestamenttimes! Still we mustneverforgetthatGodis holy,andnot letthisprivilege cause usto
approach God carelessly. The wayto God hasbeenopenedtousby Christ. But easyaccess toGod does
not eliminate ourneedtoprepare ourheartsas we draw nearin prayer.
His laws not designed to withhold good from us,
(Lv 20:22-23) God gave manyrulesto Hispeople –but notwithoutreason. He didnot withholdgood
fromthem,He onlyprohibitedthose actsthatwouldbringthemto ruin. All of us understandGod’s
physical lawsof nature. For example,jumpingoff aten-storybuildingmeansdeath,becauseof the law
of gravity. Butsome of us don’tunderstandhow God’sspiritual lawswork. Godforbidsustodo certain
thingsbecause He wantsto keepusfromself-destruction. Nexttimeyouare drawnto a forbidden
physical oremotional pleasure,remindyourselfthatitsconsequencesmightbe sufferingandseparation
fromthe God whoistryingto helpyou.
How strong is God?
(Nm11:23) How strong isGod? It iseasyto trust God whenwe see Hismightyacts (the Israelitessaw
many),butaftera while,inthe routine of dailylife,hisstrengthmayappeartodiminish. Goddoesn’t
change,butour viewof Him does. The monotonyof day-by-daylivinglullsusintoforgettinghow
powerful Godcan be. As Moses learned, God’sstrengthisalways available.
Some of His characteristics.
(Nm14:17-20) MosespleadedwithGod,askinghimtoforgive hispeople. Hisplearevealsseveral
characteristicsof God: (1) God is immenselypatient;(2) God’slove isone promise we canalways count
on; (3) God forgivesagainandagain; (4) God is merciful,listeningtoandansweringourrequests. God
has notchangedsince Mosesday. Like Moses,we can relyon God’slove,patience,forgiveness,and
mercy.
(Ps36:5-8) In contrastto evil people andtheirwickedplotsthatendinfailure. Godisfaithful,righteous,
and just. His love reachestothe heavens,hisfaithfulnessreachestothe skies,hisrighteousnessisas
solidasmightymountains,andhisjudgmentsare asfull of wisdomasthe oceanswithwater(“the great
deep”). We neednotfearevil people because we know Godlovesus,judgesevil,andwill care forus
throughouteternity.
If you believe in God you must follow His ways.
(Dt 27:9-10) Moseswas reviewingthe law withthe new generationof people. Whenwe decideto
believeinGod,we must alsodecide tofollow hisways. Whatwe do showswhatwe reallybelieve. Can
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Danger of failing to recognize God’s presence.
(Jgs8:5-9) The leadersof Succothand Peniel refusedtohelpGideon,probablyfearingMidiansrevenge
shouldhe fail (Gideon’sarmywas300 men chasing15,000). Theyshouldhave realizedthatvictorywas
certainbecause Godwas withGideon. Buttheywere soworriedaboutsavingthemselvesthatthey
neverthoughtaboutGod’spowerto save. Because of fearfor ourselves,we maynotrecognize God’s
presence inotherpeople andtherefore missGod’svictory. Thenwe mustface the oftenbitter
consequencesof failingtojoinforceswiththose Godhaschosentodo His work. Because God will
prevail withorwithoutyou,be quicktojoinotherswhoare engagedinHiswork. Lend supportwith
your time,money,talentsandprayer.
Do you follow God or a form of godliness.
(1 Sm 4:5-8) The Philistineswere afraidbecausetheyrememberedstoriesaboutGod’sinterventionfor
Israel whentheyleftEgypt. ButIsrael hadturnedaway fromGod and wasclingingtoonlya form of
godliness,asymbol of formervictories. People(andchurches) often trytolive onthe memoriesof
God’sblessings. The Israeliteswronglyassumedthatbecause Godhadgiventhemvictoryinthe past,
He woulddoitagain,eventhoughtheyhadstrayedfar fromHim. Today,as in Biblical times,spiritual
victoriescome throughacontinuallyrenewedrelationshipwithGod. Don’tlive off the past. Keepyour
relationshipwithGodnewandfresh.
Not an ingredient of, but the source of life,
(1 Sm 6:9) The Philistinesacknowledgedthe existence of the Hebrew God,butonly asone of many
deitieswhosefavortheysought. Thinkingof Godinthisway made it easyforthemto ignore His
demandthatpeople worshipHimalone. Manypeople “worship”Godthisway. Theysee God as just5
one ingredient –he isthe source of life itself. Are youa“Philistine,”seeingGod’sfavoras onlyan
ingredientof the goodlife?
Characteristics of God.
(1 Kgs 22:20-22) DoesGod allowangelstoentice people todoevil? Tounderstandthe evil one you
mustunderstandGod:(1) God himself isgood(Psalm11:7);(2) God createda goodworldthat fell
because of men’ssin(Romans5:12); (3) SomedayGodwill recreate the worldanditwill be goodagain
(Revelation21:1);(4) God isstrongerthan evil,andthusHe has control overit, God didnot create evil,
and He offershelptothose whowishtoovercome it(Matthew 11:28-30); (6) God useseverything –
bothgood and evil –for Hisgood purposes(Genesis50:20, Romans8:28).
The Bible showsusa God who hatesall evil andwill one daydoawaywithit completely andforever
(Revelation20:10-15). God doesnotentice anyone tobecome evil. Those committedtoevil,however,
may be usedbyGod tosin evenmore inorderto hurrytheirdeservedjudgment(Exodus11:10). We
don’tneedto understandeverydetail of how Godworksinorder to have perfectconfidence inHis
absolute poweroverevil andHistotal goodnesstowardus.
Forcing the message to fit our desires.
(2 Kgs 16:10-16) Evil KingAhazcopiedpaganreligiouscustoms,changed the templeservices,andused
the temple altarforhispersonal benefit. Insodoing,he demonstratedacallousdisregardforGod’s
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to fitour personal preferences. We mustworshipGodfor whoHe is,notwhat we wouldselfishlylike
Him to be.
How do we let Him fight for us.
(2 Chr 20:15) Asthe enemybore downonJudah,God spoke throughJahaziel,“Donotbedafraidor
discouraged…. Forthe battle isnot yours,butGod’s.” We maynot fightan enemyarmy,buteveryday
we battle temptation,pressure,and“rulers…of thisdarkworld.” (Ephesians6:12) whowant usto rebel
againstGod. Rememberasbelievers,we have God’sSpiritinus. If we ask for God’s helpwhenwe face
struggles,Godwill fightforus. AndGod alwaystriumphs.
How dowe letGodfightfor us? (1) By realizingthe battle isnotours,butGod’s; (2) by recognizing
humanlimitationsandallowingGod’sstrengthtoworkthroughourfearsand weaknesses;(3) bymaking
sure we are pursuingGod’sinterestsandnotjustour ownsinful desires;(4) byaskingGodfor helpin
our dailybattles.
God as a fountain of life.
(Ps36:9) Thisvividimage – “fountainof life”givesasense of freshcleansingwaterthatgiveslife tothe
spirituallythirsty. Thissame picture isusedin Jeremiah2:13,where Godiscalledthe “springof living
waterthat couldquench thirstforeverandgive eternal life (John4:14).
Give Him the credit for your accomplishments.
(Dn 2:27-30) Before Daniel toldthe kinganythingelse,he gave credittoGod, explainingthathe didnot
knowthe dreamthroughhis ownwisdom, butonlybecause Godrevealedit. How easywe take credit
for whatGod doesthroughus! Thisrobs God of the honorthat He alone deserves. Insteadwe should
be like Daniel andpointpeopletoGodso that we give Himthe glory.
Uses a variety of people to do His work.
(Mt 1:1-17) In the first17 verseswe meet46 people whose lifetimesspan2,000 years. All were
ancestorsof Jesus,buttheyvariedconsiderablyinpersonality,spirituality,andexperience. Some were
heroesof faith – like Abraham,Isaac,Ruth,and David. Some had shady reputations –like Hezron,Ram,
Nahshon,andAkim. Andotherswere evil –like MenassehandAbijah. God’sworkinHistoryis not
limitedbyhumanfailuresorsins,andHe worksthroughordinarypeople. JustasGod usedall kindsof
people tobringHisson intothe world;He usesall kindtodayto accomplishHiswill. And Godwantsto
use you.
How to honor His name.
(Mt 6:9) The phrase “Our Fatherin heaven”indicatesthatGodis not onlymajesticandholy,butalso
personal andloving. The firstline of Hismodel prayerisa statementof praise anda commitmentto
follow, orhonor,God’sholyname. We can honorGod’sname by beingcareful touse it respectfully. If
we use God’s name lightly,we are notrememberingGod’sholiness.
Persist in pursuing God.
(Mt 7:7-8) JesustellsustopersistinpursuingGod. People oftengiveupafterafew halfheartedefforts
and conclude thatGod cannot be found. ButknowingGodtakesfaith,focus,andfollow-throughand
Jesusassuresusthat we will be rewarded. Don’t give upinyoureffortstoseekGod. Continue toask
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Knowing God vs knowing about God.
(Mt 15:9) The Phariseesknewalotabout God,but theydidn’tknow God. It isnot enoughtostudy
aboutreligionoreventostudythe Bible. We mustrespondto God himself.
His concern for every person.
(Mt 18:14) Justas a shepherd isconcernedenoughaboutone lostsheeptogosearchthe hillsforit,so
God isconcernedabouteveryhumanbeinghe hascreated(he is“not wantinganyone toperish,”2
Peter3:9). You come in contact withchildrenwhoneedChristathome,atschool,inchurch,, and in the
neighborhood. SteerthemtowardChristbyyourexample,yourwords,andyouracts of kindness.
His ultimate act of love.
(Mt 21:37) Intryingto reach us withHislove. God finallysentHisownSon. Jesus’perfectlife,Hiswords
of truth,and Hissacrifice of love are meantto cause us to listentohimand to follow HimasLord. If we
ignore God’spreciousgiftof HisSon,we rejectGod himself.
Seeking status endangers loyalty to Him.
(Mt 23:5-7) People desirerpositionsof leadershipnotonlyinbusinessbutalsointhe church,it is
dangerouswhenlove forthe positiongrowsstrongerthenloyaltytoGod. Thisis whathappenedtothe
Phariseesandteachersof the law. Jesusnotagainstleadershipthatservesitself ratherthanothers.
Why we can approach Him directly?
(Mt 26:28) HowdoesJesus’bloodrelate tothe new covenant? Peopleunderthe oldcovenant(those
wholivedbefore Jesus) couldapproachGodonlythrougha priestandan animal sacrifice. Now all
people cancome directlytoGod throughfaithbecause Jesus’deathhasmade usacceptable inGod’s
eyes(Romans 3:21-24).
The old covenantwasa shadowof the new (Jeremiah31:31; Hebrews8:1), pointingforwardtothe day
whenJesushimself wouldbe the final andultimate sacrifice forsin. Ratherthanan unblemishedlamb
slainonthe altar,the perfect Lamb of God was slainonthe cross, a sinlesssacrificesothatour sins
couldbe forgivenonce andfor all. All those whobelieve inChristreceivethatforgiveness.
Understanding Jesus is understanding God.
(Lk 10:22) Christ’smissionwastoreveal God the Fatherto people. Hiswordsbroughtdifficultideas
downto earth. He explainedGod’ssharedlove throughparables,teachings,andmostof all,hislife. By
examiningJesus’sactions,principles,andattitudes,we canunderstandGodmore cleanly.
(Jn14:9) Jesusisthe visible,tangibleimage of the invisible God. He isthe complete revelationof what
God islike. JesusexplainedtoPhilip,whowantedtosee the Father,thattoknow Jesusisto knowGod.
The search for God , fortruth and reality, endsinChrist(See alsoCollossians1:15; Hebrews1:1-4).
We need daily contact with him.
(Lk 11:3) God’sprovisionisdaily,notall atonce. We cannot store itup and thencut off communication
withGod. Andwe dare notbe self-satisfied. If youare runninglow onstrength,askyourself –howlong
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God sets the pattern for shared love.
(Jn3:16) The entire gospel comestoafocusin thisverse. God’ssharedlove isnotstaticor self-
centered;itreachesout and drawsothersin. Here God setsthe patternof true love,the basisforall
love relationships –whenyoulove someone dearly,youare willingtogive freelytothe pointof self-
sacrifice. Godpaiddearlywiththe life of hisSon,the highestprice foroursins,and thenofferedusthe
newlife thatHe had boughtfor us. Whenwe share love withothers,ourlove mustbe like Jesus –
willinglygivingupourowncomfortand securitysothat othersmightjoinusin sharringlove withGod.
How we trust in Him.
(Jn3:18) People oftentrytoprotectthemselvesfromtheirfearsbyputtingtheirfaithinsomethingthey
do or have;gooddeeds,skill orintelligence,moneyorpossessions. ButonlyGod can save us from the
one thingthat we reallyneedtofear – eternal condemnation. We believe inGodbyrecognizingthe
insufficiencyof ourowneffortstofindsalvationandbyaskinghimto do Hiswork inus. WhenJesus
talksaboutunbeliever,He meansthose who rejectorignore himcomplimently,notthose whohave
momentarydoubts.
How we shut out His work in our lives.
(Jn5:16) The Jewishleaderssawbothamightymiracle of healing anda brokenrule. Theythrew the
miracle aside astheyfocusedtheirattentiononthe brokenrule,because thisrule wasmore important
to themthan the miracle Godis preparedtoworkin our lives,butwe canshutout His miraclesby
limitingourviewabouthowHe works.
There is life in the breath of God.
(Jn20:22) There islife inthe breathof God. Man wascreatedbut did not come alive until Godbreathed
intohimthe breath of life (Genesis2:7). God’sfirstbreathmade man differentfrom all otherformsof
creation. Now,throughthe breathof Jesus. God impartedeternal,spirituallife. Withthisinbreathing
came the powertodo God’s will onearth.
He will reach those who desire to know Him.
(Acts10:2) “What will happentothe heathenwhohasneverheardaboutChrist?” Thisquestionisoften
askedaboutGod’s justice. Corneliuswasn’tabelieverinChrist,buthe wasseekingGod,andhe was
reverentandgenerous. Therefore GodsentPetertotell CorneliusaboutChrist. Corneliusisanexample
that God “rewardsthose whoearnestlyseekHim”(Hebrews11:6). ThoserwhosincerelyseekGodwill
findHim! God made in Cornelius’sknowledge complete.
Why He is angry with sinful people.
(Rom1:18) Why isgod angry at sinful people? Because theyhave substitutedthe truthabouthimwitha
fantasyof theirownimagination(1:25). Theyhave stifledthe truthGodnaturally revealstoall peoplein
orderto believe anythingthatsupportstheirownself-centeredlife-styles. Godcannottolerate sin
because hisnature ismorallyperfect. He cannotignore or condone suchwillfulrebellion. Godwantsto
remove the sinandrestore the sinner– and he isable to, as longas the sinnerdoesnotstubbornly
distortor rejectthe truth. But Hisangereruptsagainstthose whopersistinsinning. Make sure youare
not pursuingafantasyrather thanthe true God. Don’tsuppressthe truthabout himmerelytoprotect
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The purpose of God’s natural plan.
(Rom1:26-27) God’splanfor natural sexual relationshipishisideal forHiscreation. Unfortunately,sin
distortsthe natural use of God’sgifts. Sinoften meansnotonlydenyingGod,butalsodenyingthe way
we are made. Whenpeople saythatany sex act isacceptable as longas nobodygetshurt,theyare
foolingthemselves. Inthe longrun (andofteninthe shortrun),sinhurts people –individuals,families,
whole societies. Howsadit isthat people whoworshipthe thingsGodmade insteadof the Creatorso
oftendistortanddestroythe verythingstheyclaimtovalue.
Can’t comprehend Him by human effort.
(1 Cor 2:15-16) Noone can comprehendGod(Romans11:34), butthrough the guidance of the Holy
Spirit,believershave insightintosome of God’splans,thoughts,andaction – they,infact,have the
“mindof Christ” throughthe HolySpiritwe can begintoknow God’s thoughts,talkwithhim, andexpect
hisanswersto ourprayers. Are youspendingenoughtime withChristtohave hisverymindinyou? An
intimate relationshipwithChristcomesonlyfromspendingtime consistentlyinHispresenceandHis
Word. ReadPhilippians2:5for more on the mindof Christ.
How to come near to Him.
(Jas4:7-10) How can you come nearto God? Jamesgivesfive ways:(1) SubmittoGod(4:7). YieldtoHis
authorityandwill,commityourlife toHimandHis control,and be willingtofollow him;(2) Resistthe
devil (4:7). Don’tallowSatan to entice andtemptyou;(3) Wash yourhands… and purifyyourhearts
(thatis,leada pure life) (4:8),Be cleansedfromsin,replacingyourdesiretosinwithyourdesire to
experience God’spurity;(4) Grieve andmournandwaitinsincere sorrow foryour sins(4:9). Don’t be
afraidto expressdeepheartfeltsorrowforwhatyouhave done;(5) Humble yourself before the Lord,
and he will liftyouup(4:10, 1 Peter5:6).
If He is able todo far beyondall that you askor imagine. Come toHimwithpositive expectations,
knowingthatthere isno limittowhatyou can thinkgreatthoughtsof Him. Do not be discouragedby
the fact that manyof your prayersare yetunanswered. Time isatrainer,teachingyouto wait upon
Him,to trust Himin the dark. the more likelyyouare tosee HisPowerand Gloryat work inthe
situation. Insteadof lettingdifficultiesdraw you intoworrying,trytoview themassettingthe scene for
His gloriousintervention. Keepyoureyesandyour mindwide open toall thathe is doinginyourlife.
Worship Him Only.
Whateveroccupiesyourmindthe mostbecomesyourgod. Worries,if active,developintoidols.
Anxietygainsalife of it’sown,infectingyourmind. Breakfree fromthisjail byaffirmingyourtrustin
Him andrefreshingyourself inourlove.Whatgoesoninyour mindisinvisible,undetectable toother
people. ButHe readsyour thoughtscontinually,searchingfor evidence of love andtrustinHim. He
rejoiceswhenyourmindturnstowardHim. Guard your thoughtscontinuously;goodthought-choices
will keepyouclose toHim inlove.
Jesus-the Risen One
He isthe risenone whoshinesuponyoualways. Youworshipa livingDeity,notsome idolatrous,man
made image. Your relationshipwithMe is meantto be vibrantandchallenging,asIinvade more and
more areas of your life. Donotfear change,forI am makingyoua new creation,with old thingspassing
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His workwithinyou. He wantsyou to embrace all thatHe is doingin yourlife,findingyoursecurityin
Him alone.
It iseasyto make an idol of routine,findingsecuritywithinthe boundariesyoubuildaroundyourlife.
Althougheachdaycontainstwenty-fourhours,everysingle one presentsaunique setof circumstances.
Don’ttry to force-fittodayintoyesterday’smold. Instead,askHim toopenyour eyes,soyoucan findall
He has preparedforyouinthispreciousdayof life.
I am with you.
These fourwordsare like asafetynet,protectingyoufromfallingintodespair. Because youare human,
youwill alwayshave ups,anddownsinyourlife experience. Butthe promise of Him beingclose toyou
limitshowfardownyoucan go. Sometimes youmayfeel asif youare infree fall,whenpeople orthings
youhave countedon letyoudown. Yet as soonas you rememberthatHe is withyou,your perspective
changesradically. Insteadof complainingaboutyourcircumstances,youcanlookto him forhelp. You
recall that notonlyisHe withyou, I am holdingyour right hand. I guide you with My counsel and
afterward I will take you intoGlory. Thisis exactlythe perspective youneedthe reassurance of His
nearness,andthe assurance of a heavenly future.
You need Him
Everymoment. Your awarenessof yourconstantneedforHim is yourgreateststrength. Your
neediness, properlyhandled,isalinkto yourSharedLove. However,there are pitfallsthatyoumustbe
on guard againstself-pity,self-preoccupation,givingup. Yourinadequacypresentsyouwithacontinual
choice – deepdependence onHim,ordespair. The emptinessyoufeel withinwill be filledeitherwith
challengesorwith yoursharedlove. Make Him central in yourconsciousnessbyprayingcontinually;
simple,shortprayersflowingout of the presentmoment. Use His Name liberally,toremindyouof your
sharedlove. Keeponaskingandyouwill receive,sothat your gladnessmay be full and complete.
Self Pity
Be onguard againstthe pit of self pity. Whenyouare wearyor unwell,thisdemonictrapisthe greatest
dangeryouface. Don’tevengonear the edge of the pit. Itsedgescrumble easily,andbeforeyouknow
it,you are on the way down. It iseverso muchharder to getout of the pitthan to keepasafe distance
fromit. That is whyHe tellsyouto be on guard.
There are several waystoprotectyourself fromself-pity. Whenyouare occupiedwithpraisingand
thankingHim,itis impossible tofeelsorryforyourself. Also,the closeryoulive toHim,the more
distance there isbetweenyouandthe pit. Live inthe sharedlove byfixingyoureyesonHim. Thenyou
will be able to run with endurance the race that is setbefore you, withoutstumblingor falling.
Stop judging
Andevaluatingyourself,forthisisnotyourrole. Above all,stopcomparingyourselfwithotherpeople.
Thisproducesfeelingsof pride orinferiority; sometimesamixture of both. He leadseachof His children

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alonga path that isuniquelytailor-madeforhimorher. Comparingisnotonlywrong;it isalso
meaningless.
Don’tlookfor affirmationinthe wrongplaces;yourownevaluations,orthose of otherpeople.The only
source of real affirmationisHis unconditional Love. ManybelieversperceiveHimasan unpleasable
Judge,angrilysearchingouttheirfaultsandfailures. Nothingcouldbe fartherfromthe truth! He died
for yoursins,so thatHe mightclothe you in My garmentsof salvation. Thisishow He seesyouradiant
inhis robeof righteousness. WhenHe discipline youitisneverinangeror disgust;itisto prepare you
for face-to-Face fellowshipwithHim throughouteternity. Immerse yourself inyourSharedLove.
God the Ultimate Giver
I am a God who givesandgivesandgives. Because givingisnaturallyinMynature. I search for humans
whoare able to love Me fully. The twotraitsyou needthe most are receptivityandattentiveness.
Receptivityisopeningupyourinnermostbeingtobe filledwithMyabundantriches. Attentivenessis
directingyourgaze to Me; searchingforMe inall yourmoments.
You Have Everything.
In HimYou have everything.InHim youare complete. Yourcapacityto experience Himisincreasing
throughHis removal of trashfrom yourheart. Asyour yearningforHimincreases,otherdesiresare
graduallylessening. Since he is infinite andabundantlyaccessibletoyou,desiringHim above all elseis
the bestway to live.
It isimpossibleforyoutohave a needthatHe cannotmeet. Afterall,He createdyou and everything
that is. The worldis still underHis control,thoughitoftenappearsotherwise. Donotbe fooledby
appearances. Thingsthat are visible are briefand fleeting,while thingsthat are invisible are
everlasting.
Be Still and Know I am God.
There isboth a passive andan active side intrustingonHim. He quietly buildbondsof trustbetween
the two of you. Whenyourespondtothe circumstancesof yourlife withaffirmationsof trust,you
activelyparticipate inthisprocess.
He isalwayswithyou,soyou have no reasonto be afraid. Your fearoftenmanifestsitselfinexcessive
planning. Yourmindisso accustomedtothis patternof thinkingthatyouare onlynow becomingaware
of howpervasive itisandhowmuch ithindersyourlove withHim. Change thistendencyandresistit,
wheneveryourealize youare wanderingdown thiswell-wornpath. RememberyourSharedLove awaits
youin the presentmoment.
Almighty God
I am a Mighty God. NothingistoodifficultforMe. I have chosen to use weakoneslike youto
accomplishMy Purposes. Yourweaknessisdesignedtoopenyouupto His Power. Therefore,do not
fearyour strength. WhatHe requiredof youisto stay connectedtoHim,livingintrustingdependence
on Hislimitlessresources. Whenyouface unexpecteddemandsthere isnoneedtopanic. Remember
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He isnot a carelessGod. Whenhe allowschallengestocome intoyourlife. He equipsyoufullyto
handle them. Relax inHis Presence,trustingin Hisstrength.
The Creator
He isthe Creator of the Universe,andHe iswithyou. What more couldyouneed? Whenyoufeel that
youlack something,itisbecause youare notconnectingwithHimat a deeplevel. He offersan
abundantlife;yourpartis to trustHim, refusingtoworryaboutanything.
It isnot so muchchallengingeventsthatmake youanxiousasitis yourthoughtsaboutthose events.
Your mindengagesineffortstotake control of a situation,tobringaboutthe resultsyoudesire. Your
thoughtsclose inonthe challenge like awolf. Determinedtomake thingsgo your way,youforgetthat
he is incharge of your life. The onlyremedyistoswitchyourfocusfromthe challenge toyourshared
love. Stopall yourstriving,andwatch to see whatHe will do. I am God.
In a world of unrelenting changes ,
He isthe One who neverchanges. Iamthe Alpha and the Omega,theFirst and theLast, the Beginning
and the End. Findin Himthe stabilityforwhichyouhave lookedfor.
He createda beautifullyorderedworld,one thatreflectedHis perfection. Now however,the worldis
underthe bondage of evil. Everypersononthe planetfacesgapingcircumstancesof uncertainty. The
onlyantidotestothistreatis drawingclosertoHim. WithyourSharedLove you can face uncertainty
withperfectLove.
He is With You,
Watchingoveryou constantly. He isyour LoverANDGod. Your SharedLove is becomingpartof you.
Nothing,exceptyourrejectionof yourSharedLove relationship,canseparate YoufromHim. Some of
His childrenfindHim more readilyduringchallengingtimes,whendifficultiesforce themtodependon
Him. Othersfeel closertoHim whentheirlivesare filledwithgoodthings.
Remember that you Live in
A fallenworld. Muchfrustrationandfailure resultfromyourseekingperfectioninthislife. There is
nothingperfectinthisworldexceptHim. ThatiswhyclosenesstoHim satisfiesdeepyearningsandfills
youwithJoy.
He has plantedlongingforperfectionineveryhumanheart. Thisisa gooddesire,whichHe alone can
fulfill. Butmostpeople seekthisfulfillmentinotherpeople andearthlypleasuresor
achievements/assignments. Thustheycreate idols,beforewhichtheybow down. Iwill have no other
gods before Me. Make Him the deepestdesire of yourheart. LetHim fulfillyouryearningfor
perfection.
Deepest Longings
Look forHim,and you will findfulfillmentof yourdeepestlongings. His worldis filledwithbeautiful
things,theyare meantto be pointerstoHim, remindersof yourSharedLove. The earth still declaresHis
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You had a darkenedmindbefore yousoughtHimwholeheartedly. He chose topour His love intoyou,
so that youcan be a beaconto others. There isno room forpride inthisposition. Yourpart isto reflect
His Love,He is the Lord.
I hope youhave gottento knowyourLover better. If youhave,youshouldbe aware of His Power. Asa
resultof that power,He expectsyoutodependonHim.
Dependence
Disciples were to depend on others for support.
(Lk 9:3-4) Why were the disciplesinstructedtodependonotherswhiletheywentfromtowntotown
preachingthe gospel? Theirpurpose wastoblanketJudeawithJesus’message,andbytravelinglight
theycouldmove quickly. Theirdependence onothershadothergoodeffectsaswell:(1) itclearly
showedthatthe Messiahhad notcome to offerwealthtohisfollowers,(2) it forcedthe disciplestorely
on God’spowerand noton theirownprovision,(3) itinvolvedthe villagersandmade them more eager
to hearthe message.
What it means to depend on God.
(2 Cor 1:8-10) We oftendependonourownskillsandabilities whenlife seemseasy,butwe turn to God
whenwe feel unable tohelpourselves. DependingonGodisa realizationof ourownpowerlessness
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receive hishelp bykeepingintouchwithHim. Withthisattitude of dependence,problemswill drive us
to God ratherthan away fromHim. Learnhow torelyon God daily.
You can achieve the victoriousLife throughlivingindeepdependence onHim. Peopleusuallyassociate
victorywithsuccess:notfallingorstumbling,notmakingmistakes. Butthose whoare successful intheir
ownstrengthtendto go theirway,forgettingaboutHim. Itis throughproblemsandfailure,weakness
and needinessthatyoulearntorelyon Him.
True dependence isnotsimplyaskingHim toblesswhatyouhave decidedtodo. Itis comingto Him
withan openmindandheart,invitingHimtoplantHis desireswithinyou. He mayinfuse withinyoua
dreamthat seemsfarbeyondyourreach. you know that inyourself youcannotachieve suchagoal.
Thus beginsyourjourneyof profoundreliance onHim. Itisa faithwalk,takenone stepata time,
leaningonHim as much as you need. Thisisnota pathof continual successbutof multiple ones.
All Yours
He want’syouto be all His. He is weaningyoufromotherdependencies. YoursecurityrestsinHim
alone – not inotherpeople,notincircumstances. DependingonlyonHimmay feel likewalkingona
tightrope,butthere isa safetynetunderneath: MYLove. So,don’tbe afraidof falling. Insteadlook
aheadfor Me. I am alwaysbefore you,encouragingyouon - one stepat a time. Neitherheightnor
depth,nor anything else in all creation can separate you from My loving Presence, aslongas youshare
that love withme andothers.
He is Leading you,
stepby step,throughyourlife. HoldHis handin trustingdependence,lettingHim guide youthrough
thisday. Your future looksuncertainandfeelsflimsy. Thatishow it shouldbe. Secretthingsbelong to
the Lord, and future thingsare sacredthings. Whenyoutry to figure outthe future,youare graspingat
thingsthat are His This,like all formsof worry,isan act of rebellion: doubtingHis promisestocare for
you.
Wheneveryoufindyourself worryingaboutthe future,repentandreturntoHim. He will show youthe
nextstepforward,andthe one afterthat, and the one afterthat. Relax andenjoythe journeyinyour
SharedLove, trustingHimto openupthe waybefore you,asyou go.
Empty hands and an Open Heart
Come to Him,ready toreceive yourblessings. He knowswhatyouneed. Yourlife-pathhasbeen
difficult,drainingyouof strength. Come toHimforlovingcare. Let Him fill youupwithyourShared
Love:His Love inyou,and your Love inHim.
His powerflowsmostintoweek onesaware of theirneedforHim. Small stepsof dependence are not
lack of faith;theyare linkstoyourSharedLove.
Dependence
Livingindependence onHim isthe way to enjoyabundantlife. Youare learningtoappreciate the
challengesHe hassent you,because theybringyouclosertoHim. Tasksthat you usedtodreadare
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your strength,youtake pleasure inleaningonHim. He is pleasedbyyourtendencytoturnto Him more
and more frequently,especiallywhenyouare alone.
Whenyouare withotherpeople,youoftenlose sightof yourSharedLove. Your fearof displeasing
people putsyouinbondage to them,andtheybecome yourfocus. Whenyou realize thishashappened,
whisperHis name.
Severalmen wenton a mission trip to Haiti where they met a nineteen-year-old boy who loved Christ
deeply. He impressed themso profoundly thatthey invited him to visit theUnited States.
Upon arrivala wholenew world opened up beforethis young Haitian’seyes. He had neverslept between
sheets,neverhad three meals on the sameday,neverused indoorplumbing,and nevertasted
McDonald’s.
While traveling the U.S.,thisgodly young man mademany new friends. Attheend of a six-week-long
visit, his sponsorshosted a farewelldinnerin his honor. Afterdinnerseveral membersof the group
offered warmparting remarks. Then they asked the young Haitian if hewould like to say anything.
“Yes,” he said as he rose,“I would,I wantto thankyou so much forinviting me here. I havereally
enjoyed thistime in the United States. But I am also very glad to begoing home. You haveso much in
America,thatI’m beginning to lose my grip on my day-to-day dependency on Christ.”
Do you have“so much” thatyou find it hard to keep a grip on yourday-to-day dependency on Christ? Or
worse,haveyou lostyourgrip?
When we don’tneed to depend on Christ,we will not….Ournaturaltendency is to depend on self,not
Christ. Depending on Christis an act of the will by faith,notthe naturaldisposition of ourheart.
I haveprayed thatGod will alwayskeep some majorunmetneed in my life so that I will alwaysdepend
upon Him. To be really in need,like the widow in 1 Timothy 5:5, creates dependency. To haveso much,
as theyoung Haitian observed,createsself-sufficiency. When ourlives prosper,thenaturaltendency is
to lose ourgrip.
Someonecalled my prayercourageous. Idisagree. Itis notof courage,butof fear – the fear of a holy
God. ForGod hasthe powerto giveus whatwe deserve,whethergood orbad. I havecometo fear,with
reverence and awe,theGod who is, forHe is a consuming fire.
(FromWalking withChrist in the Details of Life byPatrickMorley)

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Walk By Faith, Not By Sight.
Abraham was tested by difficulties.
(Gn 12:10) Whenfamine struck.Abramwentto Egyptwhere there wasfood. Why wouldthere be a
famine inthe landwhere Godhad justcalledAbram? Thiswas a testof Abram’sfaithandAbram
passed. He didn’tquestionGod’sleadingwhenfacingthisdifficulty. Manybelieversfindthatwhen
theydetermine tofollowGod,theyimmediatelyencountergreatobstacles. The nexttime youface such
a test,don’ttry to second-guesswhatGodisdoing. Use the intelligence Godgave you,asAbramdid
whenhe temporarilymovedtoEgypt,andwaitfornew opportunities.
Made Abraham right with God.
(Gn 15:6) AlthoughAbramhadbeendemonstratinghisfaiththroughhisactions,itwashisbeliefinthe
Lord, nothis actions,thatmade Abram rightwithGod bytrustinghim. Our outwardactions – church
attendance,prayer,gooddeeds –will notbythemselvesmake usrightwithGod. A rightrelationshipis
basedon faith– the heartfeltinnerconfidence thatGodiswhohe says he is anddoeswhat he says he
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Lack of it brings series of problems
(Gn 16:3) Sara tookmattersintoher ownhandsby givingHagerto Abram. Like Abram she hadtrouble
believingGod’spromisethatwasapparentlydirectedspecificallytowardAbramandSara. Out of the
lack of faithcame a seriesof problems. Thisinvariablyhappenswhenwe take overforGod,tryingto
make hispromise come true througheffortsthatare notin line withhisspecificdirections. Inthiscase,
time wasthe greatesttestof abram andSari’swillingnesstoletGodworkintheirlives. Sometimeswe
too mustsimplywait. Whenwe askGod for somethingandhave towait. It isa temptationtotake
mattersintoour ownhandsand interfere withGod’splans.
Grows with exercise
(Gn 50:24) Josephwasreadyto die. He had nodoubtsthat God wouldkeephispromise andone day
bringthe Israelitesbacktotheirhomeland. Whata tremendousexample! The secretof thatkindof
faithisa lifetime of trustingGod. Yourfaithislike a muscle – itgrows withexercise,gainingstrength
overtime. Aftera lifetime of exercisingtrust,yourfaithcanbe as strong as Joseph’s. Thenatyour
death,youcan be confidentthatGodwill fulfillall hispromisestoyouandto all those faithful tohim
whomay live afteryou.
Lack of it brings trouble
(Nm20:3-5) After37 yearsinthe desert,the Israelitesforgotthattheirwanderingswerearesultof their
parents’andtheirownsins. Theycouldnot accept the fact that theybroughttheirproblemsupon
themselves,sotheyblamedMosesfortheircondition. Oftenourtroublesresultfromourown
disobedienceorlackof faith. We cannot blame Godfor our sins. Until we face thisreality,we will have
little peace andnospiritual growth.
Faith is following God despite the difficulties.
(Dt 1:22) The spieswere sentintothe landtodetermine not whethertheyshouldenter, butwhere they
shouldenter. Uponreturning,however,mostof the spiesconcludedthatthe landwasnot worththe
obstacles. Godwouldgive the Israelitesthe powertoconquerthe land,buttheywere afraidof the risk
and decidednottoenter. God givesusthe powerto overcome ourobstacles,butlike the Israelites
filledwithfearandskepticism,we oftenletdifficulties control ourlives. FollowingGodregardlessof the
difficultiesisthe waytohave courageousovercomingfaith.
Faith involves endurance to the end.
(Jos14:6-12) Calebwasfaithful fromthe start. As one of the original spiessentintothe promisedand
(Numbers13:30-33), he saw greatcitiesandgiants,yethe knew Godpromisedhimapersonal
inheritance of land (Numbers14:24; Deuteronomy1:34-36). Here 45 yearslater,the landwas givento
him. His faithwasstill unwavering. Althoughhisinheritedlandstillhadgiants,Calebknew the Lord
wouldhelphimconquerthem. Like Caleb,we mustbe faithful toGod,notonlyat the start of our walk
withhim,butthroughour entire lives. We mustneverallow ourselvestorestonour past
accomplishmentsorreputations.
Affected by relationship.
(Jgs3:5-7) The Israelitesdiscoveredthatrelationshipsaffectfaith. The menandwomen of the
surroundingnationswere attractive tothe Israelites. Soontheyintermarried,andthe Israelites
acceptedtheirpagangods. ThiswasclearlyprohibitedbyGod(Exodus34:15-17; Deuteronomy7:1-4).

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By acceptingthese pagangodsintotheirhomes, the Israelites didn’tstartoutdeterminedtobe
idolaters,theyhave justaddedthe idolstothe worshipof God. Butbefore longtheyfoundthemselves
absorbedinpaganworship.
How well does yours take pressure.
(Jgs6:25-30) AfterGod calledGideontobe Israel’sdelivererhe immediatelyaskedhimtoteardownthe
altar of the pagangod, Baal – an act that wouldtestGideon’sfaithandcommitmentCanaanite religion
was verypolitical,soanattack ona godwas oftenseenasan attack on the local governmentsupporting
that god. If caught Gideonwouldface serioussocial problemsandprobable physical attack.
Gideontooka great riskby followingGod’shigherlaw,whichspecificallyforbidsidolworship(Exodus
20:1-5). AfterlearningwhatGideonhad done,the townspeople wantedtokill him. Manyof these
people were fellowIsraelites. Thisshowshow immoral God’speoplehadbecome. Godsaidin
Deuteronomy13;6-11 that idolatersmustbe stonedtodeath,butthese Israeliteswantedto stone
Gideonfortearingdownan idol andworshipingGod! Whenyoubegintoaccomplishsomethingfor
God, youmay be criticizedbythe verypeople whoshouldsupportyou.
Criteria by which God works through people.
(1 Sm 3;8-9) One wouldnaturallyexpectanaudible message fromGodtobe givento the priestEli and
not to the childSamuel. Eli wasolderandmore experienced,andhe heldthe properposition. But
God’schain of commandis basedonfaith,not onage or position. Butinfindingfaithful followers. God
may use unexpectedchannels. Be preparedforthe Lordto work at any place,atany time,andthrough
anyone He chooses.
God’s provision as large as your faith.
(2 Kgs 4:6) The womanand hersonscollectedjarsfromtheirneighbors,pouringoil intothemfromtheir
one pot. The oil was probablyolive oilandwasusedforcooking,forlamps,and forfuel. The oil
stoppedpouringonlywhentheyranoutof containers. The numberof jars theygatheredwasan
indicationof theirfaith. God’sprovisionwasas large as theirfaithandwillingnesstoobey. Beware of
limitingGod’sblessingsbyalack of faithand obedience. Godisable to do unmeasurablymore thanall
we ask or imagine (Ephesians3:20).
God opens the door to new resources.
(2 Kgs 6:16-17) Elisha’sservantwasnolongerafraidwhenhe saw God’s mightyheavenlyarmy. Faith
revealsthatGod isdoingmore for Hispeople thanwe can everrealize throughsightalone. Whenyou
face difficultiesthatseeminsurmountable,rememberthatspiritual resourcesare there even if youcan’t
see them. Lookthroughthe eyesof faithandletGod show youHis resources. If youdon’tsee God
workinginyourlife,the problemmaybe yourspiritual eyesight,notGod’spower.
Faith is believing in the impossible.
(2 Kgs 7;1-2) WhenElishaprophesiedGod’sdeliverance,the king’sofficersaiditcouldn’thappen. The
officer’sfaithandhope were gone,butGod’swordscame true anyway(7:14-160! Sometimeswe
become preoccupiedwithproblemswhenwe shouldbe lookingforopportunities. Insteadof focusing
on the negatives,developanattitude of expectancy. Tosaythat God cannot rescue someone orthata
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Don’t get so pre-occupied with yours that you don’t share it.
(2 Kgs 7:3-10) The lepersdiscoveredthe desertedcampandrealizedtheirliveshadbeenspared. Atfirst
theykeptthe goodnewsto themselves,forgettingtheirfellow citizenswhowere starvinginthe city.
The Good NewsaboutJesusChrist mustbe sharedtoo,for no newsismore important. We must not
forgetthose whoare dyingwithoutit. We mustnot become sopreoccupiedwithourownfaiththatwe
neglectsharingitwiththose aroundus. Our “good news,”like thatof the lepers,will not“waituntil
daylight.”
Your life must show evidence.
(2 Kgs 13:4-8) The Lord heardJehoahaz’sprayerforhelp. GoddelayedhisjudgementonIsrael when
theyturnedto Himfor help,buttheydidnotsustaintheirdependence onGodforlong. Althoughthere
were periodicbreaksintheiridol worship,therewasrarelyevidence of genuine faith. Itisnotenough
to say noto sin,we must alsosay yesto a life of commitmenttoGod. An occasional call forhelpisnota
substitute foradailylife of trustinGod.
God can rekindle the smallest amount
(2 Kgs 19:31) As longas a tinyspark remains,afire can be rekindledandfannedintoaroaringblaze.
Similarly,if justthe smallestremnant of true believersretainsthe sparkof faith,Godcan rebuilditintoa
strongnation. Andif onlya glimmerof faithremainsinaheart,God can use it to restore blazingfaithin
that believer. If youfeel thatonlyaspark of faithremainsinyou,askGod to use it to rekindle ablazing
fire of commitmenttoHim.
Not knowing all the answers develops Faith.
(Jb1:1) AsJob struggledtounderstandwhyall thiswashappeningto him, itbecame clearthathe was
not meantto knowthe reasons. He wouldhave to face life withthe answersandexplanationsheld
back. Onlythenwouldhisfaithfullydevelop. We mustexperience life asJobdid – one day at a time
and withoutcomplete answerstoall of life’squestions. Will we,likeJobtrustGodno matter what? Or
will we give intothe temptationtosaythat God doesn’treallycare?
Adversity destroys counterfeit faith.
(Jb1:9) Satanattacked Job’smotives,sayingthatJobwasblamelessanduprightonlybecause he hadno
reasonto turn againstGod. Eversince he had startedfollowingGod,everythinghadgone well forjob.
Satan wantedtoprove that JobworshipedGod,notout of love,butbecause Godhad givenhimso
much. Satanaccuratelyanalyzedwhymanypeople trustGod. Theyare fair-whetherbelivers,following
God onlywheneverythingisgoingwellorforwhat theycan get. Adversitydestroysthissuperficial
faith. But adversitystrengthens real faithbycausingbelievers todigtheirrootsdeeperintoGodin
orderto withstandthe storms. How deepdoesyourfaithgo? Putthe rootsof yourfaithdowndeep
intoGod so that youcan withstandanystorm youmay face,
Could you trust God if you lost everything.
(Jb1:20-22) Jobdidnot hide hisoverwhelminggrief. He hadnot losthisfaithinGod. Instead,his
emotionsshowedthathe washumanandthat he lovedhisfamily. Godcreatedouremotions,anditis
not sinful orinappropriate toexpressthemasJobdid. If you have experiencedadeeploss,a
disappointment,oraheartbreak,admityourfeelingstoyourselfandothers,andgrieve.

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God does not guarantee prosperity. Faith must not be based on personal comfort.
(Jb2:10) Many people thinkthatbelievinginGodprotectsthemfromtrouble,sowhencalamitycomes,
theyquestionGod’sgoodness andjustice. Butthe message of Jobisthat youshouldnotgive up onGod
because he allowsyoutohave bad experiences. FaithinGoddoesnot guarantee personal prosperity,
and lackof faithdoesnotguarantee trouble inthislife. If thiswere so,people wouldbelieve inGod
simplytogetrich. God iscapable of rescuingusfromsuffering,butHe mayallow sufferingtocome to
reasonswe cannotunderstand. Itis Satan’sstrategyto getus to doubtGod at exactlythismoment.
Here Job showsa perspectivebroaderthanseeking hisownpersonal comfort. If we alwaysknew why
we were suffering,ourfaithwouldhave noroomto grow.
Linked to optimism.
(Ps11;1-4) Davidseemstobe speakingtothose whoare advisinghimtorun fromhisenemies. David’s
faithcontrasteddramaticallywiththe fearof the adviserswhotell himtoflee. FaithinGodkeepsus
fromlosinghope andhelpsusresistfear. David’sadviserswere afraidbecause theysaw only
frighteningcircumstancesandcrumblingfoundations. Davidwascomfortedandoptimisticbecausehe
knewGod wasgreaterthan anythinghisenemiescouldbringagainsthim(7:10;16:1; 31:2, 3).
When you feel stagnant in Faith.
(Ps51:12) Do you everfeel stagnantinyourfaith,asthoughyou are just goingthroughthe motions?
Has sineverdrivena wedge betweenyouandGod,makingHimseemdistant? Davidfeltthisway. He
had sinnedwithBathshebaandhadjustbeenconfrontedbyNathanthe prophet. Inhisprayerhe cried,
“Restore to me the joyof yoursalvation.” Godwants usto be close toHim and to experience Hisfull
and complete life. Butsinthatremainsunconfessedmakessuchintimacyimpossible. Confessyoursin
to God. You may still have toface some earthlyconsequences,asDaviddid,butGodwill give backthe
joyof yourrelationshipwithhim.
Comes alive when we apply Scripture.
(Ps119:125) The psalmistaskedGodfordiscernment. Faithcomesalivewhenwe applyScripturetoour
dailytasksand concerns. We needdiscernmentsowe can understand,andwe needdiscernmentsowe
can understand,andwe need the desire toapplyScripture where we needhelp. The Bible islike
medicine –itgoesto work onlywhenwe applyitto the affectedareas. Asyoureadthe Bible,be alert
for lessons,commands,orexamplesthatyoucan put intopractice.
Faith won’t eliminate feelings of rejection or disappointment.
(Jer21:1-2) Pashhurcame to the prophetfor help. (Thisisnotthe same Pashhuras in 20:1.) God still
had workfor Jeremiahtodo. In livingoutourfaith,we mayfindthat rejection,disappointment,orhard
workhas broughtus to the pointof despondency. Butwe are still needed. Godhas importantworkfor
us as well.
Being faithful regardless of the situation.
(Dn 3:16-18) Shadrach,Meshach,and Abednegowere pressuredtodenyGod,buttheychose tobe
faithful toHimno matterwhathappened. TheytrustedGodto deliverthem, buttheywere determined
to be faithful regardlessof the consequences. If Godalwaysrescuedthose whowere true toHim,
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linesof selfishpeople readytosignup. We shouldbe faithful tolove GodwhetherHe intervenesonour
behalf ornot. Our eternal rewardisworthanysufferingwe mayhave toendure first.
Is yours real?
(Mt 3 9-10) Justas a fruittree is expectedtobearfruit,God’speople shouldproduce acropof good
deeds. Godhas no use forpeople whocall themselvesChristiansbutdonothingaboutit. Like many
people inJohn’sdaywhowere God’speople inname only,we are of novalue if we are Christiansin
name only. If otherscan’t see our faith:the waywe treat them, we maynot be God’s people atall.
Doesn’t always exempt us from suffering.
(Acts5:17-18) The apostlesexperiencedpowertodomiracles,greatboldnessinpreaching,andGod’s
“sharedlove”intheirlives,yettheywere notfree fromhatredandpersecution. Theywere arrested,
put injail,beaten,andslanderedbycommunityleaders. FaithinGoddoesnot make troublesdisappear.
It makestroubleslessfrightening becauseitputstheminthe rightperspective. Don’texpecteveryone
to react favorablywhenyoushare somethingasdynamicasyour faithinChrist. Some will be jealous,
afraid,or threatened. Expectsome negativereactions,andrememberthatyoumustbe more
concerned aboutservingGodthan aboutthe reactionsof people (see 5:29).
(Heb11:35-39) Many thinkthat painisthe exceptioninthe Christian life. Whensufferingoccurs,they
say,“Why me?” Theyfeel asthoughGod desertedthemorperhapstheyaccuse Himof not beingas
dependableastheythought. Inreality,however,we live inanevil worldfilledwithsufferingevenfor
believers. ButGodis still incontrol. He allowssome Christianstobecome martyrsforthe faith,andHe
allowsotherstosurvive persecution. Ratherthenasking,“Whyme?” it ismuch more helpful toask,
“Why not me?” Our faithand the valuesof the worldare on a collisioncourse. If we expectpainand
sufferingtocome,we will notbe shockedwhenithits. Butwe can alsotake comfort inknowingthat
Jesusalsosuffered. He understandsourfears,ourweaknesses,andourdisappointments(see2:16-18;
4:14-16). He promisednevertoleave us(Matthew 28:18-20), and He intercedesonourbehalf (7:24-
25). Intimesof pain,persecution,orsufferingwe shouldtrustconfidentlyinChrist.
What motivates your Faith.
(Lk 3:7) What motivatesyourfaith – fearof the future,ora desire tobe a betterpersonina better
world? Some people wantedtobe baptizedbyJohnsotheycouldescape eternal punishment.Butthey
didn’tturnto God for “sharedlove.” Johnhadharsh words for suchpeople. He knew that God values
sharinglove above ritual. Isyourfaith motivatedbya desire fora new lovinglife,orisitonlylike a
vaccinationorinsurance policyagainstpossible disaster?
Relationship between faith and deeds.
(Lk 3:8-9) Sharinglove withGodand a changedlife are inseparable. Faithwithoutdeedsisdead(James
2:14-26). Jesusharshestwordswere tothe respectable religiousleaderswho lackedthe real desire for
“sharedlove”anda changedlife. Theywantedtobe knownasreligiousauthorities,buttheydidn’t
wantto change theirheartsandminds. Thustheirliveswere unproductive. “Sharedlove”mustbe tied
to action,or it isn’treal. FollowingJesusmeansmore thansayingthe rightwords;itmeansactingon
whatHe says.
(Phil 3;2-3) It is easyto place more emphasisonreligiouseffort(“confidence inthe flesh”) thanon
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by theirfulfilmentof dutiesorbythe level of humanactivity. Anddon’tthinkthatyou will satisfyGod
by feverishlydongHiswork. Godnoticesall youdo forHim andwill rewardyoufor it,butonlyif it
comesas a lovingresponse toHisfree-giftof “sharedlove.”
(Jas2:1) In thischapter,Jamesarguesagainstfavoritismandforthe necessityof gooddeeds. He
presentsthree principlesof faith:(1) Commitmentisanessential partof faith. Youcannot be a Christian
simplybyaffirmingthe rightdoctrinesoragreeingwithBiblical facts(2:19). Youmust commityourmind
and heartto Christ,(2) Right actionsare the natural by-productof true faith. A genuine Christianwill
have a changedlife (2:2:18), (3) Faithwithoutgoodworksdoesn’tdoanyone anygood – it isuseless
(2:14-17). Jamesteachingsare consistent withPaul’steachingsthatwe receivesalvationbyfaithalone.
Paul emphasizesthe purposeof faith –to bringsalvation. Jamesemphasizesthe resultof faith –a
changedlife.
(2:18) At firstglance thisverse seemstocontradictRomans 3:28: “man is justifiedbyfaithapartfrom
observingthe law.” Deeperinvestigation,howevershowsthatthe teachingsof JamesandPaul are not
at odds. While itis true that our gooddeedscan neverearnsalvation,true faithalwaysresultsina
changedlife andgood deeds. Paul speaksagainstthose whotrytobe savedbydeeds,insteadof true
faith. Jamesspeaksagainstthose whoconfuse mere intellectual assentwithtrue faith. Afterall ,even
demonsknowwhoJesusis,buttheydon’tobeyHim(2:19). True faithinvolvesacommitmentof your
whole self toGod.
(5:20) The bookof Jamesemphasizesfaithinaction. Rightlivingisthe evidence andresultof faith. The
church mustserve withcompassion,speaklovingly andtruthfully,live inobedience toGod’scommands,
and love one another. The bodyof Believersoughttobe an example of heavenonearth,drawing
people toChristthroughlove forGod andeach other. If we trulybelieve God’sWordisnotmerely
somethingwe readorthinkabout,but somethingwe do. Sharedlove,faith,andtrusthave handsand
feet– ours.
(2 Pt 1:9) Ourfaithmust go beyondwhatwe believe,itmustbecome adynamicpart of all we do,
resultingingoodfruitandspiritual maturity. “Sharedlove” doesnotdependongooddeeds,but it
resultsingooddeeds. A personwhoclaimsto love Godwhile remainingunchangeddoesnot
understandfaithorwhatGod has done for himor her.
(1 Jn 2:28-29) The visible proof of beingaChristianisrightbehavior. Manypeople dogooddeedsbut
don’thave faithinJesusChrist. Othersclaimto have faith,butrarelyproduce gooddeeds. A deficitin
eitherfaithorrightbehaviorwill be acause for shame whenChristreturns. Because true faithalways
resultsingoddeeds,those whoclaimtohave faithand whoconsistentlydowhatisrightare the
believers. Gooddeedscannotproduce “sharedlove,”buttheyare necessaryproof thattrue faithis
actuallypresent(James2:14-17).
New believers can share it too.
(Mk 2:14-15) The day thatLevi metJesus,Levi heldameetingathishouse to introduce otherstoJesus.
Levi didn’twaste anytime startingtowitness! Some peoplefeel thatnew believersshouldwaitfor
maturityor trainingbefore theybegintotell othersaboutChrist. Butlike Levi,new believerscanshare
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Our faith affects others.
(Lk 5:18-20) It wasn’tthe paralytic’sfaiththatimpressedJesus,butthe faithof hisfriends. Jesus
respondedto theirfaithandhealedthe man. Forbetteror worse,ourfaithaffectsothers. We cannot
make anotherpersona Christian,butwe can domuch throughour words,actions, andlove to give him
or her a chance to respond. Lookfor opportunities tobringyourfriendstothe livingChrist.
Why some may resist your faith.
(Jn3:19-21) Many people don’twanttheirlivesexposedtoGod’slightbecause theyare afraidof what
will be revealed. Theydon’twanttobe changed. Don’t be surprisedwhenthese same people are
threatenedbyyourdesire toobeyGodand do whatisright,because theyare afraidthat the lightinyou
may expose some of the darknessintheirlives. Ratherthangivinginto discouragement,keeppraying
that theywill come tosee howmuch betteritisto live inlightthanindarkness,
Faith often proved during persecution.
(Mt 5:11-12) Jesussaidtorejoice whenwe’re persecuted. Persecutioncanbe goodbecause (1) it takes
our eyesoff earthlyrewards;(2) itstripsawaysuperficial belief; (3) itstrengthensthe faithof those who
endure,and(4) our attitude throughitservesasan example tootherswhofollow. We can be
comfortedtoknowthat God’sgreatestprophetswere persecuted(Elijah,Jeremiah,Daniel). The fact
that we are beingpersecutedprovesthatwe have beenfaithful,faithlesspeople wouldbe unnoticed.
In the future God will rewardthe faithful byreceivingthemintohiseternalkingdomwhere thereisno
more persecution.
Difference between faith and belief.
(Mt 8:28) Demon-possessedpeople are underthe control of one ormore demons. Demonsare fallen
angelswhojoinedSataninhisrebellionagainstGodandare now evil spiritsunderSatan’scontrol. They
helpSatantemptpeople tosinandhave great destructive powers. Butwhenevertheyare confronted
by Jesus,theylose theirpower. These demonsrecognizedJesusasGod’sSon(8:29), but theydidn’t
thinktheyhave to obeyhim. Justbelievingisnotenough(see James2:19 fora discussionof beliefand
devils). Faithismore thanbelief. Byfaith,youacceptwhatJesushasdone for you,receive Himasthe
onlyone whocan save you fromsin,and live outyourfaithbyobeyingHiscommands.
When it isn’t popular to believe.
(Jn2:23-25) The Son of God knowsall about humannature. Jesuswaswell aware of the truthof
Jeremiah17:9 whichstates,“The heart isdeceitful aboveall thingsandbeyondcure. Whocan
understandit?” Jesuswasdiscerning,andHe knew thatthe faithof some followerswassuperficial.
Some of the same people claimingtobelieveinJesusatthistime wouldlateryell “Crucifyhim!” It’s
easyto believewhenitisexcitingandeveryone alsobelievesthe same way. Butkeepyourfaith firm
evenwhenitisn’tpopulartofollowChrist.
Strengthened by waiting.
(Mt 9:27-30) Jesusdidn’trespondimmediatelytothe blindmen’spleas. He waitedtosee if theyhad
faith. Noteveryone whosayshe wantshelpreallybelievesGodcanhelpthem. Jesusmay have waited
and questionedthese mento emphasize andincreasetheirfaith. WhenyouthinkthatGod is tooslow
inansweringyourprayers,considerthatHe mightbe testingyouas He didthe blindmen. Doyou really
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Taking the final step in Faith.
(Mk 6:52) The disciplesdidn’t wanttobelieve,perhapsbecause:(1) theycouldn’tacceptthe factthat
thishumannamedJesuswasreallythe Sunof God; (2) theydarednot believethatthe Messiahwould
choose themas Hisfollowers –itwas too goodto be true; (3) theystill didnot understandthe real
purpose forJesus’comingtoearth. Theirdisbelief tookthe formof misunderstanding.
EvenafterwatchingJesusmiraculouslyfeed5,000people,theystillcouldnottake the firststepof faith
and believe thatHe wasGod’s Son.If theyhad, theywouldnothave beenamazedthatJesuscouldwalk
on water. The disciplesdidnottransferthe truththeyalreadyknew aboutJesustotheirownlives. We
readthat Jesuswalkedonthe water,andyet we oftenmarvel thatHe is able towork in our ownlife
situations.
No excuse for not believing.
(Mt 11:21-24) Tyre,Sidon,andSodomwere ancientcitieswithalong-standingreputationfor
wickedness(Genesis18,19, Ezekiel 27:28). Each wasdestroyedbyGodfor itsevil. The people of
Bethsaida,Korazin,andCapernaumsawJesusfirsthand,andyettheystubbornlyrefusedtorepentof
theirsinsandbelieve inhim. Jesussaidthatif some of the wickedestcitiesinthe worldhadseenHim,
theywouldhave repented. Because Bethsaida,Korazin andCapernaumsaw Jesusanddidn’tbelieve,
theywouldsufferevengreaterpunishmentthanthatof the wickedcitieswhodidn’tseeJesus.
Similarly,nations,andcitieswithchurchesoneverycornerandBiblesineveryhome willhave noexcuse
on judgmentdayif theydonot repentandbelieve.
What to do when your faith falters.
(Mt. 14:30-31) Althoughwe startoutwithgood intentions,sometimesourfaithfalters. Thisdoesn’t
necessarilymeanwe have failed. WhenPeter’sfaithfaltered,he reachedoutto Christ,the onlyone
whocouldhelp. He was afraid,buthe still lookedtoChrist. Whenyouare apprehensive aboutthe
troublesaroundyouanddoubt Christ’spresence orabilitytohelp,youmustrememberthat he isthe
only one who can reallyhelp.
Turning small faith into sufficient faith.
(Mt 17:17-20) The discipleswere unable todrive outthisdemon,andtheyaskedJesuswhy. He pointed
to theirlackof faith. It isthe powerof God, not our faith,thatmovesmountains,butfaithmustbe
presenttodo so. The mustardseedwasthe smallestparticleimaginable. Evansmall orundeveloped
faithwouldhave beensufficient. Perhapsthe discipleshadtriedtodrive outthe demonwiththeirown
abilityratherthanGod’s. There is greatpowerineven a little faithwhenGodiswithus. If we feel weak
or powerlessasChristians,we shouldexamine ourfaith,makingsure we are trustingnotinour own
abilitiestoproduce results,butinGod’s.
Christ can increase your faith.
(Mt 17:20) Jesuswasn’tcondemningthe disciplesforsubstandardfaith,He wastryingtoshow how
importantfaithwouldbe intheirfuture ministry. If youare facinga problemthatseemsasbigand
unmovable asa mountain,turnyoureyesfromthe mountainandlookto Christformore faith. Only
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Despite doubts and questions.
(Mt 17:22-23) Once again,JesuspredictedHisdeath(see also16:21); butmore important,He toldof His
resurrection. Unfortunately,the disciplesheard onlythe firstpartof Jesus’wordsandbecame
discouraged. Theycouldn’tunderstandwhyJesuswantedtogoback to Jerusalemwhere He wouldwalk
rightintotrouble.
The disciplesdidn’tfullycomprehendthe purpose of Jesus’deathandresurrectionuntil Pentecost(Acts
2). We shouldn’tgetupsetatourselvesforbeingslowtounderstandeverythingaboutJesus. Afterall,
the discipleswere withHim,sawHismiracles,heardHiswords,andstill haddifficultyunderstanding.
Despite theirquestionsand doubts,however,theybelieved. We shouldnoless.
Two ways people can lose faith.
(Mt 18:7) Jesuswarnedthe disciplesabouttwowaysto cause “little ones”tosin,temptingthem(18:7-
9) and neglectingordemeaningthem(18:10-14). As leaders,we are tohelpyoungpeople ornew
believersavoidanythingoranyone thatcouldcause themto stumble intheirfaith,andleadthemtosin.
We mustnevertake lightlythe spiritual educationandprotectionof the younginage andin the faith.
Anything is possible with faith.
(Mk 9:23) Jesus’wordsdonot meanthat we can automaticallyobtainanythingwe wantif we justthink
positively. JesusmeantthatanythingispossibleIFWEBELIEVE, because nothingistoodifficultforGod.
We cannothave everythingwe needtoserve Him.
An attitude of expectation
(Jn6:18-19) The disciples,terrified,probablythoughttheywere seeingaghost(Mark 6:49). But if they
had thoughtaboutall theyhad alreadyseenJesusdo,theycouldhave acceptedthismiracle. Theywere
frightened –theydidn’texpectJesustocome,andtheyweren’tpreparedforHishelp. Faith isamind-
setthat expectsGodto act. When we act on thisexpectation,we canovercome ourfears.
Faith must be put together.
(Mt 21:19) WhydidJesuscurse the figtree? Thiswas nota thoughtless,angryact,but an acted-out
parable. JesuswasshowingHisangerat religionwithoutasubstance. Justasthe figtree lookedgood
froma distance butwasfruitlessonclose examination,sothe temple lookedimpressive atfirstglance,
but itssacrificesandotheractivitieswerehollow becausetheywere notdone toworshipGodsincerely
(see 21:43). If youonlyappearto have faithwithoutputtingitto the workinyour life,youare like the
figtree that witheredanddiedbecause itbore nofruit. Genuine faithmeansbearingfruitforGod’s
kingdom. Formore informationaboutthe figtree see the note onMark 11:13-26.
Faith as a constant process.
(Mk 9:24) The attitude of trust and confidence thatthe Bible callsbelief orfaith(Hebrews11:1, 6) isnot
somethingwe canobtainwithouthelp. FaithisagiftfromGod (Ephesians2:8,9). Nomatterhow much
faithwe have,we neverreachthe pointof beingself-sufficient. Faithisnotstoredawaylike moneyin
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Aided by prayer.
(Mk 9:29) The discipleswouldoftenface difficultsituationsthatcouldbe resolvedonlythroughprayer.
Prayeris the keythat unlocksfaithinour lives. Effective prayerneedsbothanattitude – complete
dependence –and an action – asking. PrayerdemonstratesourrelianceonGodas we humblyinvite
himto fill uswithfaithandpower. There isno substitute forprayer,especiallyincircumstancesthat
seemimpossible.
How much is necessary?
(Lk 17:6) A mustard seedisa small,butitis alive andgrowing. Like atinyseed,a small amountof
genuine faithinGodwill take rootandgrow. Almostinvisible atfirst,itwill begintospread,first under
the groundand thenvisibly. Althougheachchange will be gradual andimperceptible,soonthisfaithwill
have producedmajorresultsthatwill uprootanddestroycompetingloyalities. We don’t needmore
faith,a tinyseedof faith,itisalive and growing.
Having childlike faith.
(Mk 10:14) Adultsare not as trustingas little children. Tofeel secure,all childrenneedisalovinglook
and gentle touchfromsomeone whocares. Completeintellectual understandingisnotone of their
requirements. Theybelieve usif theytrustus. Jesussaidthat people shouldbelieve inHimwiththis
kindof childlike faith.We shouldnothave tounderstandall the mysteriesof the universe;itshouldbe
enoughtoknowthat God lovesusand providesforgivenessforoursin. Thisdoesn’tmeanthatwe
shouldbe childishorimmature,butwe shouldtrustGodwitha child’ssimplicityandreceptivity.
Results in changed behavior.
(Lk 9:18) Judgingfromthe crowd’sreactiontohim. Zacchaeousmust have beenaverycrookedtax
collector. Butafterhe metJesus,he realizedthathislife neededstraighteningoutbygivingtothe poor
and makingrestitution –withgenerousinterest –to those he had cheated. Zacchaeusdemonstrated
inwardchange by outwardaction. It is not enoughtofollow Jesusinyourheadorheart alone. You
mustshowyour faithbychangedbehavior. Hasyour faithresultedinaction? Whatchangesdo you
needtomake.
Wealth not always a by-product of faith.
(Mk 10;26) The discipleswereamazed. WasnotwealthablessingfromGod,a rewardfor beinggood?
Thismisconceptionisstill commontoday. Althoughmanybelieversenjoymaterial prosperity,many
otherslive inhardship. Wealthisnota signof faitnor of partialityonGod’spart.
Faith without substance.
(Mk 11;11-21) In thispassage,twounusual incidentsare related,the cursingof the figtree andthe
clearingof the temple. The cursingof the fig tree was an actedout Parable relatedtothe clearingof the
temple. The temple wassupposedtobe a place of worship,buttrue worshiphaddisappeared. The fig
tree showedpromisesof fruit,butitproducednone. Jesuswasshowinghisangeratreligiouslife
withoutsubstance. If youclaimtohave faithwithoutputtingitto workinyour life,youare like thee
barrenfigtree. Genuine faithhasgreatpotential,askGodto helpyoubearfruitfor Hiskingdom.

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Not admitting your faith.
(Jn12:42-43) Alongwiththose whorefusedtobelieve,manybelievedbutrefusedtoadmitit. Thisis
justas bad and Jesushadstrongwords forsuch people (seeMatthew 10:32, 33). People whowill not
take a standfor Jesusare afraidof rejectionof ridicule fearedexcommunicationfromthe synagogue
(whichwas theirlivelihood) andlossof theirprestigiousplace inthe community. Butthe praise of
othersisfickle andshort-lived. We shouldbe muchmore concernedaboutGod’seternal acceptance
than aboutthe temporaryapproval of otherpeople.
Life’s central issue.
(Lk 20:41-44) The PhariseesandSadduceeshadaskedtheirquestions. Then Jesusturnedthe tablesand
askedthema questionthatwentrightto the heartof the matter – whattheythoughtabout the
Messiah’sidentity. The Phariseesknew thatthe Messiahwouldbe adescendantof David,buttheydid
not understandthathe wouldbe more thana humandescendant –he wasGod in the flesh. Jesus
quotedfromPsalm110:1 toshowthat Davidknew that the Messiahwouldbe bothhumanand divine.
The Phariseesexpectedonlyahumanrulertorestore Israel’sgreatnessasinthe daysof Davidand
Solomon.
The central issue of life iswhatwe believeaboutJesus. Otherspiritual questionsare irrelevantunless
we firstdecide tobelievethatJesusiswhohe saidHe is. The PhariseesandSadduceescouldnotdothis.
TheyremainedconfusedoverJesus’identity.
Can your faith withstand persecution.
(Mt 26:35) All the disciplesdeclaredthattheywoulddie before disowningJesus. A few hourslater.
Howevertheyall scattered. Talkischeap. It iseasyto say we are devotedtoChrist,butour claimsare
meaningful onlywhentheyare testedinthe crucible of persecution. How strong isyourfaith? Is it
strongenoughto standup underintense trial.
What happens to unproductive believers.
(Jn15:1) Christis the vine andGod isthe gardenerwhocaresfor the branchesto make themfruitful.
The branchesare all those whoclaimto be followersof Christ. The fruitful branchesare true believers
whoby theirlivingunionwithChristproduce muchfaith. Butthose whobecome unproductive –those
whoturn back fromfollowingChristaftermakingasuperficial commitment –will be separatedfromthe
vine. Unproductive followersare asgoodas deadand will be cutoff and tossedaside.
Stages of Faith,
(Jn20:1) People whohearaboutthe resurrectionforthe firsttime mayneedtime before theycan
comprehendthisamazingstory. Like Maryand the disciples,theymaypassthroughfourstagesof
belief,(1) Atfirst,theymaythinkthe story isa fabrication,impossibletobelieve (20:2);(2) Like Peter,
theymay checkout the facts andstill be puzzledaboutwhathappened(20:6). (3) Onlywhenthey
encounterJesuspersonallyare theyable toacceptthe fact of resurrection (20:16),(4) Then,as they
committhemselvestothe risenLordand devote theirlivestoservingHim, theybegintounderstand
fullythe realityof Hispresence withthem(20:28).

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Jesus’ resurrection is the key to faith.
(Mt 28:6) Jesus’resurrectionisthe keytothe Christianfaith. Why? (1) Just as He promised,Jesusrose
fromthe dead. We can be confident,therefore,thatHe will accomplishall He hasaccomplishall He has
promised,(2) Jesus’ bodilyresurrection howsusthatthe livingChrist’srulerof God’seternal kingdom,
not a false prophetorimposter,(3) We can be certainof our resurrectionbecause He was resurrected.
Deathis notthe end – there isfuture life,(4) The powerthatbroughtJesusback to life,(5) The
resurrectionisthe basisforthe church’switnessto the world. Jesusismore than justa human leader,
he is the Son of God.
Faith is based on facts
(Acts1:1-3) Luke saysthat the discipleswere eyewitnessestoall thathadhappenedtoJesusChrist – his
life before Hiscrucifixion(“suffering”),andthe 40 days afterHis resurrectionasHe taught them more
aboutthe kingdomof God. Today there are still people whodoubtJesusresurrection,provingthatHe
was alive. Lookat the change the resurrectionmade inthe disciples’lives. AtJesusdeath,they
scattered– theywere disillusioned,andtheyfearedtotheirlives. Afterseeingthe resurrectedChrist,
theywere fearlessandriskedeverythingtospreadthe Good NewsaboutHimand martyrdom, yet they
nevercompromisedtheirmission. These menwould nothave riskedtheirlivesforsomethingthey
knewwasfalse. TheyknewJesuswasraisedfromthe dead,andthe earlydiscipleswasfiredwiththeir
enthusiasmtotell others. Itisimportant thatwe know thisso we can have confidence intheir
testimony. Twentycenturieslaterwe canstill be confidentthatourfaithisbasedonfacts.
Holy Spirit marks beginning of faith.
(Acts1:5) AtPentecost(2:1-4) the Holy Spiritwasmade available toall whobelievedinJesus. We
receive the HolySpirit(are baptizedwithHim) whenwe receive JesusChrist. The baptismof the Holy
Spiritmustbe understoodinthe lightof the HolySpiritmustbe understoodinthe lightof histotal work
inChristians.
(1) The Spiritmarks the beginningof the Christian experience. We cannotbelongtoChristwithout
His Spirit(Romans8:9),we cannot be unitedtoChristwithoutHisSpirit(1 Corinthians 6:17),we
cannot be adoptedashis childrenwithoutHisSpirit(Romans8:14-17),we cannot be unitedto
ChristwithoutHisSpirit(Romans8:14-17, Galatians4:6, 7), we cannot be inthe bodyof Christ
exceptbybaptisminthe Spirit(1 Corinthians12:13).
(2) The Spiritisthe powerof our new lives. He beginsalifelongprocessof change aswe become
more like Christ(Galatians3;3,Philippians1:6). Whenwe receive Christbyfaith,we beginan
immediate personal relationshipwithGod. The HolySpititworksinusto helpusbecome like
Christ.
(3) The Spiritunitesthe ChristianscommunityinChrist(Ephesians2:19-22). The HolySpirit can be
experienced byall andHe worksthroughall (1 Corinthians12:11, Ephesians4:4).
Sharing it no matter the cost.
(Acts5:40-42) Pete and John were warnedrepeatedlynottopreach,buttheycontinuedinspite of the
threats. We,too, shouldlive as we maynot be beatenorthrownin jail,butwe may be ridiculed,
ostracizedorslandered. Towhatextantare youwillingtosufferforthe sake of sharingthe gospel with
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God will help when your faith is under fire.
(Acts23:6-8) The SadduceesandPhariseeswere twogroupsof religiousleaders,butwithstrikingly
differentbeliefs. The Phariseesbelievedinabodilyresurrection.Butthe Sadduceesdidnot. The
SadduceesadheredonlytoGenesisthroughDeuteronomy,whichcontainnoexplicitteachingon
resurrection. Paul’swords movedthe debateawayfromhimself andtowardtheirfesteringcontroversy
aboutthe resurrection. The Jewishcouncil wassplit.
Why does God save us by faith alone.
(Rom3:28) Why doesGod save us byfaithalone? (1) Faitheliminatesthe pride of humaneffort,
because faithisnota deedthatwe do , (2) FaithexaltswhatGod has done,notwhatpeople do,(3)
Faithadmitsthat we can’t keepthe lawor measure upto God’sstandards – we needhelp,(4)Faithis
basedon ourrelationshipwithGod,notourperformance forGod.
How much do you need.
(Rom4:5) Whensome people learnthattheyare savedbyGod throughfaith,theystartto worry. “Do I
have enoughfaith?”theywonder,“Ismyfaithstrongenoughtosave me?” These people missthe point.
It isJesusChristwhosavesus nomatter how weakour faithisJesusoffersussalvation asa giftbecause
He lovesus,notbecause we have earneditthroughourpowerful faith. What,then,isthe role of faith?
Faithis believingandtrustinginJesusChrist,andreachingoutto accepthiswonderful giftof salvation.
Why it is key to the Christian life.
(Rom5:2-5) AsPaul statesclearlyin1 Corinthian13:13, faith,hope,andshared-loveare atthe heartof
the Christian life. OurrelationshipwithGodbeginswithfaith,whichhelpsusrealize thatwe are
deliveredfromourpastby Christ’sdeath. Hope growsas we learnall that God hasin needforus; it
givesusthe promise of the future. AndGod’slove fitsourlives andgivesusthe abilitytoreachout to
others.
What is weak faith?
(Rom14:1) What is weakfaith? Paul isspeakingaboutimmature faiththathasnotyet developedthe
muscle itneedstostandagainstexternal pressures. Forexample,if apersonwhoonce worshipedidols
were tobecome a Christian,he mightunderstandperfectlywellthatChristsavedhimthroughfaithand
that idolshave noreal power. Still,because of hispastassociation,he mightbe badlyshakenif he
knowinglyate meatthathadbeenusedinidol worshipaspart of a paganritual. If a personwhoonce
worshiped Godonthe requiredJewishholydayswere tobecome aChristian,he mightwell know that
Christsavedhimthroughfaith,notthroughhiskeepingof the law. Still,whenthe feastdayscame,he
mightfeel emptyandunfaithful if he didn’tdedicate thosedaystoGod.
Paul respondstobothweakbrothersinlove. Bothare acting accordingto theirconsciences,buttheir
honestscruplesdonotneedtobe made intorulesforthe church. Certainlysome issuesare central to
the faithand worthfightingfor – but manyare basedonindividual differencesandshouldnotbe
legislated. Ourprincipleshouldbe inessentials,unity;innonessentials,liberty,ineverythinglove.
Talking about it vs living it.
(1 Cor 4:18-20) Some people talkalotaboutfaith,butthat’s all itis – talk. Theymay know all the right
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not justdiscussed. There isabigdifference betweenknowingthe rightwordsandlivingthemout.
Don’tbe contenttohave the rightanswersaboutChrist. Let yourlife show thatGod’spowerisreally
workinginyou.
Does not free us from obedience.
(2 Cor 5:9-10) While eternal lifeisafree giftgivenonthe basisof God’s grace (Ephesians2:8,9), each of
us will still be judgedbyChrist. Thisjudgementwillrewardusforhow we have lived. Godgraciousgift
of salvationdoesnotfree usfromthe requirementforfaithfulobedience. All Christiansmustgive
account forhow theyhave lived(seeMatthew 16:27; Romans14:10-12; 1 Corinthians3:10-15).
Combines assurance & anticipation.
(Heb11:1) Do yourememberhowyoufeltwhenyouwere veryyoungandyourbirthdayapproached?
You were excite andanxious. Youknewyouwouldcertainlyreceive giftsandotherspecial treats. But
some thingswouldbe asurprise. Birthdayscombine assurance andanticipation,andsodoesfaith!
Faithis the convictionbasedonpastexperience thatGod’snew andfreshsurpriseswillsurelybe ours.
The beginning & end of faith.
(Heb11:1) Two wordsdescribe faith;sure andcertain. These twoqualitiesneedasecure beginningand
endingpoint. The beginningpointof faithisbelievinginGod’scharacter– he iswhohe says. Whenwe
believethatGodwill fulfill hispromises –he will dowhat he says. Whenwe believe thatGodwill fulfill
hispromiseseventhoughwe don’tsee those promisesmaterializingyet,we demonstratestrue faith
(see John20:24-31).
Never forget basics of faith.
(2 Pt 1:12-15) Outstandingcoachesconstantlyreview the basicsof the sportwiththeirteams,andgood
athletescanexecute the fundamentalswhenwe goonto studydeepertruths. Justasan athlete needs
constantremindersof the fundamentalsof ourfaithandof how we came to believe inthe firstplace.
Don’tallowyourself tobe boredorimpatientwithmessagesonthe basicsof the Christianlife. Instead,
take the attitude of an athlete whocontinuestopractice andrefine the basicsevenashe or she learn
more advancedskills.
The world will always challenge your faith.
(2 Pt 3:18) Peterconcludesthisbrief letterashe began,byurginghisreadersto grow in the grace and
knowledge of the LordandSavior,JesusChrist – to getto know Him better. Thisisthe most important
stepinrefutingfalse teachers. Nomatterwhere we are inour spiritual journey,nomatterhow mature
we are inour faith,the sinful worldalwayswill challenge ourfaith. We still have muchroomforgrowth,
if everyday we findsome wayto drawcloserto Christ, we will be preparedtostandfor truth inany
and all circumstances.
As youtake stepsof faith,dependingonHim, He will show youhow much He can dofor you. If youlive
your life toosafely,youwill neverknow the thrill of seeingHimworkthroughyou. WhenHe gave you
His Spirit,He empoweredyoutolive beyondyournatural abilityandstrength. That’swhyitisso wrong
to measure yourenergylevelagainstthe challengesaheadof you. The issue isnotyour strengthbut
His,whichislimitless. Bywalkingclose toHim, youcan accomplishHispurposesinHis Strength.

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Accept the Situation
Whenthingsdon’tgo as youwouldlike,acceptthe situationimmediately. If youindulge infeelingsof
regret,theycan easilyspilloverthe line, intoresentment. RememberthatHe is in charge of everything,
includingyourcircumstances,and humble yourselfunderMymighty hand. Rejoice inwhatHe is doing
inyour life,eventhoughitisbeyondyourunderstanding.
I amthe Way,the Truth,and the life. InHim youhave everythingyouneed,bothforthislife andforthe
life yettocome. Don’t letthe impactof the worldshatteryourthinkingordraw youaway fromfocusing
on Him. The ultimate challenge istokeepfixingyoureyesonHim,nomatterwhatis goingonaround
you. When He is central inyour thinking,youare able toview circumstancesfromHis perspective.
Relax in My Healing,
SharedLove. Be still,while He transformsyourheartandmind. Let go of cares and worries,sothatyou
can receive His Peace.
Do not be like Phariseeswhomultipliedregulations,creatingtheirownformof “godliness.” Theygotso
wrappedupin theirown rulesthattheylostsightof Him. Eventoday,man-made rulesabouthow to
live the Christianlifeenslave manypeople. Theirfocusisontheirperformance,ratherthanlovingHim.
It isthroughknowingHim intimatelythatyou become like Him. Thisrequiresspendingtime alone with
Him. Let go, relax,be still,and know that I am God.
Nowthat youknowyour loverbetter,andyouhave faithinHim, youcan continue tolookat the
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Goodness
God Brings it out of bad circumstances.
(Gn 16:13) We have watchedthree people make seriousmistakes:(1) Sari,whotookmattersintoher
ownhandsand gave her maidservantto Abram;(2) Abramwhowent alongwiththe planbut when
circumstancesbegantogo wrong,refusedtohelpsolve the problem;and(3) Hagar, whoran away from
the problem. Inspite of thismessysituation,Goddemonstratedhisabilitytoworkinall thingsforgood
(Romans8:28). Sari and Abramstill receivedthe sontheysodesperatelywanted,andGodsolved
Hagar’s problemdespiteAbram’srefusal togetinvolved. NoproblemistoocomplicatedforGodif you
are willingtoletHimhelpyou.
(Gn 48:11) WhenJosephbecame aslave,Jacobthoughthe was deadand weptindespair(37:30). But
eventuallyGod’splanallowedJacobto regainnotonlyhisson,but hisgrandchildrenaswell.
Circumstancesare neversobad thattheyare beyondGod’shelp. Jacobregainedhisson.Jobgota new
family(Job42:10-17). Mary regainedherbrotherLazarus(John11:1-44). We needneverdespair
because we belongtoa lovingGod. We neverknow whatgoodhe will bringoutof a seeminghopeless
situation.
(Gn 50:20) God broughtgood fromthe brothersevil deed. Potiphar’swife’sfalse accusation,the
cupbearer’sneglect,andsevenyearsof Famine. The experiencesinJoseph’slifetaughthimthatGod
bringsgoodfrom evil forthose whotrusthim. Do you trustGod enoughto waitpatientlyforhimto
bringgood outof bad situations? Youcantrust himbecause as Josephlearned,Godcan overrule
people’sevil intentionstobringaboutHisintendedresults.
(1 Chr 22:1) Out of David’stragic mistake came the purchase of a plotof landthat wouldbecome the
site of God’s temple,the symbolof God’spresence amongHispeople. Everytime the people went to
the temple theywouldrememberthatGod istheirtrue Kingand that everyone,includingtheirhuman
king,isfallibleandsubject tosin. God can use our sinsforgood purposesif we are sorry forthemand
seekhisforgiveness. Whenwe confessoursins,the wayisopenedforGodto bringgood froma bad
situation.
(Jn11:4) Anytrial a believerfacescanultimatelybringglorytoGodbecause God can bringgood outof
any badsituation(Genesis50:20, Romans8:28). Whentrouble comes,doyougrumble,complain,and
blame God,or do yousee your problemsasopportunitiestohonorHim.
Not enough to be good some of the time.
(Jos7:10-12) Why didAchan’ssinbringjudgementonthe entire nation? Althoughitwasone man’s
failure,Godsawit as national dis-obedience toanational law. God neededthe entire nationtobe
committedtothe jobtheyhad agreedto do – conquerthe land. Thus, whenone personfailed,
everyone failed. If Achan’ssinwentunpunished,unlimitedlootingcouldbreakout. The nationasa
whole hadto take responsibilityforpreventingthisundisciplineddisobedience.
Achan’ssinwas notmerelyhiskeepingsome of the plunder(Godalloweditinsome cases),buthis
disobeyingGod’sexplicitcommandtodestroy everythingconnectedwithJericho. Hissinwas
indifferencetothe evil andidolatryof the city,notjusta desire formoneyandclothes. Godwouldnot
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reservation. Godisnot contentwithour doingwhatis rightall the time. We are underHis ordersto
eliminateanythoughts,practices,orpossessionsthathinderourdevotiontohim.
Doing good in the wrong way.
(1 Sm 13:9) Ratherthan waitingfora priest,Saul offeredthe sacrifice himself. ThiswasagainstGod’s
laws(Deuteronomy12:5-14) and againstthe specificinstructionsof Samuel (10:8). Underpressure from
the approachingPhilistines,he tookmattersintohisownhandsanddisobeyedGod. He wasdoinga
goodthing(offeringasacrifice toGod before acrucial battle),buthe didit inthe wrong way. Like Saul,
our true spiritual characterisreversedunderpressure. The methodswe use toaccomplishourgoalsare
as importantas the attainmentof those goals.
Looking for the Good in others.
(2 Sm 1:17-27) Saul hadcausedmuch trouble forDavid,butwhenhe died,Davidcomposedalamentfor
the kingand hisson. Davidhadeveryreasonto hate Saul,buthe chose notto. Instead,he chose to
lookat the good Saul had done andto ignore the timesandhurt and to respectthe positiveside of
anotherperson,especiallyanenemy.
You can be good but miss what’s important.
(2 Kgs 15:34-35) muchgood can be saidof Jothamand hisreignas kingof Judah,but he failedinamost
importantarea,he didn’tdestroythe highplaces,althoughleavingthemclearlyviolatedthe first
commandment(Exodus20:3). Like Jotham, we may live basicallygoodlives andyetmissdoingwhatis
mostimportant. A life time of doinggoodisnotenoughif we make the crucial mistake of not following
God withall our hearts. A true followerof GodputsGod firstinall areas of life.
Something done well is not always good.
(Ps52:1) Thispsalmwas written aboutDoeg,the Edomite whohadbetrayedAhimelechandDavidand
thenkilledGod’spriests(see 1Samuel 21:7; 22:9-230. Doegthoughthe was a great hero – even
boastingabouthisdeed. Inreality,hisdeedwasevil,anoffense toGod. It iseasyto mistake
“accomplishment”withgoodness. Just because somethingisdone well orthoroughlydoesn’tmeanitis
good(for example,someone maybe agreat gamblerora skilledliar). Measure all youdobythe rule of
God’sWord, not byhow proficientlyyoudoit.
Determining the quality of yours.
(Mt 5:20) The Phariseeswereexactingandscrupulousintheirattemptstofollow theirlaws. Sohow
couldJesusreasonablycall ustoa greaterrighteousnessthanthere’s? The Phariseesweaknesswasthat
theywere contenttoobeythe lawsoutwardlywithout allowingGodto change theirhearts(or
attitudes). Jesuswassayingthereforethatthe quality of ourgoodnessshouldbe greater thanthatof
the Pharisees. Theylookedpious,buttheywere farfromthe kingdomof god. God judgesourhearts as
well asour deeds,foritisin the heartthat our real allegiance lies. Be justasconcernedaboutyour
attitudesthatpeople don’tsee asaboutyouractionsthat are seenbyall.
Learning to ask what is good for us.
(Mt 7:9-10) The childinJesusexampleaskedhisfatherforbreadandfish – goodand necessaryitems. If
the childhad askedfora poisonoussnake,wouldthe fatherhave grantedhisrequest? SometimesGod
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our prayers. Aswe learntoknowGod betteras a lovingFather,we learntoask forwhat isgood forus,
and thenHe grants it.
Goodness alone won’t bring eternal life.
(Mt 7:21-23) Jesusexposedthose peoplewhosoundedreligiousbuthadno personal relationshipwith
Him. On“that day” (the day of judgement) onlyour “sharedlove”relationshipwithGod – our
acceptance of Jesusas Saviorand our obedience tohim – will matter. Manypeople thinktheyare
“good’people andsayreligious thingstheywill be rewardedwitheternal life. Inrealitysharinglove
withGod will bringthemtoheaven.
Some may call your good deeds evil.
(Mt 10:25) Beelzebubwasalsoknownasthe lordof liesandthe prince of demons. The Pharisees
accusedJesus of usingBeelzebub’spowertodrive outdemons(see 12:24). Good is sometimeslabeled
evil. If Jesus,whoisperfect,wascalledevil,hisfollowersshouldexpectthatsimilaraccusationswill be
directedatthem. But those whostand firmwill be vindicated(10:22).
Doing Good for the wrong reasons.
(Lk 4:3) Sometimeswhatwe are temptedtodoisn’twronginitself. Turningstonesintobreadwasn’t
necessarilybad. The sinwasnotin the act butin the reasonbehindit. The devil wastryingtogetJesus
to take a shortcut,to solve Jesus’immediate problem atthe expense of Hislong-rangegoals,toseek
comfortat the sacrifice of Hisdiscipline. Satanoftenworksthatway – Persuadingusto take action,for
the wrong reasonor at the wrongtime. The factthat somethingisnotwrongin itself doesnotmean
that itis goodfor youat a giventime. Manypeople sinbyattemptingtofulfill legitimate desiresoutside
of God’swill oraheadof Histimetable. Firstask,“Isthe HolySpiritLeadingme to dothis? Or isSatan
tryingto getme off the track?
(Rv2:4) Paul had once commendedthe churchat Ephesusforitslove forGod and others(Ephesians
1:15). But manyof the church foundershaddied,andmanyof the second-generationbelievershadlost
theirzeal forGod. Theywere a busychurch – the membersdidmuchto benefitthemselvesandthe
community – buttheywere actingout of the wrongmotives. WorkforGod must be motivatedbylove
for God or itwill notlast.
How to live a truly good life.
(Jn15;5-8) Many people tryto be good,honestpeople whodowhatisright. But Jesussaysthat the only
wayto live a trulygoodlife istostay close to Him, like abranch attachedto the vine. Apartfrom Christ
our effortsare unfruitful . Are youreceivingthe nourishmentandlife offeredbyChrist,the vine? If not,
youare missingaspecial giftHe has for you.
How God works in all things for good.
(Rom8:28) God worksin “all things” – not justisolatedincidents –forour good. Thisdoesnot mean
that all that happenstous isgood. Evil isprevalentinourfallenworld,butGodisable toturn every
circumstance aroundfor ourlong-range good. Note thatGod is notworkingtomake ushappy,but to
fulfillHispurposes. Those whoare “called”are those the Holy Spiritconvincesandenablestoreceive
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treasures;theylookfortheirsecurityinheaven,notonearth,theylearntoaccept,not resent,painand
persecutionbecauseGodiswiththem.
You may not see fruit of your efforts.
(1 Cor 15:58) Paul saysthat because of the Resurrection,nothingwe doisinvain. Sometimeswe
hesitate todogood because we don’tsee anyresults. Butif we can maintaina heavenlyperspective,
we will understandthatwe oftenwillnotsee the goodthatresultsfromour efforts. If we trulybelieve
that Christhas wonthe ultimate victory,thatfactmust affectthe waywe live rightnow. Don’tlet
discouragementoveranapparentlackof resultskeepyoufromworking. Dothe goodthat you have
opportunitytodo,knowingthatyourwork will have eternal results.
Being good vs. being godly.
(Eph2:3) The fact that all people,withoutexception,commitsinprovesthatwithoutChristwe have a
sinful nature. We are lostin sinand cannotsave ourselves. DoesthismeanonlyChristiansdogood? Of
course not – many people dogoodtoothers. On a relative scale,manyare moral,kind,andlaw-abiding.
Comparingthese peopletocriminals,we wouldsaythattheyare verygood indeed. ButonGod’s
absolute scale,noone’sisgoodenoughtoearnsalvation(“youwere deadinyourtransgressionsand
sins.”2:1). OnlythroughbeingunitedwithChrist’sperfectlife canwe become goodinGod’ssight.
“Objectsof wrath” referstothose whoare to receive God’swrath because of there rejectionof Christ.
Learning to see it in midst of evil.
(Ti 1:15) Some people see goodall aroundthem, whileotherssee nothingbutevil. Whatisthe
difference? Oursoulsbecome filtersthroughwhichwe perceive goodnessorevil. The pure (those who
have Christincontrol of theirlives) learntosee goodnessandpurityeveninthisevilworld. Butcorrupt
and unbelievingpeople findevil ineverythingbecause theirevilmindsandheartscoloreventhe good
theysee andhear. Whateveryouchoose tofill yourmindwithwill affectthe wayyouthinkandact.
Turn your thoughtstoGod and His Word,and youwill discovermore andmore goodness,eveninthis
evil world. A mindfilledwithgoodhaslittle roomforwhatisevil (see Philippians4:8).
Whenyouare thankful,youaffirmthe central truththat He is Good. The assurance that He is entirely
Good meetsyourbasicneedforsecurity.
Relax inthe knowledgethatthe One whocontrolsyourlife istotallytrustworthy. Come toHim with
confidentexpectation.
Do not searchfor securityinthe worldyouinhabit. Youtendto make mental checklistsof thingsyou
needtodo inorder to gain control of yourlife. If onlyyoucouldcheckeverythingoff yourlist,youcould
relax andbe at peace,butthe more you workto accomplishthatgoal,the more thingscropup on your
list. The harder youtry, the more frustratedyoubecome.
There isa betterwayto findsecurityin thislife. Instead,focusonyourSharedLove. Thiscontinual
contact withHimwill keepyouinHis Peace. Moreover,He will helpyousortoutwhat isimportantand
whatis not,what needstobe done nowand whatdoesnot.
If you learnto trustHim – reallytrustHim– withyourWHOLE being,thennothingcanseparate you
fromHis Peace. Everythingyouendure canbe putto good use byallowingittotrain youin trusting
Him. Thisishow youstopthe workof the evil one.

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Do not fearwhatthis dayor any day,may bringyour way. Concentrate ontrustingHimand on doing
whatneedsto be done. Relax,thatHe is incharge,rememberingthatHe goesbefore you,aswell as
withyou,intoeachday. Fear noevil,forHe can bringgoodout of everysituationyouwill encounter.
He want’s to be Central
In youreternal being. WhenYourfocusisfirmlyonHim, His Peace displacesfearsandworries. They
will encircle you,seekingentrance,soyoumuststay alert. LetTrust and Thankfulnessstandguard,
turningback fearbefore itcan gaina foothold. There isnoFear inHis love,whichshinesthroughyou
withTrust. Turn yourwhole beingtotrustingandlovingHim.
Taste and See That He is Good.
Thiscommandcontainsan invitationtoexperience yourSharedLove. Italsocontains a Promise. The
more you experience Him,the more convincedyoubecome of His goodness. Thisknowledge is
essential toyourfaith-walk. Whenchallengescome,the humaninstinctistodoubtHis goodness. His
waysare mysterious,eventothose whoknow Him intimately. Astheheavensarehigherthan the earth,
so areMy Waysand Thoughtshigherthan yourwaysand thoughts. Do nottry to fathomMy Ways.
Instead,spend timeenjoyingHimandexperiencingHisGoodness.
As part of His Goodness,He will providemanyGrowthOpportunities.

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Growth Opportunities
Difficulties an opportunity for growth.
(Gn 22:1) God testedAbraham,nottotrip himand watchhimfall,butto deepenhiscapacitytoobey
God and thusto develophischaracter. Justas a fire refinesore toextractpreciousmetals. Godrefines
us throughdifficultcircumstances. Whenwe are testedwe can complain,orwe can try to see howGod
isstretchingusto developourcharacter.
(Gn 35:10) God remindedJacobof hisnew name,Israel,whichmeant“he struggleswithGod.”
Although Jacob’slife waslitteredwithdifficultiesandtrials,hisnew name wasatribute tohisdesire to
stay close toGod despite life’sdisappointments.
Being Spiritually Fit
(1 Tim 4:7-10) Are youin shape bothphysically andspiritually? Inoursociety,muchemphasisisplaced
on physical fitness,but spiritualhealth(godliness) isevenmore important. Ourphysical healthis
susceptibletodisease andinjury,butfaithcansustainusthroughthese tragedies. Totrainourselvesto
be godly,we mustdevelopourfaithbyusingourGod givenabilitiesinthe service of the church(see
4:14-16). Are youdevelopingyourspiritualmuscles?
Mapping your Spiritual growth.
(Num33:2) Mosesrecordedthe Israelites’journeys asGodinstructedhim, providingarecordof their
spiritual aswell asgeographicprogress. Have youmade spiritual progresslately? Recordingyour
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growth. A record of your spiritual pilgrimagewillletyoucheckuponyour progressandavoidrepeating
past mistakes.
Hearing, Learning, and following.
(Dt 5:1) The people hadenteredintoacovenantwithGod,andMosescommandedthemtohear,learn,
and followhisstatutes. Christiansalsohave enteredintoacovenantwithGod(throughJesusChrist)
and shouldbe responsive towhatGod expects. Moses’threefoldcommandtothe Israelitesisexcellent
advice forall God’s followers. HearingisabsorbingandacceptinginformationaboutGod. Learningis
understandingitsmeaningandimplications. Followingisputtingintoactionall we have learnedand
understood. All three partsare essentialto a growingrelationshipwithGod.
It is gradual, not instant.
(Jos11:18) The conquestof muchof the landof Canaanseemsto have happenedquickly(we canread
aboutit inone sitting),butitactuallytooksevenyears. We oftenexpectquickchangesinourlivesand
quickvictoriesoversin. Butour journeywithGodisa life-longprocess,andthe changesandvictories
may take time. It iseasyto grow impatientwithGodandfeel likegivinguphope because thingsare
movingtooslowly. Whenwe are close toa situation,itisdifficulttosee progress. Butwhenwe look
back we can see that God neverstoppedworking.
(Mk 9:30-31) At times,JesuslimitedHispublicministryinordertotrain hisdisciplesindepth. He knew
the importance of equippingthemtocarry on whenHe returnedtoheaven. Ittakestime to learn.
Deepspiritual growthisn’tinstant,regardlessof the quality of experiencesorteaching. If eventhe
disciplesneededtolayaside theirworkperiodicallyinordertolearnfromthe Master, how much more
do we needtoalternate workingandlearning.
(Col 2:20-23) We cannotreach up to God byfollowingrulesof self-denial,byobservingrituals,orby
practicingreligion. Paul isn’tsayingall rulesare bad. But nokeepingof lawsorruleswill earnsalvation.
The Good Newsisthat God reachesdownto humanbeings,andHe asksfor our response.Believers
mustput aside sinful desires,butdoingsoisthe by-productof our new life,notthe reasonforour new
life.
Many people believe thatChristianityshouldofferaproblemfree life. Consequently,aslife getstough,
theydraw backdisappointed. Instead,theyshoulddetermine toprevail withGod,throughlife’sstorms.
Problemsanddifficultiesare painful butinevitable;youmightaswell see them asopportunitiesfor
growth. You can’t prevail withGodunlessyouhave troublestoprevail over.
Suffering an opportunity for Spiritual Growth.
(Jb10:1) Job beganto wallowinself-pity. Whenwe face bafflingaffliction,ourpainlures ustoward
feelingsorryforourselves. Atthispointwe our onlyone stepfromself-righteousness,wherewe keep
track of life’sinjustice andsay,“lookwhathappenedtome,how unfairitis!” We may feel like blaming
God. Rememberthatlife’strials, whetherallowedbyGod or sentby God , can be the meansfor
developmentandrefinement. Whenfacingtrials,ask,“Whatcan I learnand how can I grow?” rather
than “Who didthisto me and howcan I get out of it?”

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Is shown by what we do and don’t do.
(Is58:6-12) we cannotbe savedbydeedsof service withoutfaithinChrist,butourfaithlackssincerityif
it doesn’treachoutto others. Fastingcan be beneficialspirituallyandphysically,butatitsbestfasting
helpsonlythe persondoingit. God says he wantsour service togo beyondourownpersonal growthto
acts of kindness,charity,justice,andgenerosity. True fastingismore thanwhatwe don’teat; itis
pleasingGodbyapplyinghisWordto our society.
Time alone with God is important to Spiritual growth.
(Mt 14:23) SeekingattitudewasasimportantpriorityforJesus(see also 14:130. He made room inHis
busyschedule tobe alone withthe Father. Spendingtime withGodinprayernurturesa vital
relationshipandequipsustomeetlife’schallengesandstruggles. Developthe discipline of spending
time alone withGod – Itwill helpyougrow spirituallyandbecome more like Christ.
Understanding the process of spiritual growth.
(Mk 4:26-29) This parable aboutthe kingdomof God,recordedonlybyMark, revealsthatspiritual
growthis a continual,gradual processthatisfinallyconsummatedinaharvestof spiritual maturity. We
can understandthe processof spiritual growthbycomparingitto the slow butcertaingrowthof a plant.
Parallels between physical & Spiritual life.
(Jn4:13-15) Many spiritual functionsparallel physical functions. Asourbodieshungerandthirst,sodo
our souls. Butour soulsneedspiritual foodandwater. The womanconfusedthe twokindsof water,
perhapsbecause noone had evertalkedwithheraboutherspiritual hungerandthirstbefore. We
wouldnotthinkof deprivingourbodiesof foodandwaterwhentheyhungerorthirst. Why thenshould
we deprive oursouls? The LivingWord,JesusChristandthe writtenWord,alongwith“sharedlove”of
God, can satisfyourhungryand thirstysouls.
God’s pruning strengthens us.
(Jn15:2-3) Jesusmakesa distinctionbetweentwokindsof pruning;(1) separatingand(2) cuttingback
branches. Fruitful branchesare cutback to promote growth. In otherwords,God mustsometimes
disciplineustostrengthen ourcharacterand faith. But branchesthat don’tbearfruitare gut off at the
trunkbecause notonlyare theyworthless,buttheyofteninfectthe restof the tree. People whowon’t
bearfruitfor God or whotry to blockthe effortsof God’sfollowers willbe cutoff fromlife-givingpower.
How a person becomes pure and holy.
(Jn17:17) A followerof Christbecomessanctified(setapartforsacreduse,cleansedandmade holy)
throughbelievingandobeyingthe Wordof God (Hebrews4:12). He or she has alreadyaccepted
forgivenessthroughChrist’ssacrificialdeath(Hebrews7:26,27). But dailyapplicationof God’sWord
has a purifyingeffectonourmindsandhearts. Scripture pointsoutsin,motivatesustoconfess,renews
our relationshipwithChrist,andguidesusbackto the right path.
Whenthingsseemall wrong,lookforgrowthopportunities. Especiallylookforareaswhere youneedto
letgo, leavingyourcaresinHisable hands. Do you trust Him to organize yourlife eventsasHe chooses,
or are youstill tryingtomake thingsgo accordingto your will? If youkeeptryingtocarry out your
intentionswhileHe is leadingyouinanotherdirectionyoudefyyourdesires.

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Be onthe look-outforwhatHe is doinginyourlife. WorshipHimbyliving close toHim, thankingHim in
all circumstances.
Time with Him
cannot be rushed.Whenyouare ina hurry, yourmindflittersbackandforthbetweenHim andthe tasks
aheadof you. Pushback the demandspressinginonyou;create a safe space aroundyou, a havenin
whichyoucan rest withHim. He alsodesiresthistime of focusedattentionandHe usesitto blessyou,
strengtheningandequippingyouforthe dayahead. Thus, spendingtime withHim isa wise investment.
BringHim the sacrifice of yourprecioustime. Thiscreatessacredspace aroundyou – space permeated
withyourSharedLove and Peace.
Stay conscious of Him
no matterwhat. RememberthatHe goesbefore youaswell aswithyou intothe day. Nothingtakes
Him bysurprise. He will notallowcircumstancestooverwhelmyou,solongasyoulookto Him forHis
control of yourlife. He will helpyoucope withwhateverthe momentpresents. CollaboratingwithHim
bringsblessingsthat far outweighall your challenges. Awarenessof yourSharedLove containJoythat
can endure all eventualities.
Thiswon’tbe easy,so He will provideGuidance.

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Guidance
God’s guidance can come in unexpected ways.
(Ex 3:2) God spoke toMoses froman unexpectedsource,aburningbush. WhenMosessaw it,he went
to investigate. Godmayuse unexpectedsourceswhencommunicatingtoustoo,whetherpeople,
thoughts,orexperiences. Be willingtoinvestigate,andbe opentoGod’ssurprises.
God supplies help wherever He leads.
(Ex 4:1) Mosesreluctance andfear were causedby over-anticipation. He wasworriedabouthow the
people mightrespondtohim. We oftenbuildupeventsinourmindsandthenpanicoverwhatmightgo
wrong. God doesnot ask usto go where He has not providedthe meanstohelp. Gowhere He leads,
trustinghimto supplycourage,confidence,andresourcesatthe rightmoment.
A clear message from God doesn’t mean instant results.
(Ex 6:9-12) WhenMosesgave God’s message tothe people,theyweretoodiscouragedtolisten. The
Hebrewsdidn’twanttohearany more about God and Hispromisesbecause the lasttime theylistened
to Moses,all theygot wasmore workand greatersuffering. Sometimesaclearmessage fromGodis
followedbya periodwhennochange inthe situationisapparent. Duringthattime,seemingsetbacks
may turnpeople awayfromwantingtohear more aboutGod. If youare a leader,don’tgive up. Keep
bringingpeople God’smessage asMosesdid. By focusingongodwhomust be obeyedratherthanon
the resultstobe achieved,goodleaderssee beyondtemporarysetbacksandreverses.
Stubbornness excludes you from God’s guidance.
(Ex 11:9-10) You may wonderhowPharaohcouldbe so foolishastosee God’smiraculouspowerand
still notlistentoMoses. But Pharaohhad hismindmade up longbefore the plaguesbegan. He couldn’t
believethatsomeone wasgreaterthenhe. Thisstubbornunbelief ledtoaheartso hard that evena
majorcatastrophe couldn’tsoftenhim. Finally,ittookthe greatestof all calamities,the lossof hisson,
to force himto recognize God’sauthority. Buteventhenhe wantedGodto leave,nottorule his
country. We mus notwaitfor great calamitiestodrive ustoGod, butmust openourhearts andminds
to hisdirectionnow.
God doesn’t always do what seems best to us.
(Ex 13:17-18) God doesn’talwaysworkinthe waythat seemsbesttous, insteadof guidingthe Israelites
alongthe directroute from Egyptto the promisedland,he tookthembya longerroute toavoidfighting
withthe Philistines. If Goddoesnot leadyoualong the shortestpathto your goal,don’tcomplainor

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resist. FollowHimwillinglyandtrustHimto leadyousafelyaroundunseenobstacles. He can see the
endof yourjourneyfromthe beginning,andHe knowsthe safestandbest route.
God guides you more than you think
(Ru2:20) Though Ruthmay not have alwaysrecognizedGod’sguidance,he hadbeenwithherevery
stepof the way. She wentto gleanand“just happened”toendupin the fieldownedbyBoazwho“just
happened”tobe a close relative. Thiswasmore thanmere coincidence. Asyougo aboutyour daily
tasks,God is workinginyourlife inwaysyoumay notevennotice. We mustnot close the dooron what
God can do. Eventsdo notoccur byluck or coincidence. We shouldhave faiththatGod isdirectingour
livesforHispurpose.
Guidance comes from acting on previous directions
(1 Sm 7:2-3) Israel mournedandsorrowgrippedthe nationfor20 years. The ark was putaway like an
unwantedbox inanattic, and itseemedasif the Lord had abandonedhispeople. Samuel,now agrown
How easyitis forus to complainaboutour problem’s,eventoGod,while we refusetoact, change,and
do whatHe requires. We don’teventake the advice he hasalreadygivenus. Doyou everfeel asif God
receive newguidance fromGoduntil you have actedonHis previousdirections.
Don’t ask God for it if you don’t intend to follow it.
(2 Chr 18:3-8) WickedAhabaskedJehoshaphattojoinforceswithhiminbattle (18:2,3). Before making
that commitment,JehoshaphatrightlysoughtGod’sadvice. However,whenGodgave hisanswer
throughthe prophetMicaiah(18:16). Jehoshaphatignoredit(18:28). It doesusno goodto seekGod’s
advice if we ignore itwhenitisgiven. Real love forGod isshownnotby merelyaskingfordirection,but
by followingthatdirectiononce itisgiven.
How do we receive God’s guidance.
(Ps25:4) Davidexpresseshisdesire forguidance. How dowe receive God’sguidance? The firststepis
to wantto be guidedandtorealize thatGod’sprimaryguidance systemisin HisWord, the Bible. Psalm
119 tellsof the endlessknowledge foundinGod’sWord. Byreadingit andconstantlylearningfromit,
we will gainthe wisdomtoperceive God’sdirectionforourli9ves. We maybe temptedtodemand
answersfromGod,but David askedfor direction. Whenwe are willingtoseekGod,learnfromHis
Word, andobeyHis commands,thenwill we receive Hisguidance.
How to find it in the Bible.
(Ps48:14) We oftenprayfor God’s guidance aswe struggle withdecisions. Whatwe needis both
guidance anda guide – a mapthat givesuslandmarksand directionsandaconstantcompanionwhohas
an intimate knowledgeof the wayandwill make sure we interpretthe mapcorrectly. The Bible will be
such a map,and the Holy Spiritwill be the constantcompanionandguide. Asyoumake yourway
throughlife,use boththe mapand yourGuide.

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When God isn’t clear.
(Jer1:5) God knewyouas he knewJeremiah,longbeforeyouwere bornorevenconceived. He thought
aboutyou and plannedforyou. When youfeel discouragedorinadequate,rememberthatgodhas
alwaysthoughtof youas valuable andthathe has a purpose inmindforyou.
God increases the available options.
(Mt 1:19) PerhapsJosephthoughthe hadonlytwooptions,divorce,Maryquietly,or have herstoned.
But God had a thirdoption – marry her (1:20-23). Inview of the circumstances,thishadnot occurredto
Joseph. ButGod oftenshowsus,that there are more optionsavailable thanwe think. AlthoughJoseph
seemedtobe doingthe right thingby breakingthe engagement,onlyGod’sguidance helpedhimmake
the bestdecision. Whenourdecisionsaffectthe livesof other,we mustalwaysseekGod’swisdom.
God comes only to prepared hearts.
(Mt 2:13) This wasthe seconddreamor visionthat Josephreceived fromGod. Joseph’sfirstdream
revealedthatMary’schildwouldbe the Messiah(1:20, 21). Hisseconddreamtoldhimhow to protect
the child’slife. AlthoughjosephwasnotJesus’natural father,he wasJesus’legal fatherandwas
responsible forhissafetyandwellbeing. Divine guidance comesonlytopreparedhearts. Joseph
remainedreceptive toGod’sguidance.
Recognizing God’s leading in your life.
(Jn12;!6) AfterJesus’resurrection,the disciplesunderstoodforthe firsttime manyof the prophecies
that theyhad missedalongthe way. Jesus’wordsandactionstookonnew meaningandmade more
sense. Inretrospect,the disciplessawhow Jesushadledthemintoadeeperandbetterunderstanding
of Histruth. Stopnowand thinkaboutthe eventsinyourlife leadinguptowhere youare now. How
has God ledyouto thispoint? Asyou grow older,youwill lookbackandsee God’sinvolvement more
clearlythanyoudo now.
Follow God’s leading even if it seems a demotion.
(Acts8:26) Philipwashavingasuccessful preachingministrytogreatcrowdsinSamaria (8:5-8),but he
obedientlyleftthatministrytotravel ona desertroad. Because Philipwentwere Godsenthim.
Ethiopiawasopeneduptothe gospel. FollowGod’sleadingeven if itseemslike ademotion. Atfirst
youmay not understandHisplans,butthe resultswill prove thatGod’swayisright.
He isthe Firm Foundationonwhichyoucan dance and singandcelebrate yourSharedLove. ThisisHis
highand holy-callingforyou;receive itasa preciousgift. LovingandEnjoyingHim isa higherpriority
than maintainingatidy,structuredlife. Give upyourstrivingtokeepeverythingundercontrol –an
impossible taskanda waste of preciousenergy.
His guidance foreachof His childrenisunique. That’swhylisteningtoHim is sovital for yourwell-being.
Let Himprepare youfor the day that awaitsyouand pointsyouinthe right direction. He is withyou
continually,sodon’tbe intimidated byfear. Thoughitstalksyou,it cannotharm you,as longas you
clingto Hishand. KeepyoureyesonHim, enjoyingPeace inyourSharedLove.
“This expression “God’sguidance,”or“God’swill,” is really quite confusing. Itseemsso far removed
fromselling insurance,cleaning house,ortaking the dog to the vet forhis shot. It seems to imply being
constantly ecstaticover“finding Jesus,”or living on Cloud Nine withoutinterruption. Isupposethiscould

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be partof it. But so many Christiansnewand old alike drapeso much glamorousecclesiasticaljargon
around it,that it gives theimpression of being foran elite few “spiritual” or “saintly”people. Thatwould
leave outmostof us, wouldn’tit. God? … Jesustold His disciples that He wasgoing away and would
send someoneto carry on forHim. This onewould be a Comforter,a Helper, to remind and to guide. If
He wasn’tsupposed to guideusin all things,how would weknow when He wasguiding and when He
wasn’t?
It occursto me thatif I’m tuned in to You,Jesus,I’mguided in everything Ido. Itcould include simple
thingsat the office,housework,even answering thepresumptuousring of thetelephoneto give some
lonely forgotten soula bit of myself.
Aftera lot of trial and error, God. I think I’velearned something aboutyourwill in my life. And the key is
so simple. So often I havestubbornly knocked and banged my head againsta doorof decision or
opportunity,Iwanted to push open. And so often nothing happened. Thedoorjustwouldn’tbudge. At
othertimes when you and I were tuned in to the samechannel. I barely touched thelatch, and the door
swung open. Everything poured out:happiness,opportunitiesforcreativity,spiritualpresents,deeper
relationshipswithfriends,and,when thetiming wasright,a chanceto shareyourlove with someone…
Your guidancekind of snowballs. God,fromrelying on You fordozensof little actionsand decisions,we
learn to seekYour guidancein times of big events,even tragedies,in ourlives. Gradually we begin to
rely on You in everything we do,no matterhow insignificant.
(FromStrugglesof a Sinner-SaintbyLucille Lavender)
One of the otherbenefitsthatyouwill receiveisHope.

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Hope
Comes from seeing God’s perspective
(Lv 26:40-45) These versesshowwhatGod meantwhenhe saidhe isslow to anger(Exodus34:6). Even
if the Israeliteschose todisobeyandwere scatteredamongtheirenemies. Godwouldstill give them
the opportunitytorepentandreturnto Him. Hispurpose wasnot to destroythem, butto helpthem
grow. Ourday-to-dayexperiencesandhardshipsare sometimesoverwhelmingunless we cansee that
God’spurpose isto bringabout continual growthinus,we may despair. The hope we neediswell
expressedinJeremiah29:11-12: “For I know the plansI have for you,”declaresthe Lord,“plansto
prosperyouand not to harmyou, planstogive youhope and a future. Thenyouwill call uponme and
come and pray to me,and will listentoyou.” To retainhope while we suffershowswe understand
God’smerciful waysof relatingtohispeople.
In the midst of a crisis.
(Mk 5:35-36) Jairus’scrisismade himfeel confused,afraid,andwithouthope. Jesus’wordstoJairusin
the midstof crisisspeaktous as well:“Don’tbe afraid,justbelieve.” InJesus’mind,there wasboth
hope and promise. The nexttime youfeelhopelessandafraid,lookatyourproblemfromJesus’point
of view. He isthe source of all hope andpromise.

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(2 Cor 4:18) Our ultimate hope whenwe are experiencingterrible illness,persecution,orpainisthe
realizationthatthislife isnot all there is – there islife afterdeath. Knowingthatwe will live forever
withGod participatinginaneternal love-festcanhelpuslive above the painthatwe face inthis life.
Hope in Jesus always rewarded.
(Lk 18:35) beggarsoftenwaitedalongthe roadsnearcities,because thatwaswhere theywere able to
contact the most people. Usuallydisabledinsome way,beggarswere unable toearna living. Medical
helpwasnot available fortheirproblems,andpeople tendedtoignore theirobligationtocare for the
needy(Leviticus25:36-38). Thus beggarshad little hope of escaping theirdegradingwayof life. But
thisblindbeggartookhope inthe Messiah. He shamelesslycriedout forJesus’attention,andJesussaid
that hisfaithallowedhimtosee. Nomatterhow desperate yoursituationmayseem, if youcall outto
Jesusinfaith,he will helpyou.
How it helps us live now.
(Phil 3:13-14) Paul had reasonto forgetwhatwas behind –he had heldthe coats of those whostoned
Stephen,the firstChristianmartyr(Acts7:57, 58 Paul iscalledSaul here). We have all done thingsfor
whichwe are ashamed,andwe live inthe tensionof whatwe have beenandwhatwe wantto be.
Because ourhope is inChrist,however,we canletgoof passguiltand lookforwardtowhat God will
helpusbecome. Don’tdwell onyourpast. Insteadgrow in the knowledge of Godbyconcentratingon
your relationshipwithHimnow. Realize thatyouare forgiven andthenmovedtoa life of faithand
obedience. Lookforwardtoa fullerandmore meaningful life because of yourhope inChrist.
Antidote for boredom.
(Heb6:11-12) Hope keepsthe Christianfrombecominglazyorfeelingbored. Like anathlete,trainhard
and run well,rememberingthe rewardthatliesahead(Phillippians3:14).
Because God is in control of History.
(Rv22;21) RevelationcloseshumanhistoryasGenesisopenedit –in paradise. Butthere isone distinct
difference inRevelation –evil isgone forever. GenesisdescribesAdamandEve walkingandtalkingwith
God. Revelationdescribespeople worshipingGodface toface. Genesisdescribesagardenwithanevil
serpent. Revelationdescribesaperfectcitywitnoevil. The Gardenof Edenwasdestroyedbysin,but
paradise isrecreatedinthe newJerusalem.
The book of Revelationendswithanurgentrequest:“come LordJesus,”ina worldof problems,
persecution,evil,andimmorality. Christcallsustoendure inour faith. Oureffortstobetterour world
as important,buttheirresultscannotcompare withthe transformationthatJesuswill bringaboutwhen
he returns. He alone controlshumanhistory,forgivessin,andwill re-create the earthandbringlasting
peace.
Revelationis,aboveall abookof hope. Itshowsthat no matterwhathappensonearth, God isin
control. It promisesthatevil will notlastforever. Anditdepictsthe wonderful rewardthatiswaiting
for all those whobelieve inJesusChristasSaviorandLord.
Hope in Him,and youwill be protectedfromdepressionandself-pity. Hope islike acord connecting
youto heaven. The more youclingto thiscord, the more He bears the weightof yourburdens,thusyou
are lightened. Heavinessisnot withinHis Kingdom. Clingtohope,andyouwill be refreshed.

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No Problem-Free Life.
Give up the illusionthatyoudeserveaproblem-freelife. Partof youmay still believe thatthere isano
problemlife. Thisisa false hope. Itonlyexistinheaven. Toget there,youneedtogo throughthe
challengesof earthlylife. The bestwayto get through themisto holdonyour lovershand. That kindof
trust issupernatural,agiftof His indwellingSpirit. Whenthingsseemtogowrong,trust Himanyway.
He looksforwardtoyour response.
Link yourhope not to problemsolvinginthislife,buttothe promise of an eternityof problem-freelife
inHeaven.
Waiting, Trusting, and Hoping
Are Intricatelyconnected,like bloodvesselsinterwoventoforma strongchain. Trustingis the main
artery,because itisthe response fromHis childrenthatHe desiresthe most. Waitingandhoping
strengthensthisbloodvesselandconnectsyoutoHim, andis evidence thatyoureallydotrustHim. If
youmouth the words“I trust you”while anxiouslytryingtomake thingsgoyourway,your wordsring
hollow. Hopingisfuture-directed,connectingyoutoyourinheritance inHeaven. However,the benefits
of hope buildsyoursharedlove.
Because youare His,youdon’tjust passtime inyour waiting. Youcan waitexpectantly,inhopefultrust
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Get some Joy.
Contrasting two kinds
(Ps4:7) Twokindsof joy are contrastedhere – inwardjoythat comesfrom knowingandtrustingGod
and happinessthatcomesasa resultof pleasantcircumstances. Inwardjoyissteadyaslongas we trust
God, happinesscoversitup. Inwardjoyislasting,happinessistemporary.
Inward joy vs happiness
(Ps16:9) David’sheartwas glad – he had foundthe secret tojoy. True joyis far deeperthanhappiness,
we can feel joyinspite of our deepesttroubles. Happinessistemporarybecause itisbasedonexisting
circumstances,butjoyislastingbecause itisbasedonGod’s presence withinus. Aswe contemplate his
dailypresence we will experience joy. Don’tbase yourlife oncircumstances,butonGod.
What true Joy is?
(Jn15:11) Whenthingsare goingwell,we feelelated. Whenhardshipscome,we sinkintodepression.
But true joytranscendsthe rollingwavesof circumstance. Joycomesfroma consistentloving
relationshipwithGod. Whenourlivesare intertwinedwithHis,he will helpuswalkthroughadversity
withoutsinkingintodebilitatinglowsandmanage prosperitywithoutmovingintodeceptivehighs. The
joydrivingwith“sharinglove”withGoddailywill keepuslevel headed,nomatterhow highorlowthe
circumstances.
A cure for jealousy.
(Lk 1:42-43) Eventhoughshe herself waspregnantwithalongawaitedson. Elizabethcouldhave envied
Mary, whose sonwould be greaterthanher own. Insteadshe wasfilledwithjoythatthe motherof the
Lord wouldvisither. Have youeverenviedpeoplewhomGodhasapparentlysingledoutforspecial
blessing? A cure forjealousyistorejoice withthose people,realizingthatGoduseshispeople inways
bestsuitedtohispurpose.
Forgiveness changes bitterness to joy.
(Lk 15:30) In the storyof the lostson, the father’sresponse isacontrastedwiththe olderbrother’s. The
fatherforgave because he wasfilledwithlove. The sonrefusedtoforgive becausehe wasbitterabout
the injustice of itall. Hisresentmentrenderedhimjustaslosttothe father’slove asthe younger
brotherhad been. Don’tletanythingkeepyoufromforgivingothers. If youare refusingtoforgive
people youare missingawonderful opportunitytoexperience joy,andshare itwithothers. Make your
joygrow,forgive somebodywhohashurtyou.
The key to Joy is:
(Jn 17:13) Joyis a commontheme inChrist’steachings –he wants usto be joyful (see 15:11,16:24, 33).
The keyto immeasurable joyislivinginintimate contactwithChrist,the source of all joy. Whenwe do,
we experience God’sspecial care andprotectionandsee the victory,God’sbringsevenwhendefeat
seemscertain.
Obtaining the ultimate Joy.
(Phil 4:4-5) Ultimate joycomesfromChristdwellingwithinus. Christisnearandat hissecondcoming
we will fullyrealizethisultimatejoy. He wholiveswithinuswill fulfill Hisfinal purposesforus.

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Do not fail toreceive Joyfrom Him,forHe givesitout,abundantly. The more youShare Love withhim,
the more His blessingsflowintoyou. Inthe Lightof His Love,youare gradually transformed. It is
throughspendingtime withHim thatyourealize howwide and long and high and deepisMy Love for
you.
Sometimesthe relationshipHe offersyouseemstoogoodtobe true. He poursHisveryLife intoyou,
and all youhave to do isreceive Him. Ina worldcharacterizedbyworkingandtaking,the
encouragementtorestandreceiving seemstooeasy. There isa close connectionbetweenreceiving
and believing. AsyoutrustHim more and more,youare able to receive HimandHis blessings,
abundantly. Be Still and Know I Am God.
Two Masters
You cannot serve twomasters. If he is truly yourMaster, youwill desire toplease Him above all others.
If pleasingpeopleisyourgoal,youwill become aslave tothem. People canbe harshtaskmasterswhen
yougive thempoweroveryou.
If He is the Master of your life,He will alsobe yourprimarylover. YourservingHim isrootedand
groundedin yourSharedLove. The closerthe twoof you are, the betteris yourlovingrelationship. The
joyof livingin yoursharedlove outshinesall otherpleasures. He wantsyouto reflectyourLove byliving
closerto Him.
Morning Stillness
MeetHim inthe morningstillness,while yourmindisstill fresh. Singlove songstoHis lovingname. As
yougive yourself toHim,His Spiritgrowswithin youtill youare floodedwithHislove andare trusting
Him
The world’swayof pursuingjoysisgraspingandhoarding. Youattain His Joysby lettinggoand giving.
The more yougive yourself toHimandHis ways,the more He fillsyouwithJoy.
Bubbling Spring
He iscreatingsomethingnewinyou:abubblingspringof Joythat spillsoverintoothers’lives. Donot
mistake thisJoyforyour ownor try to take creditfor itin any way. Instead,watchindelightasHis Spirit
flowsthroughyouto blessothers. Letyourself become areservoirof the Spirit’sfruit.
Your part is to live close toHim,opentoall that He is doinginyou. Don’ttry to control the streamingof
His Spiritthroughyou. JustkeepfocusingonHimas the two of you walkthroughthisdaytogether.
Enjoyyour SharedLove whichpermeatesyouwithLove,JoyandPeace.
Learn to Laugh
at Yourself more freely. Don’ttake yourself oryourcircumstancessoseriously. Relax andknow thatHe
isGod and He is lovingyou. Whenyoudesire Hiswill above all else,life becomesmuchlessthreatening.
Stoptryingto monitorHis responsibilities –thingsthat are beyondyourcontrol. Findfreedomby
acceptingthe boundariesof yourdomain.
Laughterlightensyourloadandliftsyourheartintoheavenlyplaces. Yourlaughterrisestoheavenand
blendswithangelicmelodiesof praise. Justasparentsdelightinthe laughterof theirChildren,soHe

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delightsinhearingHischildrenlaugh. He rejoiceswhenyoutrustHim enoughto enjoyyourlife
lightheartedly.
Do not missthe Joyof yourSharedLove by carryingthe weightof the worldonyour shoulders. Rather,
takeMy yokeupon you,and learn fromMe. My yokeis comfortableand pleasant;My burden islight
and easily borne.
WiththisJoyin yourheart youare readyfor the changesto yourmindthat He will helpyoumake.

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Your Mind
What we put into it determines what comes out.
(Prv15:14) What we feedourmindsisjustas importantas whatwe feedourbodies. The kindsof books
we read,the people we talkwith,the musicwe listento,andthe timeswe watchTV/Internetare all
part of our mental diet. Be discerningbecause whatyoufeedyourmindinfluencesyourtotal health
and well-being. Thusa strong desire todiscoverknowledge isamark of wisdom.
(Phil 4:8) What we put intoour minds determineswhatcomesoutinour wordsandactions. Paul tells
us to programour mindswiththoughtsthatare true,noble,right,pure,lovely,admirable,excellent,and
praiseworthy. Doyouhave problemswithimpurethoughtsanddaydreams? Examinewhat youare
puttingintoyourmindthroughtelevision,internet,books,conversations,movies,andother
publications. Replace harmful inputwithwholesome material. Above all readGod’sWordand pray.
AskGod to helpyouto focusyour mindonwhat isgood andpure. Ittakespractice,but it can be done.

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How to renew yours.
(Rom12:2) Christiansare calledto“not conformany longertothe patternof thisworld,”withits
behaviorandcustomsthat are usuallyselfishandoftencorrupting. ManyChristians wiselydecide that
much worldlybehaviorisoff limitsforthem. Ourrefusal toconform tothe world’svalues,however,
mustgo evendeeperthenthe level of behaviorandcustoms – itmust be firmlyplantedinourminds –
“be transformedbythe renewingof yourmind.” Itis possible toavoidmostworldlycustomsandstillbe
proud,covetous,selfish.Stubborn,andarrogant. Onlywhenthe HolySpiritrenews,reeducates,and
redirectsourmindsare we trulytransformed(see 8:5).
I love you regardlessof howwell youare performing. Sometimesyoufeel uneasy,wonderingif youare
doingenoughtobe worthyof God’s Love. No matterhow exemplaryyourbehavior,the answertothat
questionwillalwaysbe no. Yourperformance andyourSharedLove are totally differentissues,which
youneedto sort out. I love Youwith an everlastingLove that flowsoutfrometernitywithoutlimitsor
conditions. Therefore,youraccomplishmentas aChristianhasno bearingonHis love foryou. Even
your abilitytoassesshowwell youare doingona givendayisflawed. Yourlimitedhumanperspective
and the conditionof yourbody,distortHis evaluationof you.
The mediarelentlesslyreportbadnews:forbreakfast,lunchanddinner. A steadydietof theirreports
will sickenyou. Insteadof focusingonfickle,ever-changingnewsbroadcasts,tune intothe LivingWord
– the One whois alwaysthe same. LetScripture saturate yourmindand heart,and youwill walkalong
the path of life. Eventhoughyoudon’tknow whatwill happen tomorrow,youcanbe absolutelysure of
your ultimate destination.
Continually Listen to Him.
He has muchto communicate toyou,so manypeople andchallengesin needof prayerortrust. He is
trainingyouto setyour mindonHim more and more,turningoutdistractionsthroughthe helpof His
Spirit.
WalkwithHim inholytrust,respondingtoHis actionsrather thantryingto make thingsfityour plans.
He setsyoufree,andthat includesfreedomfromcompulsiveplanning. Whenyourmindspinswitha
multitude of thoughts,youcannothearHis voice. A mindpreoccupiedwithplanning,payshomage to
the idol of control. Turn from thisidolatrybackto Him. ListentoHim andlive well.
Bring Him Your Mind
For restand renewal. LetHimbring your sharedlove intoyourthoughts. Asyourmindstopsracing,
your bodyrelaxesandyouregainawarenessof Him Thisawarenessisvital toyourspiritual well-being;
it isyour lifeline,spirituallyspeaking.
There are actuallymore thanfourdimensions inthisworldwhereyoulive. Inadditiontothe three
dimensionsof space andthe one of time,there isthe dimensionof opennesstoOurSharedLove. This
dimensiontranscendsthe others,givingyouglimpsesof heavenwhile youstillreside onearth. This was
part of His original designformankind. AdamandEve usedtowalkwithHim in the garden,before their
expulsionfromEden. He wantsyouto walkwithHimin the gardenof yourheart,where He has taken
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The world is too much for you.
Your mindleapsfromchallenge tochallenge tochallenge,tanglingyourthoughtsinknots. Whenyou
thinklike that,youleave Him outof your worldview andyourmindbecomesdarkened. ThoughHe
yearnsto help,He will notviolate yourfreedom. He standssilentlyinthe backgroundof yourmind,
waitingforyouto rememberthatHe is withyou.
Whenyouturn from yourchallengestoyourSharedLove,yourloadisimmediatelylighter.
Circumstancesmaynothave changed,butthe twoof you carry yourburdens together. Your
compulsionto“fix”everythinggiveswaytodeep,satisfyingconnectionwithHim. Togetherthe twoof
youcan handle whateverthisdaybrings.
The Peace that He Gives You
transcendsyourmind. Whenmostof yourmental energygoesintoeffortstofigure thingsout,youare
unable toreceive thisgift. He will lookintoyourmindandsee thoughtsspinningroundandround:
goingnowhere,accomplishingnothing. All the while,His Peace hoversoveryou,searchingforaplace to
land.
Be still inyourSharedLove,invitingHim tocontrol your thoughts. LetHis love soakintoyourmindand
heartuntil youare aglowwithHisveryPower. Thisisthe mosteffectivewaytoreceive His Peace.
All Mine
He,JesusChrist,wantyouto be all His,filledwith yourSharedLove. He gave everythingforyoubyliving
as a man, thendyingforyour sinsandlivingagain. Holdback nothingfromHim. Bringyour mostsecret
thoughtsintothe Lightof His Love. AnythingyoubringtoHim, He transformand cleanse fromdarkness.
He knowseverythingaboutyou,farmore than youknow of yourself. ButHe restrainsHisyearningsto
“fix”you,waitinginsteadforyoutocome to Him for help. Imagine the divine restraintthisrequires,for
I have all Powerin heavenand on earth.
Come to Himwitha teachable spirit. Share Love withHim throughthanksgiving,desiringtobe
transformed.
Withyour mindtransformed,youare readyto live yournew life asGod’slover.

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Life comes from God
Life comes from the breath of God
(Gn 2:7) “From the dust of the ground” impliesthatthere isnothingfancyaboutthe chemical elements
makingupour bodies. The bodyisa lifelessshelluntil Godbringsitalive with“Hisbreathof life.” When
God removeshislife givingbreath,ourbodiesonce againreturntodust. Therefore,ourlife andworth
come from God’sSpirit. Many boastof theirachievementsandabilities asthoughtheywere the
originatorof theirownstrengths. Othersfeel worthlessbecause theirabilitiesdonotstandout. In
reality,ourworthcomesnot fromour achievementsbutfromthe Godof the universe,whochoosesto
give usthe mysteriousandmiraculousgiftof life. Value life,ashe does.
(Jn20:22) God’sfirstbreathmade man differentfrom all otherformsof creation. Now,throughthe
breathof Jesus,Godimpactedeternal,spirituallife. Withthisinbreathingcame the powertodoGod’s
will onearth.
How to find “real” life
(Dt 8;3) Jesusquotedthisverse whenthe devil temptedhimtoturnstonesintobread(Matthew $:4).
Many people thinkthatlife isbasedonsatisfyingtheirappetites. If theycanearnenoughmoneyto
dress,eat,and playinhighstyle,theythinktheyare living“the goodlife.’ Butsuchthingsdonot satisfy
our deepestlongings. Inthe endtheyleave usemptyanddissatisfied. Real life,accordingtoMoses,
comesfromtotal commitmenttoGod,the one who createdlife itself. Itrequiresdiscipline,sacrifice,
and hard work,andthat’s whymostpeople neverfind it.

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Using it more wisely.
(Ps90:12) Realizingthatlife isshorthelpsususe the little time we have more wiselyandforeternal
good. Take time tonumberyour daysby asking,“Whatdo I want tosee happeninmy life beforeIdie?
What small stepcouldI take towardthat purpose today?
God’s ability to restore it.
(Ps126:5-6) God’s abilitytorestore life isbeyondourunderstanding. Forestsburndownandare able to
grow back. Brokenbonesheal. Evengrief isnota permanentcondition. Ourtears can be seedsthat
will growintoa harvestof joybecause God isable to bringgoodout of tragedy. Whenburdenedby
sorrow,knowthat yourtimesof grief will endandthatyou againwill findjoy. We mustbe patientaswe
wait. God’s greatharvestof joy iscoming.
How we waste ours.
(Ps144:3-4) Life is short,Davidremindsusthatit is“like a breath”and that our “daysare like afleeting
shadow.” Jamessaysthat our livesare “a mistthat appearsfora little while andthenvanishes”(James
4:14). Because life isshort,we shouldliveforGodwhile we have the time. Don’twaste yourlife by
selectinganinferiorpurpose thathasnolastingvalue. Learnto Love God – He alone can make your life
worthwhile purposefulandmeaningful through“shared love.”
The best way to enjoy life.
(Mt 10:39) thisverse isa positive andnegativestatementof the same truth,clingingtothislife may
cause us to forfeitthe bestfromChristinthisworldandin the next. The more we love thislife’s
rewards(leisure,power,popularity,financialsecurity),the more we willdiscoverhow emptytheyreally
are. The bestway to enjoylife,therefore,istoloosenourgreedygrasponearthlyrewardssothat we
can be free tofollowChrist. Indoingso,we will inheriteternallifeandbeginatonce to experience the
benefitsof followingChrist.
Why yours must be filled with God?
(Mt 12:43-45) Jesuswas describingthe attitude of the nationof Israel andthe religiousleadersin
particular. Justcleaningupone’slife withoutfillingitwithGodleavesplentyof roomforSatan to enter.
The book of Ezra recordshowthe people ridthemselvesof idolatry,butfailedtoreplace itwithlove for
God and obediencetoHim. Riddingourlivesof sinisthe firststep. We mustalsotake the secondstep,
fillingourliveswithGod’sWordandthe HolySpirit. Unfilledandcomplacentpeople are easytargetsfor
Satan.
Which life is most important to you.
(Mt 14:35-36) The people recognizedJesusasagreat healer,buthow manyunderstoodwhoHe truly
was? Theycame to Jesusforphysical healing,butdidtheycome forspiritual healing? Theycame to
prolongtheirlivesonearth,butdidtheycome to secure theireternal lives? PeoplemayseekJesusto
learnvaluable lessonsfromhislifeorinhopesof findingrelief frompain. Butwe missJesuswhole
message if we seekhimonlytoheal ourbodies butnotour souls,if we lookto Himfor helponlyinthis
life,ratherthanforHis eternal planforus. Onlywhenwe understandthe real JesusChristcanwe
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(Lk 9;24-25) if thispresentlife ismostimportanttoyou,youwill doeverythingyoucanto protectit.
You will notwantto do anythingthatmightendangeryoursafety,health,orcomfort. Bycontrast,if
followingJesusismostimportant,youmayfindyourself in unsafe,unhealthy,anduncomfortable
places. You will riskdeath,butyouwill notfearitbecause youknow thatJesuswill raise youtoeternal
life. Nothingmaterial cancompensate forthe lossof eternal life. Jesusdisciplesare nottouse their
livesonearthfor theirownpleasure –theyshouldspendtheirlivesservingGodandpeople.
What it means to live life abundantly.
(Mk 8:36-37) Many people spendall theirenergyseekingpleasure. Jesussaid,however,thataworldof
pleasure centeredon possessions.Position,orpowerisultimatelyworthless. Whateveryouhave on
earthis onlytemporary,itcannotbe exchangedforyoursoul. If youworkhard at gettingwhatyou
want,you mighteventuallyhave a“pleasurable”life,butinthe endyouwill findithollow andempty.
Are you willingtomake the pursuitof god more importantthanthe selfishpursuitof pleasure? Follow
Jesus,andyouwill knowwhatitmeansto live abundantlynow andtohave eternal life aswell.
What you put into it is more important than what you get out of it.
(Acts20:24) We oftenfeel thatlife isafailure unlesswe’re gettingalotoutof it,recognition,fun,
money,success. ButPaul consideredlife worthnothingunlesshe useditforGod’swork. What he put
intolife wasfarmore importantthanwhathe gotout. Which ismore importantto you – whatyou get
out of life,orwhatyou putintoit.
Life is short no matter how long you live.
(Jas4:14) Life isshort no matterhowmany yearswe live. Don’tbe deceivedintothinkingthatyouhave
lotsof remainingtime tolive forChrist,toenjoyyourlove dones,orto dowhat youknow you should.
Live forgod today! Then,nomatterwhenyour life ends,youwill have fulfilledGod’splanforyou.
All lastingLife emanatesfromHim. People searchforlife inmanywrongways;chasingafterfleeting
pleasures,accumulatingpossessionsandwealth,tryingtodenythe inevitable effectsof aging.
Meanwhile,He freelyoffersabundantLife toeveryone whoturnstowardHim. Asyoucome to Me and
takeMy Yoke upon you. He fillsyouwithHisveryLife. Thisishow He choosestolive inthe worldand
accomplishHispurposes. Thisisalsohow He blessesyouwithjoyunspeakable andfull of Glory. The
Joyis His,and the Glory is His;but He bestowsthemonyouas youlive inyourSharedLove,invitingHim
to live fullyinyou.
Love Who You Are
He lovesyouforwhoyou are,not forwhat youdo. Many voicesvie forcontrol of your mind,especially
whenyousitin silence. You mustlearnto discernwhatisHis voice andwhat isnot. AskHis Spiritto
give youthisdiscernment. Manyof His childrenrunaroundin circles,tryingtoobeythe variousvoices
directingtheirlives. Thisresultsinfragmented,frustratingpatternsof living. Donotfall intothistrap.
WalkcloselywithHimeachmoment,listeningforHisdirectivesandenjoyingHis Companionship.
Refuse toletothervoicestie youupin knots.
Overflowing Abundance
He isa God of bothintricate detail and overflowingabundance. Whenyouentrustthe detailsof your
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hearingyourprayers,sofeel free tobringHim all your requests. The more youpray,the more answers
youcan receive. Bestof all,yourfaithisstrengthenedasyou see how precisely,He respondstoyour
specificprayers.
Because He is infiniteinall Hisways,youneednotfearthat He will runoutof resources. Come toHim
inlovingexpectationsof receivingall Godfeels youneed –and sometimesmuchmore thanyou
expected. Come toHimwithopenhandsandheart,readyto receive all He has for you.
Mine for all time
Nothingcanseparate youfrom His Love;exceptYourrejection. Butrestassure,since He has invested
His veryLife inyou,He will alsoworkon gettingyouback. Whenyour mindgoesintoneutral andyour
thoughtsflowfreely,youtendtofeel anxiousandalone. Yourfocusbecomesproblemsolving. Toget
your mindbackintogear, justturn towardHim,bringingyourself andyourchallengesintoyourShared
Love.
Many problemsvanishinstantlyinthe Lightof His Love,because yourealize youare neveralone. Other
problemsmayremain,buttheybecome secondarytoknowingHim andrejoicinginthe relationshipHe
so freelyoffersyou. Eachmomentyoucan choose to participate inyourSharedLove or to love your
challenges.
No Guidance
WhenHe givesyouno special guidance,staywhereyouare. Concentrate ondoingyour everydaytasks
inawarenessof His SharedLove withyou. The joyof yourSharedLove will shine onyou,asyou do
everythingforHim. Thusyouinvite Him intoeveryaspectsof yourlife. AlthoughcollaboratingwithHim
inall thingsyou allowHis life tomerge withyours. Thisisthe secretnotonlyof joyful livingbut alsoof
victoriousliving. He designedyoutodependonHim momentbymoment,recognizingthat apartfrom
Me you can do nothing.
Be thankful forquietdays,whennothingspecial seemstobe happening. Insteadof beingboredbythe
lack of action,use timesof routine toget to know Him better. Thiswill speakvolumesinthe spiritual
world. Moreover,youare richlyblessed whenyouwalktrustinglywithHim throughthe routinesof your
days.
Heaven is both present and future.
As youwalk alongyourlife-pathholdingHis hand,youare alreadyintouchwiththe essence,of heaven;
nearnesstoHim. Youcan findmanyhintsof heavenalongyourpathway,because the Earthisalive with
SharedLove. It awakensyourheart,gentlyremindingyouof His love. Birdsandflowers,treesandskies
evoke praisestoHisholyName. Keepyoureyes andearsfullyopenasyoujourneywithHim.
At the endof yourlife-pathisanentrance toheaven. OnlyHe knowswhenyouwill reachthat
destination,butHe is preparingyoufor iteach stepof the way. The absolute certaintyof yourheavenly
home givesyouPeace andJoy,to helpyoualongyourjourney.
God’s Path
You are onthe pathof choosing. There isnorandomnessaboutyourlife. Here andNow provide the
coordinatesof yourdailylife. Mostpeople lettheirmomentsslipthroughtheirfingers,half-lived. They

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avoidthe presentbyworryingaboutthe future or longingfora bettertime andplace. Theyforgetthat
theyare creatureswhoare subjectto the limitationsof time andspace. TheyforgettheirCreatorand
Controller,whowalkswiththemonlyinthe present.
Everymomentisalive withyourSharedLove,tothose whose heartsare intimatelyconnected withHim.
As yougive yourself more andmore toa life of constantlovingHim,youwill findthatyousimplyhave
no time forworry. Thus, youare freedtoletHis Spirittodirectyour steps,enablingyoutowalkalong
the path of Peace.
When You approach Him
In stillnessandintrust,youare strengthened. Youneedabufferzone of silence aroundyouinorderto
focus on thingsunseen. Since He is invisible,youmustnotletyoursensesdominate yourthinking. The
curse of thisage isoverstimulation of the senses,which blocksoutawarenessof the unseenworld.
The tangible worldstill reflectsHis Love,tothose whohave eyesthatsee and earsthat hear. Spending
time alone withHim isthe bestway to developseeingeyesandhearingears. The goal is to be aware of
unseenthingsevenasyoulive outyourlife inthe visible world.
Stay With Him
On the HighRoad. Many voicesclamorfor yourattention,tryingtodivertyouto anotherpath. But He
has calledyou towalkeverso closelywithHim, soakinginyourSharedLove,livinginHisPeace. Thisis
His unique designforyou,plannedbefore the worldbegan.
He Has calledeachof His childrentoa differentpath,distinctlydesignedforthatone. Do not letanyone
convince youthathis pathis the onlyrightway. Andbe careful notto pronounce yourpath as superior
to another’sway. What He requiresof youis to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Me
– whereverI lead.
Nowthat we have takena lookat how your life shouldhave beenimpacted,letustake anotherlookat
the path youneedto follow.

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The Path
You are His belovedChild, Ichoseyou beforethefoundation of theworld, towalkwithHimalongpaths
designeduniquelyforyou. Concentrate onkeepinginstepwithHim,insteadof tryingtoanticipate His
Plansforyou. If you trustthat His plansare to prosperyou and not to harm you, youcan relax and
enjoythe presentmoment.
Your hope and yourfuture are rootedin heaven,where aneternal love-festawaitsyou. Nothingcanrob
youof yourinheritance of unimaginablerichesandwell-being. SometimesHe grantyouglimpsesof
your gloriousfuture,toencourage youandencourage youon-ward. Butyourmainfocusshouldbe
stayingclose toHim. He setsthe pace by keepingwithinyourneedsandHis purposes.
While walkingthe path,holdingyourlovershand;youwill needtodevelop“Patience.”

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Patience
In waiting for God’s timing.
(Gn 8:6-16) OccasionallyNoahwouldsendabirdout to testthe earth andsee if it wasdry. But Noah
didn’tgetout of the ark until God toldhimto. He waswaitingforGod’stiming. God knew thateven
thoughthe waterwas gone,the earthwas not dryenoughforNoah andhis familytoventure out. What
patience Noahshowed,especially afterspendinganentire yearinside the boat! We,like Noah,must
trust God to give uspatience duringthose difficulttimeswhenwe mustwait.
(Jn11:5-7) Jesuslovedthisfamilyandoftenstayed withthem. He knew theirpainbutdidnotrespond
immediately. Hisdelayhada specificpurpose. God’stiming,especiallyhisdelays,maymake usthinkhe
isnot answeringorisnot answeringthe waywe want. But he will meetall ourneedsaccordingtoHis
perfectschedule andpurpose (Philippians4:19). Patientlyawaithistiming.
Key to achieving many goals
(Gn 29:20-28) People oftenwonderif workingalongtime forsome thingtheydesire isworthit. Jacob
worked7 years to marryRachel. Afterbeingtricked,he agreedtowork7 more yearsfor her(although
he didget to marry Rachel shortlyafterhe marriedLeah) The most importantgoalsanddesiresare
worthworkingandwaitingfor. Moviesand televisionhave createdthe illusionthatpeoplehave towait
onlyaboutan hour to solve theirproblems orgetwhattheywant. Don’tbe trappedintothinkingthe
same is true inreal life. Patience isthe hardestwhenwe needitthe most,butit isthe keyto achieving
our goals.
Problems can exercise ours
(Ex 5:22-23) Pharaohhad justincreasedthe Hebrews’workload,andMosesprotestedthatGodhad not
rescuedhispeople. Mosesexpectedfasterresultsandfewerproblems. WhenGodis at work,suffering,
setbacks,andhardshipmaystill occur. InJames1:2-4 we are encouragedtobe happywhendifficulties
come our way. Problemsdevelopourpatience andcharacterbyteachingus to: (1) trust God to do what
isbestfor us,(2) lookfor waysto honorGod in ourpresentsituation,(3) rememberthatGodwill not
abandonus,and (4) watchfor God’s planforus.
God uses delays to test ours.
(1 Sm 13:11-12) It isdifficulttotrustGod whenyoufeel yourresourcesslippingaway. WhenSaul felt
that time wasrunningout,he became impatientwithGod’stiming. Inthinkingthatthe ritual wasall he
needed,he substitutedthe ritual forfaithinGod.
Whenfacedwitha difficultdecision,don’tallow impatience todrive youtodisobeyGod. Whenyou
knowwhatGod wants,followhisplanregardlessof the consequences. Godoftenusesdelaystotest
our obedience andpatience.
Means directingyourattentiontoHim inhopeful anticipationof whatHe will do. ItmeanstrustingHim
witheverybitof yourbeing,insteadof tryingtofigure thingsoutyourself. Waiting onHimisthe wayHe
designedyou tolive;all day,everyday. He createdyouto stayconsciousof Him as you goabout your
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He has promisedmanyblessingstothose whowaitonHim:renewedstrength,livingabove one’s
challenges,increasinghope, awarenessof yourSharedLove. WaitingonHimenablesyoutolove Him by
livingindeepdependence onHim,readytodoHis will.
As I write this I’mat 35,000 feet.It’s5:45 p.m.,Saturday. Itshould be4:15. The airliner wasan hourand
a half late …
It all started withthe delay “Mechanicaltrouble,”they said. “Inexcusable,”responded a coupleof
passengers. Frankly,I’d ratherthey fix it beforewe leave then decide to do something in route. But we
Americansdon’tlike to wait. Delays are irritating. Aggravating,Nerve-jangling. With Impatient
predictability weare consistently – and I mightadd obnoxlously –demanding. Wewantwhatwe want
when we wantit. Nota one of us findsa delay easy to accept….
You’rea little late to work. The freeway’sfullso you decide to slip through trafficusing a rarely-known
shortcutonly Daniel Boonecould havefigured out. You hit all green lights as you slide around trucksand
slowdrivers. Justaboutthetime you startfeeling foxy,an ominousclang,clang,clang strikesyour ears.
A train,You’redelayed. How’syourresponse?
The rubberof Christianitymeets the road of proof atjustsuch intersectionsof life. As the expression
goes,ourfaithis “fleshed out”at times like that. The best testof my Christian growth occursin the
mainstreamof life, notin the quietnessof my study. Anybody can walkin victory when surrounded by
books,silence,and the warmwavesof sunshinesplashing through thewindow. Butthoselatetakeoffs,
thosegrocery lines, thosebusy restaurants,thosetrains! That’swherefaith is usually “flushed out”…
The ability to acceptgraciously. Calmly. Quietly. Understandingly. With a smile. If the robeof purity is
faraboverubies,the garmentof patienceis even beyond that. Why? Becausethe threadsof
unselfishnessand kindnessarewoven on theLord’sloom,guided within ourlives by the Spirit of God.
But alas,the garmentseldomclothesus!
Rememberthis verse?
But the fruitof theSpirit is love,joy,peace…
And whatelse? The first three are the necessary stylealong with the buttonsand zipperof the garment.
The rest give it color and beauty:
… patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentleness,self-control…(Galatians5:22-23).
The ability to acceptdelay. Or disappointment. To smile backat setbacksand respond with a pleasant,
understanding spirit. To cool it awhile othersaround you causeit. For change,Irefused to be hassled by
today’sdelay. Iasked God to keep me calm and cheerful,relaxed and refreshed. Know what? He did.
He really did. No pills. No booze. No hocus-pocus. Justrelaxing in the powerof Jesus.
(FromGrowing Strong in the Seasonsof Life by CharlesSwindoll).

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If you have SharedLove withGod and followedthe pathHe has laidoutfor you;youare readyfor
Peace.

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Bless You With Peace
Found by focusing on God’s promises.
(Gn 21:7) Afterrepeatedpromises,avisitbytwoangels,andthe appearance of the Lord himself. Sara
finallycriedoutwithsurprise andjoyatthe birth of herson. Because of her doubt,worryand fear,she
had forfeitedthe peace she couldhave feltinGod’swonderful promise toher. The wayto bringpeace
to a troubledheartisto focuson God’spromisesandto love andtrust Him, to do whathe saves.
What would you give up for it?
(Gn 26:17-22) Three timesIsaacand hismendugnew wells. Whenthe firsttwo disputesarose,Isaac
movedon. Finallythere wasenoughroomforeveryone. Ratherthanstart a huge conflict,Isaac
compromisedforthe sake of peace. Wouldyoube willingtoforsake animportantpositionorvaluable
possessiontokeeppeace. AskGodfor the wisdomtoknow whento withdraw andwhentostandand
fight.
Obedience leads to Peace
(2 Chr 14:1-6) Asa’sreignwasmarkedby peace because he “didwhatwas goodand rightin the eyesof
the Lord hisGod.” ThisrefrainisoftenrepeatedinChronicles –obedience toGod.” Thisrefrainisoften
repeatedinChronicles –obedience toGodleadstopeace withGod and others. Inthe case of Judah’s
kings,obedience toGodledto national peace,JustasGod had promisedcenturiesearlier. Inour case,
obedience maynotalwaysbringpeace withourenemies,butitwill bringpeace withGodandcomplete
peace inhisfuture kingdom. ObeyingGodisthe firststeponthe path to peace.
The Kind of peace the Holy Spirit brings.
(Jn14:27) The endresultof the Holy Spirit’sworkinourlivesisdeepandlastingpeace. Unlike worldly
peace,whichisusuallydefinedasthe absence of conflict,thispeace isconfidentassurance inany
circumstance,withGod’s“sharedlove”peace,we have noneedtofearthe presentorthe future. If
your life isfull of stress,allowthe HolySpirittofill youwiththat“sharinglove”peace.
Peace vs. the Peace of God
(1 Cor 1:3) Grace isGod’s free giftof salvationgiventousinChrist. Receivingitbringsuspeace (see
Romans5:1) ina worldof noise confusion,andrelentlesspressure,peoplelongforpeace. Many give up
the search,thinkingitimpossible tofind, buttrue peace of heartandmindis available tousthrough
faithinJesusChrist.
(Phil 4:7) God’s peace isdifferentthanthe world’speace (see John14:27). True peace isnot foundin
positive thinking,inabsence of conflict,oringoodfeelings. It comesfromknowingthatGod is in
control. Our citizenshipinChrist’skingdomissure,ourdestinyisset,andwe can have victoryoversin.
Let God’speace’sguard’syourheartagainst anxiety.
Can affect our decisions.
(Col 3:14-15) Christiansshouldliveinpeace. Tolive inpeace doesnotmeanthatsuddenlyall
differencesinopinionare eliminated,butitdoesrequire thatlovingChristiansworktogetherdespite
theirdifferences. Suchlove isnota feeling,butadecisiontomeetother’sneeds(see1Corinthians13).
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problemsinyourrelationshipswithotherChristianscause openconflictsormutual silence? Consider
whatyou can do to heal those relationshipswithlove.
Must be active not passive.
(1 Pt 3:11) Too oftenwe see peace asmerelythe absence of conflictandwe thinkof peacemakingasa
passive role. Butan effective peacemakeractivelypursuespeace. He or she buildsgoodrelationships,
knowingthatpeace isa by-productof commitment. The peacemakeranticipatesproblemsanddeals
withthembefore theyoccur. Whenconflictsarise,he orshe bringsthenintothe openand dealswith
them,before theygrowunmanageable. Making peace can be harderwork thenwagingwar,butit
resultsnotindeathbut inlife andhappiness.
Let HimblessyouwithHis helpandPeace. Openyourheart and mindtoreceive all thatHe has for you.
Do not be ashamedof your emptiness. Instead,view itasthe optimal conditionforbeingfilledwithHis
Peace.
It iseasyto touch up youroutwardappearance,tolookas you have itall together. Your attemptsto
lookgoodcan fool mostpeople. ButHe seesstraightthroughyou,intothe depthsof yourbeing. There
isno place for pretense inyourrelationshipwithHim. Rejoice inthe reliefof beingfullyloved. Share
withHimabout yourstrugglesandfeelingsof doubt. Little bylittle,He will transformyourweaknesses
intostrengths. RememberthatyourrelationshipwithHim issaturatedinsharedlove.
Peace that transcends understanding
He iswatchingoveryou.You are surroundedbya seaof challenges,butyouhave Him,whoisincontrol
of itall. As longas focuson Him,youare safe. If you gaze too longat the problemsaroundyou,youwill
collapse fromyourconcerns. Whenyoustart to fall,simplycall forHishelpandtrust him to take you
throughit.
The closeryou live toHim,the saferyouare. Circumstancesaroundyouhave theirconcernsandthere
are treacherous-lookingwavesinthe distance. Fix yourmindonHim. By the time those wavesreach
you,theywill have shrunktoproportionsof Hiscontrol. He will alwaysbeside you,helpingyouface
today’swaves. The future isa ghost who istryingto scare you. Stay close toHim.
His Peace
His Peace isthe treasure of treasures:The pearl of great price. It isan exquisitelycostlygift,bothfor the
Giverand the receiver. He purchasedthisPeace foryouwithHis Son’sblood. You receive thisgiftby
sharinglove andtrustinginHim,in the midstof life’sstorms. If youhave the world’speace – everything
goingyourway – youdon’tseekHis sharedlove andPeace. ThankHim whenthingsdonotgo your way,
because spiritual blessingscome wrappedinchallenges. Adversecircumstancesare normal inanon-
lovingworld. Expectthemeachday. Rejoice inthe face of challenges.
To receive His peace
You mustchange your grasping,controllingstance toone of love and trust. The onlythingyoucan grasp
withoutdamagingyoursoul isHishand. AskHis Spiritwithinyoutotake control of your dayand control
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You can have as much of Him and His Peace as you want,throughthousandsof correct choiceseach
day. The most persistent youface iswhethertotrustHim or to worry. You will neverrunoutof things
to worryabout butyou can choose to trust Nim nomatter what. Trust Me,though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart ofthe sea.
Come and Rest
He isabout to blessandrestore you. The wayjust aheadof you isverysteep. Slow downandcling
tightlytoHis hand,He is teachingyoua difficultlesson,learnedonlybyhardship.
Liftup emptyhandsof faithto receive His handto holdonto. Thenlookat the Light,Life,Joy,and
Peace that isjoiningyou. Whenyourfocusturnsaway fromHim yougrasp for the wrongthings.
Peace is a light.
God’sPeace is like ashaftof goldenLightshiningonyoucontinuously. Duringdaysof brightsunshine,it
may blendinwithyoursurroundings. Ondarkestdays,His Peace standsoutinsharp contrast to your
circumstances. See timesof darknessasopportunitiesforHis Lighttoshine insplendor. He is training
youto practice Peace thatoverpowersdarkness. Collaborate withHim inthistraining. Donot grow
weary and lose heart.
Peace be With You!
Ever since the resurrection,thishasbeenHis watchword tothose whotriestobe close to His Son: Jesus
Christ. As youlove Him,letHis Peace settle overyouandenfoldyouinHis Son’sheavenlyguidance.. To
provide thisPeace foryouHe dieda criminal’sdeath. ReceiveHisPowerabundantlyandthankfully. Itis
a rare treasure,dazilinginlovingbeautyyetstrongenoughto be sharedwithall whowantit. WearHis
Son’speace withregal dignity. Itwill keep yourheartandmindclose toHim.
See that He is Good.
The more youparticipate inyourShared Love,the more you become convincedof Hisgoodness. He is
the livingOne wholovesYouandlongsto participate inyourlife. He istrainingyoutofindHim ineach
momentandto be a channel of HisSharedLove,sometimesHis blessingscome toyouin mysterious
waysthroughpainand trouble. Atsuch timesyoucan know His goodnessonlythroughyourtrustin
Him. Understandingwill fail you,but trustwill keepyouclose toHim.
Thank Himfor the giftof His Peace,a giftof such immense proportions thatyoucannotunderstandits
coverage. ListentoHim! Tune out othervoices,sothatyou can hearHim more clearly. He designed
youto dwell inHis Peace,all day,everyday. Draw nearto Him; receive His Peace.
Meet Your Needs
He has promisedtomeetall yourneeds. Yourdeepest,mostconstantneedisforHisPeace. He has
plantedPeace inthe gardenof your heart,where He lives;butthere are weedsgrowingtheretoo;pride,
worry,selfishness,unbelief. He isthe Gardener,andHe is workingto ridyour heartof those weeds. I
do My work invariousways. Whenyousit quietlywithMe,He shinesthe lightof yourSharedLove
directlyintoyourheart. In thisheavenlyLove,Peace growsabundantlyandweedsshrivel up. He also
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weedsdie away. ThankHimfor challengingsituations;the Peace theycanproduce faroutweighsthe
challengesyouendure.
Steadiness
Too manythingsinterruptyourawarenessof Him. He knowsthat youlive ina worldof sightand sound,
but youmustnot be a slave tothese areasof life. Awarenessof Him cancontinue inall circumstances,
no matterwhat happens. Thisisthe sole goal He givesall His lovers.
Don’tletunexpectedeventsdrawyouoff course. Rather,respondcalmlyand confidently,remembering
that the two of you share yourLove. As soonas somethinggrabsyourattention,talkwithHimaboutit.
Thus He will share yourjoysand yourchallenges:He will helpyoucope withwhateveris inyour
doorway. Thisis howHe livesinyouandworksthroughyou. This isthe way of Peace.
“Careful,”the craftsman exclaimed. “Pleasedon’ttouch thepottery on thatshelf. You’llruin it.” Then
he surprised uswhen he said,“Why don’tyou touch theoneson theouter shelf?” Needlessto say,we
were curiousas to why somevasescould be touched and notothers.
Glancing atthe “do-not-touch,”shelf,heexclaimed,“Thesehaven’tbeen fired yet.” The pottertold us
then that therewasmore to masterpiecesthan justmaking blobsinto beautifulshapes. If hestopped at
thatpoint,they would quickly be marred and misshapen. Withoutthefire,the potter’sworkis still
beautiful,buttoo fragile.
The othervasescould betouched becausethey had twice been baked in hiskiln at temperaturesof more
than 2,000 degrees! “The fire makesthe clay firm and strong,”ourhostconcluded. “Fire makesthe
beautylast.”
Thatwas thetrigger. My thoughtsraced to Peter’swords:“All kindsof trials … havecome so thatyour
faith – of greater worththan gold,which perisheseven though refined by fire – may be proved genuine.”
(1 Peter 1:6-7).
BothPeter and the potterwere talking to me abouta fire that increasesthe valueof something precious.
Having spentmy adultyearsin an oven – a pressurecookerto be exact – I knew aboutfire. Much of it
could be traced to my over-heated scheduleand overcommitted lifestyle. Thatheatwasmy own fault.
But there is anotherfire thatcomes, notfromme, butfromthe MasterPotter. There is to be sure,a heat
thatburns,and anotherheatthatbeautifies.
(FromPeacefulLiving in a StressfulWorld byRon Hutchcraft)
Nowthat youno doubthas Peace inyour life,youare readytotake a lookat God’splan foryou.

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Plan
We can’t always see God’s overall plan.
(Gn 43:1) Jacoband hissons hadno relief fromthe famine. Theycouldnotsee God’soverall planof
sendingthemtoEgyptto be reunitedwithJoseph andfedfromEgypt’sstorehouses. If youare praying
for relief fromsufferingorpressure andGodis not bringingitasquicklyasyou wouldlike,remember
that God may be leadingyoutospecial treasures.
No one can thwart God’s plans.
(Gn 45:4-8) AlthoughJoseph’sbrothershadwantedtogetridof him. God usedeventheirevilactionsto
fulfillHisultimate plan. He sentJosephaheadtopreserve theirlifes,save Egypt,andprepare the way
for the beginningof the nationof Israel. Godissovereign. Hisplansare notdictatedbyhumanactions.
Whenothersintendevil towardyou,rememberthattheyare onlyGod’s tools. AsJosephsaidtohis
brothers. “You intendedtoharmme,butGod intendeditforgoodto accomplishwhatisnow being
done,the savingof manylives.”(50:20)
(Mt 2:16) Herod wasafraidthat the newbornkingwouldone daytake histhrone. He completely
misunderstoodthe reasonforChrist’scoming. Jesusdidn’twantHerod’sthrone,He wantedtobe King
of Herod’slife. Jesuswantedtogive Herodeternal life,nottake awayhispresentlife. Todaypeople are
oftenafraidthatChristwants to take thingsawaywheninrealityhe wantstogive thenreal freedom,
peace,andjoy. Don’tfearChrist – give himthe throne of yourlife.
God doesn’t need much from us to accomplish his plan for our lives.
(Ex 2:9) Mosesmotherwas reunitedwithherbaby! Godusedhercourageousact of savingandhiding
herbaby to beginhisplantorescue hispeople fromEgypt. God doesn’tneedmuchfrom usto
accomplishHisplanforour lives. Focusingonourhumanpredicamentmayparalyze usbecause the
situationmayappearhumanlyimpossible. ButconcentratingonGod and Hispowerwill helpussee the
wayout. Rightnow youmay feel unable tosee throughyourtroubles. FocusinsteadonGod, and trust
Him forthe way out. That isall He needstobeginHisworkin you.
Agreeing to God’s plan for us.
(Jos1:16) If everyone hadtriedtoconquerthe promisedlandhisownway,chaoswouldhave resulted.
In orderto complete the enormoustaskof conqueringthe land,everyone hadtoagree to the leader’s
planand be willingtosupportandobeyhim. If we are goingto complete the tasksGodhas givenus,we
mustfullyagree toHis plan,pledge ourselves toobeyit,andput Hisprinciplesintoaction. Agreeingto
God’splan meansbothknowingwhatthe planisand carryingit outdaily.
Once set in motion, some can’t be reversed.
(Mt 27:3-4) Jesusformal accuserwantedtodrop hischarges,but the religiousleadersrefusedtohalt
the trial. Whenhe betrayedJesus,perhapsJudaswastryingtoforce Jesus’handtoget himto leada
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was toolate. Many of the planswe set intomotioncannotbe reversed. Itisbestto thinkof the
potential consequencesbefore we launchintoanactionwe maylaterregret.
God reveals His plans through history.
(Mk 1:2-3) Hundredsof years earlier,the prophetIsaiahhadpredictedthatJohnthe BaptistandJesus
wouldcome. Howdidhe know? God promisedIsaiahthata Redeemerwouldcome toIsrael,andthata
messengercallinginthe desertwouldpreparethe wayforhim. Isaiah’swordscomfortedmanypeople
as theylooked forwardtothe Messiah,andknowingthatGod keepsHispromises cancomfortyoutoo.
As youreadthe bookof Mark, realize thatitismore than justa story,itis part of God’s Word. In itGod
isrevealingtoyouHisplansfor history.
Be still holdingHishandasthe two of you walkthroughthe challenge. These quietmomentswithHim
give youtrue Peace,far more thanyou can imagine. BringHim yourlove andthe sacrifice of yourtime
and watchto see howabundantlyIblessyouand yourlovedones.
Throughthe love within yourrelationship,youare beingtransformedfromthe inside out. Asyoukeep
your focusonHim, He will formyouintothe one He desiresyoutobe. Your part isto yieldtoHis
creative workinyou,neitherresistingitnortryingto speeditup. Enjoythe tempoof God’s trainingplan
for you. HoldHis handin childliketrust,andthe waybefore youwill openone stepbystep.
Strength and Shield
He isyour strengthandshield. He plansouteach dayand has itreadyfor you,longbefore youarise
frombed. He alsoprovidesthe strengthyouneedeachstepof the way. Insteadof assessingyour
energyleval andwonderingaboutwhat’sonthe road ahead,concentrate onstayingintouchwithHim.
His Powerflowsfreelyintoyouthrough youropencommunication. Refuse towaste energyworrying,
and youwill have strengthtospare.
Wheneveryoustartto feel afraid,rememberthatHe is alwaysalertandactive. Your SharedLove
watchesoveryoucontinually,protectingyoufrombothknownandunknown dangers. Entrustyourself
to His security,whichisthe bestsecuritysystemavailable. Iam withyou and will watch over you
whereveryou go.
Less to your doubts.
You are onthe rightpath. Listenmore toHim, andlessto yourdoubts. He isleadingyoualongthe way
He designedjustforyou. Therefore,itisa lonelyway,humanlyspeaking. ButHe goesbefore youas
well asalongside you,soyouare neveralone. Donot expectanyone tounderstandfullyHis wayswith
you,any more than youcan comprehendHisdealingswithothers. He is revealingtoyouthe pathof Life
day byday, andmomentby moment. JustLove andFollow Him.
Talk about it.
Whensomethinginyourlife orthoughtsmakesyouanxiouscome toHimand talkabout it. Bring Him
your prayerand petitionwiththanksgiving,saying:“ThankYou,Jesus,forthisopportunitytotrustYou
more.”Throughthe lessonsof trustthatHe sendsto youcome wrappedinchallenges,the benefitsfar
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Well-developedtrustwillbringyoumanyblessings,notthe leastof whichisHisPeace. He has promised
to keepyouinperfectPeace to the extentthatyoutrust in Him. The worldhasit backwards,teaching
that peace isthe resultof havingenoughmoney, possessions,insurance,andsecuritysystems. My
Peace,however,is such an all-encompassinggiftthat it is independentofall circumstances. Though
you lose everything else,if you gain My Peace you are rich Indeed.
Friend and Lover
He isyour Lord! SeekHimas a FriendandLoverof your spirit/soul,butrememberthatHe is alsoKingof
kings– in charge overall. Youcan make some plansas yougaze intothe daythat stretchesoutbefore
you. But you needtoholdthose planstentatively,anticipatingthatHe mayhave other ideas. The most
importantthingtodetermine,iswhattodoright now. Insteadof scanningthe horizonof your life,
lookingforthingsthatneedtobe done,concentrate onthe taskbefore youandthe One whonever
leavesyourside. Leteverythingelsefade intothe background. Thiswill unclutteryourmind,allowing
Him to occupymore and more of yourconsciousness.
Trust Himto showyou whatto do whenyouhave finishedwhatyouare doingnow,He will guide you
stepby step,asyour will istrainedtobe takenoverby Him. Thus youstay close to Him on the path of
love,trust,andpeace.
Recognize Your Weakness
It isgood that You recognize yourweakness. ThatkeepsyoulookingtoHim, yourstrength. Abundant
life isnotnecessarilyhealthandwealth;itislivingincontinual dependenceonHim. Insteadof tryingto
fitthisday intoa mold,relax andbe on the lookoutforwhat He is doing. Thismind-setwill free youto
enjoyHimand to findwhatHe has plannedforyouto do. Thisisfar betterthan tryingto make thingsgo
accordingto your ownplan.
Don’ttake yourself soseriously. LightenupandlaughwithHim. You have Him onyour side,sowhat
are youworriedabout? He can equipyoutodo absolutelyanything,aslongasit isHis will. The more
difficultyourday,the more He yearnsto helpyou. Worry wrapsyouup in yourself,trappingyouinyour
ownthoughts. Whenyoulookto Him and whisperHis Name,youbreakfree andreceive Hishelp.
Focuson Him and youwill findPeace inSharingLove.
Piece of Clay
He isthe Potter;and youare His clay. He designedyoubefore the foundation of the world. He
arrangedthe eventsof eachday to form youintothispattern. His everlastingLove isat workin every
eventof yourlife. Onsome daysyour will andHis flow smoothlytogether. Youtendto feel incontrol
of yourlife whenthe two willsare inharmony. Onotherdaysyou feel asif youare swimmingupstream,
againstthe current of His purposes. Whenthathappens,stopandlookforHim. The oppositionyoufeel
may be fromHim, or itmay be from Satan.
Talk withHimaboutwhat youare experiencing. LetHis Spiritguide youthroughragingwaters. Asyou
move throughthe turbulentstreamwithHim,letcircumstancesmoldyouintothe one He desiresyouto
be. Say yesto your Potteras yougo throughthisday.

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Gift of Peace
It flowsabundantlyfrom yourSharedLove. Justasthe Israelitescouldnotstore upmanna forthe
future buthad to gatherit daily,soitis withHis Peace. The day-by-daycollectingof mannakeptHis
people aware of theirdependence onHim. Similarly,He givesyousufficientPeace forthe present,
whenyoucome to Him by Prayer and Petitionwith Thanksgiving. If He gave you,PermanentPeace,
independentof yourSharedLove,youmightfall intothe trapof self-sufficiency. Maythat neverbe.
He has designedyoutoneedHim momentbymoment. Asyourawarenessof yourneedlinessincreases,
so doesyourrealizationof Hisabundantsufficiency. He can meeteveryone of yourneedswithout
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Relax in my Healing Presence.
As youspendtime withHim,yourthoughtstendtojumpaheadto today’splansand problems. Bring
your mindbackto Him forrefreshmentsandrenewal. Letthe guidance of yourSharedLove soakinto
you, as you focusyourthoughtson Him. Thus He equipsyoutoface whateverthe daybrings. This
sacrifice of time pleasesHim andstrengthensyou. Donot skimpon yourtimestogether. Resistthe
clamorof taskswaitingto be done.
Refresh yourself
In the Peace of your SharedLove. Thispeace can be yourportionat all timesandin all circumstances.
Learn to live in yourSharedLove. Evenas youcarry out your duties inthe world. He is both withand
withinyou. He goes before youtoopenup the way,and He alsowalksalongside you. There could
neverbe anothercompanionasdevotedasHe is.
Because He is yourconstant Companion,there shouldbe lightnesstoyourstepthat isobservable to
others. Do not be weigheddownwithproblems andunresolvedissues,forHe is yourburdenbearer. In
the worldyouhave trials& distress,
Adventure is Good
Give yourself fullytothe adventure of today. Walkboldlyalongthe pathof life,relyingonyourever
presentlover. Youhave everyreason tobe confident,Because yourSharedLove will continue onward
intoeternityaslongas youdo not rejectitintentionatelyandwithfull consideration.
Do not give into fearor worry,those are robbersof abundantliving. TrustHim,the Authorof your life
and faith,andthe many difficultiesonthe roadaheadwill vanishbeforeyoureachthem. Wheneveryou
start to feel afraid,rememberthatHe is holdingyoubyyour righthand. Nothingcan separate youfrom
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Sit Quietly
As yousitQuietlyinHisPresence rememberthatHe isa God of abundance. He will neverrunoutof
resources; His capacity toblessyouisunlimited. Youlive ina worldof supplyanddemand,where
necessarythingsare oftenscarce. Evenif you personallyhave enough,yousee povertyinthe world
aroundyou. It isimpossibleforyouto comprehendthe lavishnessof His provisions.
Throughspendingtime inHis Presence,yougainglimpsesof His overflowinggenerosity. These
glimpsesof HisSharedLove. These glimpsesare tinyforetastesof whatyouwill experience eternallyin
heaven. Evennowyouhave accessto as much of Him,as youhave faith,to receive.
His Presence
He wantsyouto knowhow safe andsecure youare inHis Presence. Thatisa fact, totallyindependent
of yourfeelings. Youare on your wayto heaven;nothingcanpreventyoufromreachingthat
destination. There youwill see Him face toFace,and yourJoywill be off the charts by anyearthly
standards. Evennow, youare neverseparatedfromHim,thoughyoumustsee Him through eyesof
love. He will walkwithyoutill the endof time,andonwardintoeternity.
AlthoughyourSharedLove isa guaranteed promise,thatdoesnotnecessarilychange your feelings.
WhenyouforgetHe is withyou,you mayexperiencelonelinessorfear. Itis throughawarenessof your
SharedLove that Peace displacesnegative feelings. Practice the discipline of walkingconsciouslywith
Him througheachday.
Let Him Anoint You
WithHis Presence. IamKing of kingsand LORD of lords,dwelling in unapproachableLight. When you
drawnearto Me, I respond by coming closerto you. As HisPresence becomespartof you,youmay feel
overwhelmedbyHis PowerandGlory. Thisisa formof worshipsensingyoursmallnessincomparisonto
His Greatness.
Man hastendedtomake himself the measure of all things. Butman’smeasure istotinyto comprehend
His majesticvastness. That iswhy mostpeople donotsee Him at all,eventhoughtheylive and move
and have theirbeinginHim..
Enjoyyour SharedLove. Declare yourrelationshiptoHimthroughPrayer (communicatingwithHim).

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Praying Continually
Ask God anything but expect anything.
(Gn 18:33) God showedAbrahamthataskingfor anythingisallowed,withthe understandingthatGod’s
answerscome fromGod’s perspective. Theyare notalwaysinharmonywithourexpectationsforonly
He knowsthe whole story. Are youmissingGod’sanswertoa prayerbecause youhaven’tconsidered
any possible answersotherthanthe one youexpect.
Why God may withhold an answer
(Gn 25:21) As Isaac pleadedwithGodforchildren,so the Bible encouragesustoask and evenpleadfor
our mostpersonal andimportantrequests. Godwantsto grant our requestsbutHe wantsus to ask
him. Eventhen,as Isaac learned,Godmaydecide towithholdhisanswerforawhile inorderto(1)
deepenourinsightintowhatwe reallyneed,(2) broadenourappreciationforHisanswersor(3) allow
us to mature so we can use hisgiftsmore wisely.
Why God may not be answering yours
(Jgs13:18) Whydidthe angel keephisname asecret? In those dayspeople believedthatif theyknew
someone’sname,theyknewhischaracterandhow to control him. By not givinghisname,the angel
was notallowinghimself tobe controlledbyManoah. He wasalso sayingthathisname was a mystery
beyondunderstandingandtoowonderfultoimagine. Manoahaskedthe angel foranswerthathe
wouldn’thave understood. Sometimes we askGodquestionsandthenreceive noanswer. Thismaynot
be because Gd issayingno. We mayhave askedfor somethingbeyondourabilitytounderstandor
accept.
(1 Sm 28:15) God did notanswerSaul’sappealsbecause Saul hadnotfollowedGod’sprevious
directions. Sometimespeople wonderwhytheirprayersare notanswered. Butif theydon’tfulfill the
responsibilitiesGodhasalready giventhem, theyshouldnotbe surprisedwhenHe does notgive further
guidance.
(2 Sm 7:8-16) David’srequestwasgood,butGod saidno. Thisdoesnot meanthat God rejectedDavid.
In fact,God was planningtodosomethingevengreaterinDavid’slife,thanallowinghimthe prestige of
buildingthe temple. AlthoughGodturneddownDavid’srequest,He promisedtocontinue the house
(or dynasty) of Davidforever. David’searthlydynastyended4centurieslater,butjesusChrist,adirect
descended of David,wasthe ultimate fulfilmentof thispromise (acts2:22-36). Christwill reignfor
eternity –nowin hisspiritual kingdomandinheaven,andlater,onearth,inthe new Jerusalem(Luke
1:30-33, Revelation21). Have you prayedwithgoodintensions,onlytohave Godsayno? This isGod’s
wayof directingyoutogreaterpurpose inyour life. AcceptingGod’snorequiresasgreata faithas
caring outHis yes.
Don’t let guilt feelings keep you from praying.
(Jgs16:28-30) In spite of Samson’spast,Godstill answered hisprayeranddestroyedthe pagantemple
and worshipers. Godstill lovedhim. He waswillingtohearSamson’sprayerof confessionand
repentance anduse himthisfinal time. One of the effectsof sininourlivesistokeepusfrom feeling
like praying. Butperfectmoral behaviorisnota conditionforprayer. Don’tletguiltfeelingsoversin
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isready to hearfromyou and restore youtoa rightrelationship. Everysituationcanbe salvagedif you
are willingtoturnagain to Him. If God couldstill workinSamson’ssituation,he cancertainlymake
somethingworthwhile outof yours.
When discouraged
(1 Sm 1:10) Hannah hadgood reasonto feel discouragedandbitter. She wasunable tobearchildren,
she sharedherhusbandwitha womanwhoridiculedher(1:7),herlovinghusbandcouldnotsolve her
problem(1:8),andeventhe highpriestmisunderstoodhermotives(1:14). But insteadof retaliatingor
givinguphope. Hannahprayed. She broughther problemhonestlybeforeGod.
What to request of God in prayer.
(1 Kgs 8:56-60) Solomonpraisedthe Lordand prayedforthe people. Hisprayercan be a pattern forour
prayers. He had five basicrequests,(1) forGod’spresence (8:57),(2) forthe desire todoGod’s will in
everything(“turnourheartstoHim,” 8:58), (3) for helpwith eachday’sneed(8:59),(4) forthe desire
and abilitytoobeyGod’sdecreesandcommands(8:58); (5) for the spreadof God’skingdomtothe
entire world(8:60). These prayerrequestsare justas importanttoday. Whenyoupray for yourchurch,
or family, youcanmake these same requeststoGod.
Don’t always expect immediate answers.
(2 Chr 7;12) Months, maybe years,hadpassedsince Solomon’sprayerof dedication(chapter6). Several
otherbuildingprojectshadbeencompletedafterthe temple(7:11,8:1). Then aftyerall thistime,God
toldSolomonthatHe heardSolomon’sprayer. How oftendowe lookforimmediate answerstoour
prayersand whennothinghappens,wonderif Godhas heardus? God doeshear,and He will provide
for us. We must trustthat God will answeratthe propertime.
Serious Prayer
(Ezr 8:23) Ezra knewGod’spromisestoprotecthispeople,buthe didn’ttake themforgranted. He also
knewthatGod’s blessings are appropriatedthroughprayer,soEzraand the people humbledthemselves
by fastingandpraying. Andtheirprayerswere answered. Fastinghumbledthembecausegoingwithout
foodwas a reminderof theircompletedependence onGod. Fastingalsogave themmore time topray
and meditate onGod.
What it clarifies for us?
(Neh1:5) Nehemiahfastedandprayedforseveral days,expressinghissorrow forIsrael’ssinandhis
desire thatJerusalemwouldagaincome alive withthe worshipof the one true God. Nehemiah
demonstratedthe elementsof effective prayer:(1) praise,(2) thanksgiving,(30repentance,(4specific
request,and(5) commitment.
Heartfeltprayerslike Nehemiahcanhelpclarify(10anyproblemyoumaybe facing,(20) God’sgreat
powerto helpyou,and(30 the jobyouhave to do. By the endof hisprayertime,Nehemiah knewwhat
actionhe hadto take (1:11). WhenGod’s people praydifficultdecisionsfallintoproperperspective,and
appropriate actionsfollow.
Spontaneous prayer.
(Neh2:4) Withlittle time tothinkNehemiahimmediatelyprayed. Eighttimesinthisbookwe readthat
he prayedspontaneously(2:4,4:4-5,9, 5:19, 6;14, 13;14, 22, 29). Nehemiahprayedatanytime,even

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while talkingwithothers. He knewthatGod isalwaysincharge,is alwayspresent,andhearsand
answerseveryprayer. Nehemiahcouldconfidentlypraythroughoutthe daybecause he hadestablished
an intimate relationshipwithGodduringtimesof extendedprayer(1:4-7). If we want toreach God with
our emergencyprayers,we needtotake time tocultivate astrong relationshipwithGodthroughtimes
of in-depthprayer.
The secret to a close relationship with God.
(Ps5:1-3) The secretof a close relationshipwithGodistopray to Himearnestlyeachmorning,our
mindsare more free fromproblemsandthenwe cancommitthe whole dayto God. Regular
communicationhelpsanyfriendshipandiscertainlynecessaryforastrong relationshipwithGod. We
needtocommunicate withhimdaily. Doyouhave a regulartime to pray andread God’sWord?
Pray even when God seems far away.
(Ps10:1) “Why do youhide yourself intimesof trouble?” Tothe psalmist,godseemedfaraway. But
eventhroughthe writerhadhonestdoubts,he didnotstopprayingor conclude that God no longer
cared. He was not complaining,butsimplyaskinggodtohurryto hisaid. It isduringthose timeswhen
we feel mostalone oroppressedthatwe needtokeeppraying,tellinggodaboutour troubles.
Moving from prayer to praise.
(Ps54:3-4) Many of David’spsalmsfollowthe patternfoundinthese twoverses –a transitionfrom
prayerto praise. Davidwasnot afraidto come to God and expresshistrue feelingsandneeds. Thushis
spiritwaslifted,andhe praisedGod,hishelper,protector,and“Sharedlove”friend.
A weapon against evil.
(Ps55:17) Prayingevening,morning,andnooniscertainlyanexcellentwaytomaintaincorrectpriorities
throughouteveryday. Daniel followedthispattern(Daniel 6:10),as didPeter(Acts10;9,10). The
prayersof God’speople are effectiveagainstthe overwhelmingevilinthe world.
Can release tensions of emotional stress.
(Ps62:3-6) DavidexpressedhisfeelingstoGodand thenreaffirmedhisfaith. Prayercanrelease our
tensionsintimesof emotional stress. TrustingGodto be our rock, salvation,andfortress(62:2) will
change our entire outlookonlife. Nolongermustwe be heldcaptive byresentmenttowardsothers
whentheyhurtus. Whenwe are restinginGod’sstrength,nothingcanshake us.
Places our focus on God.
(Ps77:1-12) Asaph criedoutto God for courage duringa time of deepdistress. The source of Asaph’s
distress(77:4) was hisdoubt(77:7-9). He pled,“I criedoutto God for help.” Butin 77:13-20, the “I” is
gone. As AsaphexpressedhisrequeststoGod,hisfocuschangedfromthinkingof himself toworshiping
God. “You are the God whoperformsmiracles”(77:14). Onlyafterhe put aside hisdoubtsaboutGod’s
holinessandcare forhim(77:13, 14) didhe eliminate hisdistress (77:20). As we pray toGod, He shifts
our focusfromourselvestohim.
Intercessory Prayer
(Ps122;6-9) The psalmistwasnotprayingfor hisownpeace and prosperity,butforthatof hisbrothers
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to pray forour own needsanddesires,andomitintercedingforothers. Will youintercede forsomeone
inneedtoday.
Why many are afraid to talk with God.
(Is7:12) Ahaz appearedrighteousbysayinghe wouldnottestGodwitha sign(“Iwill notask,I will not
put the Lord to the test”). In fact,God had toldhimto ask, butAhaz didn’treallywanttoknow what
God wouldsay. Oftenwe use some excuse,suchasnot wantingtobotherGod,to keepus from
communicatingwithhim. Don’tletanythingkeepyoufromhearingandobeyingGod.
Can change events.
(is38;1-5) WhenIsaiahwenttoHezekiah,whowasextremelyillandtoldhimof hisimpendingdeath,
HezekiahimmediatelyturnedtoGod. God respondedtohisprayer,allowingHezekiahtolive another15
years. In response toferventprayer. Godmaychange the course of our livestoo. Neverhesitatetoask
God for radical changesif youwill honorhimwiththose changes.
Prayer in the midst of panic.
(Dn 2:16-18) Daniel wasat a crisispoint. Imagine goingtosee the powerful,temperamental kingwho
had angrilyorderedyourdeath! Daniel didnotshrinkbackinfear,however,butconfidentlybelieved
God wouldtell himall the kingwantedtoknow. Whenthe kinggave Daniel time tofindthe answer.
Daniel foundhisthree friendsandtheyprayed. Whenyoufindyourselfinatightspot,share your needs
withtrustedfriendswhoalsobelieve inGod’spower. Prayerismore effective thanpanic. Panic
confirmsyourhopelessness,prayerconfirmsyourhope inGod. Daniel’strustinGodsavedhimself,his
three friends,andall the otherwise menof Babylon.
How to you react to answered prayer.
(Dn 2 19-23) AfterDaniel askedGodto reveal Nebuchadnezzerdreamtohim, He saw a vision of the
dream. Daniel tooktime togive God creditforall wisdomandpower,thankingGodforansweringhis
request. Howdo youfeel whenyourprayersare answered? Excited,surprised,relieved? There are
timeswhenwe seek Godinprayerand havingbeenanswered,dashof inourexcitement,forgettingto
give God creditforthe answer. Match yourpersistence inprayerwithgratitude whenyourrequestsare
answered.
We can pray anywhere anytime.
(Jon2:1) This isa prayerof thanksgiving,notaprayerfor deliverance. Jonahwassimplythankful thathe
had notdrowned. He was deliveredinamostspectacularwayand was overwhelmedthathe had
escapedcertaindeath. Evanfrominside the fish. Jonah’sprayerwasheardbyGod. We can pray
anywhere andat anytime,andGod will here us. Your sisisnevertoo great,yourpredicamentisnever
too difficultforGod.
Shallow repetition and persistence in Prayer.
(Mt 6:7-8) Repeatingthe same wordsoverandoverlike amagic incantationisnowayto ensure that
God will hearyourprayer. It’s notwrongto come to God manytimeswiththe same requests –Jesus
encouragespersistentprayer. ButHe condemnsthe shallow repetitionof wordsthatare not offered
witha sincere heart. We can neverpraytoomuch if our prayersare honestandsincere. Before you
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(Col 4:2) Have youevergrowntiredof prayingfor somethingorsomeone? Paul sayswe should
“devote”ourselvestoprayerandbe watchful”inprayer. Our persistence isanexpressionof ourfaith
that God answersourprayers. Faithshouldn’tdie if the answerscome slowly,forthe delaymaybe
Gods way of workingHiswill inourlives. Whenyoufeel tiredof praying,knowthatGodis present,
alwayslistening,alwaysanswering –maybe notin waysyouhad hoped,butinwaysthat He knowsis
best.
The Lord’s prayer.
(Mt 6:9) Thisis oftencalledthe Lord’sPrayerbecause Jesusgave ittothe disciples. Itcan be a pattern
for our prayers. We shouldpraise God,pray forHis workin the world,prayfor ourdailyneeds,and
prayerto helpinour dailystruggles.
Discernment to ask for the right things.
(Mt 7;9-10) The childinJesusexampleaskedhisfatherforbreadandfish – goodand necessaryitems. If
thischildhadaskedfor a poisonoussnake,wouldthe wise fatherhave grantedhisrequest? Sometimes
God knowswe are prayingfor“snakes”and doesnotgive uswhat we ask for,eventhoughwe persistin
our prayers. Aswe learntoknowGod betteras a lovingFather,we learntoask forwhat isgood forus,
and thenHe grants it.
God’s attitude toward ours.
(Mt 7:11) Christis showingusthe heartof God the Father. God isnot selfish,begrudging,orstingy,and
we don’thave to begor grovel aswe come withour requests. He isa lovingFatherwhounderstands,
cares,and comforts. If humanscan be kind,imagine how Godthe Creatorof Kindness,canbe.
Importance of praying alone.
(Mt 14:23-24) Seekingsolitude wasanimportant priorityforJesus(seealso14:13). He made roomin
His busyschedule tobe alone withthe Father. Spendingtime withGodinprayernurturesa vital
relationshipandequipsustomeetlife’schallengesandstruggles. Developthe discipline of spending
time alone withGod – itwill helpyougrow spirituallyandbecome more andmore like Christ.
Relying on the Holy Spirit in Praying.
(Mt 18:19-20) Jesuslookedaheadtoa new daywhenHe wouldbe presentwithHisfollowersnotin
body,butthrough the Holy Spirit. Inthe bodyof believers(the church),the sincereagreementof two
people ismore powerfulthanthe superficial agreementof thousands,becauseChrist’sHolySpiritis
withthem. Twoor more believers,filledwiththe HolySpirit,will prayaccordingtoGod’swill,nottheir
own,thustheirrequestwill be granted.
Can we ask for anything?
(Mt 21:22) Thisverse isnota guarantee thatwe can get anythingwe wantsimplybyaskingJesusand
believing. Goddoesnot grantrequeststhatwouldhurtus or othersor that wouldviolate Hisown
nature or will. Jesusstatementisnota blankcheck. To be fulfilled,ourrequestsMUSTbe in harmony
withthe principlesof God’skingdom. The strongerourbelief,the more likely ourprayerswill be inline
withGod’swill,andthenGod will be happytogrant them.

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(Mk 10:38-40) Jesusdidn’tridiculeJamesandJohnforasking,butHe deniedtheirrequests. We canfeel
free toask God for anything,butourrequestmaybe denied. Godwantsto give uswhat is bestfor us,
not merelywhatwe want. He deniessome requestsforourowngood.
Finding time to pray.
(Mk 1:35) Jesustooktime topray. Findingtime topray isnot easy,butprayeris the vital link between
us and God. Like Jesus,we mustbreakawayfromothersto talkwithGod, evenif we have toget up
veryearlyinthe morningto do it.
Keys to effective prayer.
(Mk 9:29) The discipleswouldoftenface difficultsituationsthatcouldbe resolvedonlythroughprayer.
Prayeris the keythat unlocksfaithinourlives. Effective prayerneeds bothanattitude – complete
dependence –and an action – asking. PrayerdemonstratesourrelianceonGodas we humblyinvite
himto fill uswithfaithandpower. There isno substitute forprayer,especiallyincircumstancesthat
seemimpossible.
Conditions of prayer.
(Mk 11:22-23) The kindof prayerthat movesmountains,isprayerforthe fruitfulnessof God’skingdom!
It wouldseemimpossible tomove amountainintothe sea. So,Jesususedthatpicture to say; thatGod
can do anything. Godwill answeryourprayers,butnotas a resultof yourpositive mental attitude.
Otherconditionsmustbe met:(1) You mustbe a believer,(2) youmustnotholda grudge against
anotherperson;(3) You mustnot pray withselfishmotives;(4) yourrequestmustbe forthe good of
God’skingdom. To pray effectively,youneedfaithinGod,notfaithinthe objectof yourrequest. If you
focusonlyon yourrequest,youwill be leftwithnothingif yourrequestisrefused.
How and when God answers ours.
(Lk 1:13) Zechariah,whileburningincense onthe altar,wasalsopraying,perhapsfora sonor forthe
comingof the Messiah. Ineithercase,hisprayerwasanswered. He wouldsoonhave a son,whowould
prepare the wayfor the Messiah. God answersprayerinHis ownwayand in Hisowntime. He worked
inan “impossible”situation –Zechariah’swifewasbarren – to bringaboutthe fulfilmentof all the
propheciesconcerningthe Messiah. If we wantto have ourprayersanswered,we mustbe opento
whatGod can do inimpossible situations. Andwe mustwaitforGod to workin Hisway,in Histime.
Should precede important decisions.
(Lk 6:12) The Gospel writersnote thatbefore everyimportanteventinJesus’life,He tooktime togo off
by himself andpray. Thistime Jesuswaspreparingtochoose Hisinnercircle,the 12 disciples. Make
sure that all your importantdecisionsare groundedinprayer.
(Jas5:16-18) The Christian’smostpowerfulresource iscommunionwithGodthrough prayer. The
resultsare oftengreaterthanwe thoughtwere possible. Some people see prayerasa last resortto be
triedwhenall else fails. Thisapproachisbackward. Prayershouldcome first. Because God’spoweris
infinitelygreaterthanours. It onlymakessense torelyonit – especiallybecause Godencouragesusto
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Puts us under God’s control.
(Lk 6;19) Once wordof Jesus’healingpowerspread, crowdsgatheredjusttotouchhim. For many,He
had become asymbol of good fortune,alucky charm, or a magician. Insteadof desiringGod’spardon
and love,theyonlywantedphysical healingora chance to see spectacularevents. Some peoplestillsee
God as a cosmic magician,andconsiderprayerasa wayto get God to doHis tricks. But God is nota
magician– He isthe Master. Prayerisnot a way forus to control God, itis a way forus to put ourselves
underHiscontrol.
Important to evangelism.
(Lk 10:2) Jesuswassenoding36teams of two to reachthe multitudes. These teamswerenot totry to
do the jobwithouthelp,rather,theywere toaskGod formore workers. Some people,assoonas they
understandthe gospel,wanttogoto work immediatelycontactingunsavedpeople. Thisstorysuggests
a differentapproach,beginbymobilizing people topray. Andbefore prayingforunsavedpeople,pray
that otherconcerneddiscipleswill joinyouinreachingouttothem.
What constant prayer means?
(Lk 18:1) To persistinprayerandnot give updoesnot meanendlessrepetitionof painfullylong prayer
sessions. Alwaysprayingmeanskeepingourrequests constantlybeforeGodaswe live forHimday-by-
day,believingHe will answer. Whenwe live byfaith,we are notto give up. God may delayanswering;
but Hisdelay’salwayshave goodreason. Aswe persistinprayerwe grow in character,faith,love,and
hope.
Lessons from Jesus longest prayer.
(Jn17:1) The entire chapterisJesus’prayer. Fromitwe learnthat the worldisa tremendous
battlegroundwhere the forces underSatan’spowerandthose underGod’sauthorityare at war. Satan
and hisforcesare motivatedbybitterhatredforChristandHis forces. JesusprayedforHisdisciples,in,
includingthose of uswhofollowhimtoday. He prayedthatGod wouldkeephischosenbelieverssafe
fromSatan’s power,settingthemapartandmakingthempure andholy,unitingthemthroughHistruth.
Using it to make decisions.
(Acts1:12-13) AfterChristwas takenupintoheaven,the disciplesimmediatelyreturnedtoJerusalem
and had a prayermeeting. Jesushadsaidtheywouldbe baptizedwiththe HolySpiritinafew days,so
theywaitedandprayed. Whenyouface a difficulttask,animportantdecision,orabaffling dilemma,
don’trush intothe workand justhope it comesoutthe wayit should. Insteadyourfirststepshouldbe
to pray forthe HolySpirit’spowerandguidance.
Don’t be surprised when God answers.
(Acts12:13-15) The prayersof the group of believerswere answered,evenastheyprayed. Butwhen
the answerarrivedat the door,they didn’tbelieve it. We shouldbe peopleof faithwhobelievethat
God answersthe prayersof those whoseekHiswill. Whenyoupray,believeyou’ll getan answer. And
whenthe answercomes,don’tbe surprised,be thankful.
God responds to prayers at the right time.
(Gal 4:4) “Whenthe time had fullycome,”GodsentJesustoearth to die forour sins. For centuriesthe
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sometimeswonderif Godwill everrespondto ourprayers. But we must neverdoubtHimor give up
hope. At the righttime,He will respond. Are youwaitingforGod’stiming? TrustHisjudgmentand
trust that he has yourbestinterestsinmind.
How to pray for others?
(Col 1:9-14) Sometimeswe wonderhow toprayfor missionariesandotherleaderswe have nevermet.
Paul had nevermetthe Colossians,buthe faithfullyprayedforthem. His prayersteachushow to pray
for others,whetherwe knowthemornot. We can requestthatthey:(1) understandGod’swill,(2) gain
spiritual wisdom,(3) please andhonorGod,(4) bear goodfruit,(5) grow inthe knowledge of God,(6) be
filledwithGod’sstrength,(7) have greatendurance andpatience,(8) stayfull of Christ’sjoy,and(9) give
thanksalways. All believershave these same basicneeds. Whenyoudon’tknow how topray for
someone,use Paul’sprayerpatternforthe Colossians.
Power of Prayer.
(1 Tim 2:1-4) AlthoughGodis all powerful andall knowing,He haschosento letushelpHimchange the
worldthroughour prayers. Howthisworks isa mysteryto usbecause of our limitedunderstanding,but
it isa reality. Paul urgesusto pray for eachotherand for our leadersingovernment. Ourearnest
prayerswill have powerful results. (James5:16).
Pray for government leaders.
(1 Tim 2:2) Paul’scommandto pray forKingswas remarkable consideringthatNero,anotoriouslycruel
ruler,wasemperorat thistime (A.D.54-68). WhenPaul wrote thisletter,persecutionwasagrowing
threatto believers. Later,whenNeroneededascapegoatforthe greatfire that destroyedmuchof
Rome inA.D. 64, he blamedthe Roman-Christianssototake the focusoff himself. Thenpersecution
eruptedthroughoutthe Roman empire. Notonlywere Christiansdeniedcertainprivilegesinsociety,
some were evenpubliclybutchered,burned,orfedtoanimals.
What hinders prayer?
(1 Tim 2:8) BesidesdispleasingGod,angerandstrife make prayerdifficult. ThatiswhyJesussaidthat
we shouldinterruptourprayers,if necessary,tomake peace withothers(Matthew 5:23-24). God wants
us to obeyhimimmediatelyandthoroughly. Ourgoal shouldbe to have a rightrelationshipwithGod
and alsowithothers.
With reverence, yet bold assurance.
(Heb4:16) Prayerisour approach to God, andwe are to come “withconfidence.” Some Christians
approach God meeklywithheartshunglow,afraidtoaskhimto meettheirneeds. Otherspray
flippantly,givinglittle thoughttowhattheysay. Come withreverence becauseHe isyourking. But also
come withboldassurance because He isyour FriendandLover.
Most common problems in Prayer
(Jas4:2-3) Jamesmentionsthe mostcommonproblemsinprayer,notasking,askingforthe wrong
reasons. Do youtalk toGod at all? Whenyoudo, whatso you talkabout? Do you ask onlytosatisfy
your desires? DoyouseekGod’sapproval forwhatyou alreadyplantodo? Your prayerswill become
powerful whenyouallowGodtochange yourdesiressothatthey perfectlycorrespondtohiswill for
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Part of God’s healing process.
(Jas5:15) “The prayerofferedinfaith”doesnotrefertothe faithoff the sick person,buttothe faithof
the people praying. Godheals,faithdoesn’t,andall prayersare subjecttoGod’s will. Butourprayers
are part of God’s healingprocess. ThatiswhyGod oftenwaitsforour prayersof faithbefore
interveningtoheal sperson.
Rather than revenge.
(1 Pt 3:9) Inour fallenworld,itisoftendeemedacceptable bysome totearpeople down verballyorto
getback at themif we feel hurtPeter,rememberingJesus’teachingtoturnthe othercheek (Matthew
5:39), encourageshisreaderstopayback wrongsby prayingforthe offenders. InGod’skingdom,
revenge isunacceptable behavior,asisinsultingaperson,nomatterhow indirectlyitisdone. Rise
above gettingbackat those whohurt you. Insteadof reactingangrilyto these people,prayforthem.
Praying in God’s will.
(1 Jn 5:14-15) The emphasishearisonGod’swill,notour will. Whenwe communicate withGod,we
don’tdemandwhatwe want,rather we discusswithHimwhatHe wantsfor us. If we alignour prayers
to hiswill,he will listen,andwe canbe certainthat if he listens,He will giveusa definite answer. Start
prayingwithconfidence.
Too oftenwe praygliblyandsuperficially. Seriousprayer,bycontrastrequiresconcentration. Itputsus
intouch withGod’swill andcan reallychange us. Withoutseriousprayer,we reduce Godto a quick
service pharmacistwithpainkillersforoureveryaliment.
Each of us face timesof barrennesswhennothing“comestobirth”inour work,service,orrelationship.
It isdifficulttoprayinfaithwhenwe feel soineffective. Butas Hannah discovered prayeropensthe
wayfor God to work(1:19-20).
Restin Him,His Child. Give yourminda breakfromplanningandtryingto anticipate whatwill happen.
Prayingcontinually,askingHis Spirittotake charge of the detailsof thisday. Rememberthatyouare on
a journeywithHim. Whenyoutry to peerintothe future and planforeverypossibility,youignore your
constantCompanionwhosustainsyou,momentbymoment. Asyou gaze anxiouslyintothe distance,
youdon’tevenfeel the stronggripof His handholdingyours. How foolishyouare,His Child!
Remembrance of Him isa dailydiscipline. Neverloosesightof yourSharedLove. Thiswill keepyou
restinginHimall day, everyday.
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Relationship to Others
You will be treated as you treat others
(Lk 6:37-38) A forgivingspiritdemonstratesthatapersonhas receivedGod’sforgiveness. Jesususesthe
picture of measuringgrainina basketto ensure the full amount. If we are critical rather than
compassionate,we will alsoreceive criticism. If we treat othersgenerously,graciously,and
compassionately,however,thesequalitieswillcome backtous in full measure. We are to love others,
not judge them.
Importance of Spiritual Family.
(Mt 12:46-50) Jesuswasnot denyinghisresponsibilitytoHisearthlyfamily. Onthe contrary,He
criticizedthe religiousleadersfornotfollowingthe OldTestamentcommandtohonortheirparents
(15:1-9). He providedforhismother’ssecurityasHe hungon the cross (John19:25-27). Hismotherand
brotherswere presentinthe upperroomat Pentecost (Acts1:14). InsteadJesuswaspointingoutthat
spiritual relationshipsare asbindingasphysical ones,andHe waspavingthe way fora new community
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In eternity
(Mk 12:24) What life will be like afterthe resurrectionisfarbeyondourabilitytounderstandorimagine
(Isaiah64:4, 1 Corinthians2:9). We neednotbe afraid of eternal life becauseof the unknowns,
however. Insteadof wonderingwhatGod’scomingkingdomwill be like,we shouldconcentrate onour
“sharedlove”relationshipwithGodrightnow because inthe new kingdom, we will be withHim. If we
learnto love andtrust God now,we will notbe afraidof what He has in store forus then.
Develop them with other Christians.
(Eph3:14-15) The familyof God includesall whohave believedinHiminthe past,all who believe inthe
present,andall whowill believe inthe future. We are all familybecause we have the same Father. He
isthe source of all creation,the rightful ownerof everything. Godpromiseshislove andpowertoHis
family,the church (3:16-21). If we want to receive God’sblessings. Itisimportantthatwe stay in
contact withotherbelieversinthe bodyof Christ. Those whoisolate themselvesfromGod’sfamilyand
try to go it alone cutthemselvesoff fromGod’spower.
How to build strong ones with other Christians.
(Acts20:31, 36-38) Paul’srelationshipwiththese believersisabeautifulexample of Christianfellowship.
He had caredfor themand lovedthem,evencriedovertheirneeds. Theyrespondedwithlove andcare
for himand sorrowoverhisleaving. Theyhadprayedtogetherandcomfortedone another. Like Paul,
youcan buildstrongrelationshipswithotherChristiansbysharing,caring,sorrowing,rejoicingwith
them. You will gatherothersaroundyouonlybygivingyourself awaytothem.
(2 Cor 13-14) Paul wasdealingwithanongoingproblemin the Corinthianchurch. He couldhave
refusedtocommunicate until theycleaneduptheirsituation,buthe lovedthemandreached
out to them,againwiththe love of Christ. Love,however,meansthatsometimeswe must
confrontthose we care about. Both authorityandpersonal concernare neededindealingwith
people whoare ruiningtheirliveswithsin. But there are several wrongapproachesin
confrontingothers,andthese canfurtherbreakrelationshipsratherthanheal them. We canbe
legalisticandblastpeople awaywiththe lawstheyshouldbe obeying. We can turn awayfrom
themby gossipingabouttheirproblemsandturningothersagainstthemaswell. Or,like Paul,
we can seekto buildrelationshipsbytakingabetterapproach – sharing,communicating,and
caring. Hisis a difficultapproachthatcan drainus emotionally,butitisthe best wayfor the
otherperson,andit isthe onlyChristlike waytodeal withotherssin.
Why submission important to Relationships.
1 Cor 11:3) Submissionisakeyelementinthe smoothfunctioningof anybusiness,government,or
family. Godordainedsubmissionincertainrelationshipstopreventchaos. Itisessential tounderstand
that submissionisnotsurrender,withdrawal,orapathy. Itdoesnot mean inferiority,becauseGod
createdall people inHisimage andbecause all have equal value. Submissionismutual commitment and
cooperation.
Christ has broken down barriers to relationships.
(Eph2:14) Christhas destroyedthe barriospeoplebuildbetween themselves. Because these wallshave
beenremoved,we canhave real unitywithpeoplewhoare notlike us. Thisistrue reconciliation.
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(2:16), we can all have access to the Fatherby the Holy Spirit(2:18);we are no longerforeignersor
alienstoGod (2:19); and we are all beingbuiltintoaholytemple withChristasourchief cornerstone.
(2;20-21).
In the home.
(Eph6:1-4) If our faithinChristis real,itwill usuallyprove itself athome,inourrelationshipswiththose
whoknowus best. Childrenandparentshave aresponsibilitytoeachother. Childrenhonortheir
parentsevenif the parentsare demandingandunfair. Parentsshouldcare gentlyfortheirchildren,
evenif the childrenare disobedientandunpleasant. Ideally,of course,ChristianparentsandChristian
childrenwill relate toeachotherwiththoughtfulnessandlove. Thiswill happenif bothparentsand
childrenputthe othersinterestsabove theirown –that is,if theysubmitto one-another.
Broken ones affect other believers.
(Phil 4:2-3) Selfishambitioncanruina church, butgenuine humilitycanbuildit. Beinghumbleinvolves
havinga true perspective aboutourselves(seeRomans12;3). It doesnotmeanthat we shouldput
ourselvesdown. Before God,we are sinners,savedonlybyGod’sgrace,butwe are savedand therefore
have great worth inGod’s kingdom. We are to lay aside selfishnessandtreatotherswithrespectand
commoncourtesy. Consideringother’sinterestsasmore importantthanourownlinksuswithChrist,
whowas a true example of humility.
Thus God callsforsubmissionamongequals. He didnotmake the mansuperior,he made a wayfor the
man and womanto worktogether. JesusChrist,althoughequal withGodthe Father,submittedtoHim
to carry out the planfor salvation. Likewise,althoughequal tomanunderGod,the wife shouldsubmit
to herhusbandfor the sake f theirmarriage andfamily. Submissionbetweenequals,notbyforce. We
serve godinthese relationshipsbywillinglysubmittingtoothers inourchurch, to ourspousesandto
our governmentleaders.
Learn to relate toothersthroughHis Love ratherthan yours. Your humanlove iseverso limited,full of
flawsandmanipulation. yourSharedLove whichalwaysisthere foryou,isavailable toblessothersas
well as you. Insteadof tryingharderto helppeople throughyourownresources,become aware of the
unlimitedsupply,whichisaccessible toyoucontinually. LetHis love developyouroutreachtoother
people.
Many of His preciouschildrenhave fallenpreytoburnout. A betterdescriptionof theirconditionmight
be “drain out.” Countlessinteractionswithneedypeople have drainedthem,withouttheirconscious
awareness. Youare among these wearyones,whoare like woundedsoldiersneedingR& R. Take time
to restin yourSharedLove. He will graduallyrestore toyouthe energythatyouhave lostoverthe
years. Come to Me,all you who are weary and burdened,and you will find restfor soul.
One of the others youhave to deal withisyoursparingpartner inthisworld. It’shisjob to give youa
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Satan/Devil
Who He is.
(Gn 3:1) Disguisedasa crafty serpent,Satancame to temptEve. Satan at one time wasan angel who
rebelledagainstGodandwas thrownout of heaven. Asa createdb eing,Satanhas definitelimitations.
Althoughhe istryingto tempteveryoneawayfromGod,he will notbe the final victor. In3:14, 15, God
promisesthatSatanwill be crushedbyone of the woman’soffspring,the Messiah.
(Jb1:6-7) Satan,originallyanangel of God,became corrupt throughhisownpride. He has beenevil
since hisrebellionagainstGod (1John3:8). Satan considers Godas hisenemy. He triestohinderGod’s
workin people,buthe islimitedbyGod’spowerandcan do onlywhathe is permitted(Luke 22;31,32; 1
Timothy1:19, 20, 2 Timothy2:23-26). Satan is calledthe enemybecausehe activelylooksforpeople to
attack withtemptation(1Peter5:8, 9) and because he wantsto make people hate God. He doesthis
throughliesanddeception(Genesis3:1-6). Joba blamelessanduprightman whohad beengreatly
blessed,wasaperfecttargetforSatan. AnypersonwhoiscommittedtoGod shouldexpectSatan’s
attacks. Satan,whohates God,alsohatesGod’s people..
(Mt 4:1) The devil alsocalledSatan,temptedEve inthe Garden of Eden,and here he temptedJesus in
the dessert. Satanis a fallenangel. He isreal,notsymbolic,andisconstantlyfightingagainstthose who
followandobeyGod. Satan’stemptationsare real,andhe is alwaystryingtoget usto live hiswayor
our wayrather than God’sway. Jesus will one dayreignoverall creation,butSatantriedto force his
handand get himto declare hiskingshipprematurely. If Jesushadgiveninhismissiononearth – to die
for our sinsandgive usthe opportunity tohave eternal life–wouldhave beenlost. Whentemptations
seemespeciallystrongorwhenyouthinkyoucan rationalize givingin,considerwhetherSatanmaybe
tryingto blockGod’spurposesforyour life orforsomeone else’slife.
(Mk 1:12-13) To be temptedisnota sin. Temptingothers orgivinginto temptationissin.
(Jn12:31) The prince of thisworldis Satan. Satan has greatpower,butpeople canbe deliveredfromhis
reignof spiritual darknessbecause of Christ’svictoryonthe cross. Satan ispowerful,butJesus ismuch
more powerful. Jesus’resurrectionshatteredSatan’sdeadlypower(Colossians1:13,14). To overcome
Satan we needfaithful allegiancetoGod’sWord,determinationtostayawayfromsin,and the support
of otherbelievers.
(Rv12:9) The name Satan means“accuser”(12:10). Satan likestopursue believerswhoare vulnerable
intheirfaith,whoare spirituallyweekorwhoare isolatedfromotherbelievers.
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Limited by God
(Gn 3:1) As a createdbeing,Satanhas definite limitations. Althoughhe istryingtotempteveryone
away fromGod, he will notbe the final victor. In3:14, 15, God promisesthatSatan will be crushedby
one of the woman’soffspring,the Messiah.
Why He tempts us.
(Gn 3:1-6) Why doesSatan temptus? TemptationisSatan’s invitationtogive intohiskindof life and
give upon God’skindof life. Satan temptedEve andsucceededingettinghertosin. Eversince then,
he’sbeenbusygettingpeople tosin. He eventemptedJesus(Matthew 4:11). But Jesusdidnotsin.
How couldEve have resistedtemptation? Byfollowingthe same guidelineswe canfollow. First,we
mustrealize thatbeingtemptedisnota sin. We have not sinneduntil we give intothe temptation.
Thento resisttemptation,we must(1) prayfor strengthtoresist. (2) run, sometimesliterly,and(3) say
no whenconfrontedwith whatwe knowiswrong. James1:12 tellsof the blessingsandrewardsfor
those whodon’tgive inwhentempted.
Can imitate parts of God’s works to deceive
(Ex 7:12) God performedamiracle byturningAaron’sstaff intoa snake,andPharaoh’smagiciansdidthe
same thingthroughtrickeryor sorcery. Althoughmiraclescanhelpusbelieve,itisdangeroustorelyon
themalone. Satancan imitate some partsof God’swork and leadpeople astray. Pharaohfocusedon
the miracle ratherthan the message. We can avoidthiserror bylettingthe Wordof God be the basisof
our faith. Nomiracle fromGod wouldendorse anymessage thatis contraryto the teachingsof his
Word.
Can he force people to do wrong?
(1 Chr 21:1) The Bible textsaysSatanexcitedDavidtotake a census. CanSatan force people todo
wrong? No! Satan onlytemptedDavidwiththe idea,butDaviddecidedtoact onthe temptation. Ever
since the Gardenof Eden,Satanhas beentemptingpeople tosin. David’scensuswasnotagainstGod’s
law,but hisreasonforthe censuswas wrong – pride inhismightyarmywhile forgettingthathisreal
strengthcame from God. EvenJoab,not knownforhishighMoral ideals,recognizedthe censusassin.
From David’sexamplewe learnthatanactionthat may not be wrongin itself canbe sinful if is
motivatedbygreed,arrogance,orselfishness. Oftenourmotives,notthe actionitself containthe sin.
We mustconstantlyweighourmotivesbefore we act.
God is aware of all Satan does.
(Jb1:12) The conversationbetweenGodandSatan teachesusan importantfact aboutGod – He is fully
aware of everyattemptbySatanto bringsufferinganddifficultyuponus. While Godmayallow usto
sufferfora reasonbeyondourunderstanding,he isnevercaughtbysurprise byour troubles andis
alwayscompassionate.
Can he persuade God to change His plans.
(Jb2:3-6) Can Satanpersuade Godto change his plans? AtfirstGod saidHe didnot want Job harmed
physically,butthenHe decidedtoallowit. Satanisunable topersuade Godto go againstHischaracter.
God iscompletelyandeternallygood. ButGodwas willingtogo alongwithSatan’splanbecause God

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knewthe eventual outcome of job’sstory. Godcannotbe fooledbySatan. Job’ssufferingwasatestfor
Job,Satan, andus – notGod.
Aided by demons.
(Mt 8:28) Demon-possessedpeople are underthe control of one ormore demons. Demonsare fallen
angelswhojoinedSataninhisrebellionagainstGodandare now evil spiritsunderSatan’scontrol. They
helpSatantemptpeople tosinandhave great destructive powers. But whenever theyare confronted
by Jesus,theylose theirpower. These demonsrecognizedJesusasGod’sSon(8:29), buttheydidn’t
thinktheyhadto obeyHim. Justbelievingisnotenough(see James2:19). Faithis more than belief. By
faith,youaccept whatJesushasdone for you,receive Himasthe onlyone whocan save youfrom sin,
and live outyourfaithbyobeying HisCommandments.
God’s control over Satan.
(Mk 3;27) AlthoughGodpermitsSatanto workin ourworld. God is still incontrol. Jesus,because he is
God, haspoweroverSatan. Jesusisable to drive outdemonsandendtheirterrible workinpeople’s
lives. One daySatanwill be boundforever(Revelations20:10).
Our ongoing battle with Satan.
(Mk 9:18) Why couldn’tthe disciplesdrive outthe evilspirit? In6:13 we read that theydrove out
demonswhile ontheirmissiontothe villages. Perhapstheyhadspecialauthorityonlyforthattrip,or
perhapstheirfaithwasfaltering. Marktellsthisstorytoshow that the battle withSatanisa difficult,
ongoingstruggle. VictoryoversinandtemptationcomesthroughfaithinJesusChrist,notthroughour
ownefforts.
Obeying God neutralizes Satan.
(Jn14;30-31) AlthoughSatan,the prince of thisworld,wasunable tooverpowerJesus(Matthew4), he
still hasthe arrogance to try,Satan’spowerexistsonlybecause Godallowshimtoact. If we obeyJesus
and alignourselvescloselywithGod’s purposes. Satancanhave no poweroverus.
How to withstand his attacks.
(Eph6:10-17) Inthe Christian life we battleagainstrulersandauthorities(the powerful evil forcesof
fallenagesheadedbySatan,whoisa viciousfighter,see 1Peter5:6). To withstandtheirattacks,we
mustdependonGod’sstrengthand use everypiece of Hisarmor. Paul is not onlygivingthiscounsel to
the church, the bodyof Christ,butto all individualswithinthe church. The whole bodyneedstobe
armed. As youbattle against“the powersof thisdark world,”fightinthe strengthof the church, whose
powercomesfromthe Holy Spirit.
(2 Thes3:1-3) beneaththe surface of the routine of dailylife,afierce struggle amonginvisiblespiritual
powersisbeingwaged. Ourmaindefense isprayerthatGodwill protectusfrom the evil one andthat
He will strengthenus. The followingguidelinescanhelpyouprepare forandsurvive satanicattacks:
(1)take the threatof spiritual attackseriously;(2) prayforstrengthand helpfromGod; (3) studythe
Bible torecognize Satan’sstyle andtactics;(4) memorize Scripture soitwill be asource of helpno
matterwhere youare; (5) associate withthose whospeakthe truth.And(6) practice whatyou are
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His work has become more intense.
(Rv12;12) the devil beginstostepuphispersecutionbecause he knowsthat,“histime isshort.” We are
livinginthe lastdaysand Satan’sworkhas become more intense. Eventhoughthe devil isvery
powerful,aswe cansee by the conditionof ourworld,he isalways underGod’s control. One of the
reasonsGod allows Satantowork evil andbringtemptationissothatthose whopretendtobe Christ’s
followerswill be weededoutfromChrist’strue believers. Knowingthatthe lastgreat confrontation
withJesusisnear. Satan isdesperatelytryingtorecruitasgreatan enemyforce aspossible forthisfinal
battle.
SpendingTime alone withGod isessential foryourwell-being. Itisnota luxuryoran option;itis a
necessity. Therefore,donotfeel guilty abouttakingtime tobe withHim. RememberthatSatanisthe
accuserof believers. He delightsinheapingguiltfeelingsuponyou,especiallywhenyouare enjoyingHis
Presence. Whenyoufeel Satan’sarrowsof accusation,youare probablyonthe right track. Use your
shield of faith to protect yourself fromhim. TalkwithHimaboutwhatyou are experiencingandaskHim
to showyouthe way. Resistthe devil,and he will flee fromyou. Come near to Me,and I will come
near to you.
Now,withall the effortGodhas put intoyou,givingyoubenefits,sharinglove withyou,He isexpecting
somethinginreturn. He expectsyoursharedlove,butHe alsoexpects“Thanksgiving”fromyou.

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Thanksgiving
It’s time to express yours
God toldthe people of Israel tobringtheirfellowshipofferingspersonally(Leviticus 7:28-30),withtheir
ownhands. They were totake time and efforttoexpressthankstoGod. You are the onlypersonwho
can expressyourthankfulnesstoGodand toothers. Do you relyonthe one leadingthe prayertothank
God and to otherswhohave helpedandblessedyou.
Developing an attitude of thankfulness
(Nm11:4-6) Dissatisfactioncomeswhenourattentionshiftsfromwhatwe have towhat we don’thave.
The people of Israel didn’tseemtonotice whatGodwasdoingfor them – settingthemfree,making
thema nation,givingthemanewland – because theywere sowrappedupinwhatGod wasn’tdoingfor
them. Theycouldthinkof nothingbutthe deliciousEgyptianfoodtheyhadleftbehind. Somehowthey
forgotthat the brutal whipof Egyptianslaverywasthe costof eatingthatfood. Before we judge the
Israelitestooharshly,it’shelpful tothinkaboutwhatoccupiesourattentionmostof the time. Are we
grateful forwhatGod has givenus,or are we alwaysthinkingaboutwhatwe wouldliketohave? We
shouldnotallowourunfilleddesirestocause usto forgetGod’sgiftsof life,food,health,andfriends.
(Nm31:48-50) Aftercarefullyaccountingforall theirmen,the officersdiscoveredthatnotone soldier
had beenlostinbattle. Atonce theythankedGod. Aftergoingthroughtough times,we shouldbe quick
to thankGod for deliveringusandprotectingusfromsevere loss.

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Should be a Continuous part of Life.
(1 Chr 16;4) CertainLeviteswere appointedtogive continual praise andthankstogod. Praise and
thanksgivingshouldbe aregularpart of our routine,notreservedonlyforcelebration. Praise God
continuallyandyouwill findthatyouwon’ttake hisblessingsforgranted.
(Ps92;1-2) Duringthe Thanksgiving holiday,we focusonourblessingsandexpressourgratitude toGod
for them. But thanksshouldbe onour lipseveryday. We can neversaythank youenoughto parents,
friends,leadersandespeciallytoGod. Whenthanksgivingbecomesanintegral partof your life,youwill
become more positive,gracious,loving,andhumble.
Elements of Thanksgiving.
(1 Chr 16:7-36) Fourelementsof true thanksgivingare foundinthissong(psalm):(1) rememberingwhat
God has done, (2) tellingothersaboutit, (3) showingGod’sglorytoothers,and (4) offeringgiftsof self,
time,andresources. If youare trulythankful,yourlife will show it.
In all areas of life.
(Ps138:1-3) Thanksgivingshouldbe anintegral partof our praise toGod. This theme iswoven
throughoutthe psalms. Aswe praise andthank God formaterial andspiritual blessings,we shouldalso
thankHim answeredprayer. RememberwhenyouaskedGodforprotection,strength,comfort,
patience,love,orotherspecial needs,andHe suppliedthem? Beware of takingGod’sprovisionand
answeredprayerforgranted.
Thank those who helped you.
(Acts3:7-10) In hisexcitementthe formerlycrippledmanbegantojumpand walkaround. He also
praisedGod! And thenotherswere alsoawedbyGod’spower. Don’tforgetto thankpeople whohelp
you,but alsoremembertopraise Godfor Hiscare and protection.
About the Spiritual Gifts of others.
(Rom12:6-8) Look at thislistof giftsand imagine the kindsof peoplewhowouldhave eachgift.
Prophetsare often boldandarticulate,Servers(thoseinministry) are faithfulandloyal. Teachersare
clearthinkers. Encouragers knowhowtomotivate others. Giversare generousandtrusting. Leaders
are goodorganizersandmanagers. Those whoshow mercyare caring people whoare happytogive
theirtime toothers. It shouldbe difficultforone persontoemploythese gifts. Anassertive prophet
wouldnotusuallymake agood counselor,andagenerousgivermightbe aleader. Where youidentify
your owngifts9and thislistisfar fromcomplete,askhow youcan use themto buildGod’sfamily. At
the same time realize thatyourgiftscan’t dothe workof the church all alone. Be thankful forpeople
whose giftsare completelydifferentfromyours. Letyourstrengthsbalance theirweaknesses,andbe
grateful thattheirabilitiesmake upforyourdeficiencies. TogetheryoucanbuildChrist’schurch.
For God’s available strength.
(Eph5:20) Whenyou feel down,youmayfinditdifficulttogive thanks. Take heart – inall thingsGod
worksfor our goodif we love Him and are calledaccordingtoHis purpose (Romans8:28). ThankGod,
not foryour problems,butforthe strengthHe is buildinginyouthroughthe difficultexperiencesof your
life. Youcan be sure thatGod’s perfectlove willsee youthrough.

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For those who bring you Joy.
(1 Thes3:9-10) it bringsgreatjoy to a Christiantosee anotherpersoncome tofaithin Christandmature
inthat faith. Paul experiencedthisjoycountlesstimes. He thankedGod for those whohave come to
knowChristand fortheirstrongfaith. He alsoprayedfor theircontinuedgrowth. If there are new
Christians whohave broughtyoujoy,thankGod forthemand supportthemas theycontinue togrow in
the faith.
How to give thanks in everything.
(1 Thes5;18) Paul was not teachingthatwe shouldthankGod for everythingthathappenstous,but in
everything. Evil doesnotcome fromGod, sowe shouldnotthankhimfor it. But whenevil strikeswe
can still be thankful forGod’spresence andforthe goodthat He will accomplishthroughthe distress.
Thankfulness
It isimpossibletopraise orthank God toomuch. Asit iswritten,He inhabitsthe praisesof His people.
Sometimesyouradorationisaspontaneousoverflowof Joy,in response tosharedlove orrichblessings.
At othertimesyourpraise ismore disciplinedand measured–an act of your will. He lovesbothequally
inboth typesof praise. Thankfulnessalso isaroyal road to draw nearto Him.
Whenyouthank Himfor the many thingsHe providesyou;affirmthatHe is yourloverGod,from whom
all blessingsflow. WhenadversitystrikesandyouthankHimanyway,your trustin Hisbeingas beingin
charge isa show-piece inthe invisiblerealms. Fill upthe spare momentsof yourlife withpraise and
thanksgiving. Thisjoyousdiscipline will helpyoulive inthe SharedLove of Hispresence.
Whenyoubring Him prayerrequests, layoutyourconcerns before Him. ThenthankHim for the
answersthatHe has setintomotionlongbefore youcandiscernresults. Whenyourrequestscome to
mindagain,continuertothankHim forthe answersthatare on the way. If youkeeponstatingyour
concernsto Him,you will live inastate of concern. Whenyou thankHim forhow He is answeringyour
prayers,yourmindsetbecomesmuchmore positive. Thankfulprayerskeepyourfocuson yourShared
Love.
Thankful Heart
Come to Himwithsharedlove sothat you can benefitfromSharingLove. Thisisaday He made. He
wantsyou to rejoice today,refusingtoworryabouttomorrow. Searchfor all that He haspreparedfor
you,anticipatingabundantblessingsandacceptingchallengesastheycome. He can weave miracles
intothe most mundane dayif youkeepyourfocuson Him.
Come to Himwithall your needs,knowingthatHe is incontrol. Know that if His planfor the worldwill
permitit,He will care for you. Stay in continual communicationwithHim,sothatyoucan live above
your circumstancesevenwhile youare inthe middle of them.
Bring Him Your Weakness.
Andreceive His Peace. Acceptyourself andyourcircumstances,justas theyare,rememberingthatHe is
incharge overeverything. Donot wearyourself outwithanalyzingandplanning. Instead,let
thankfulnessandtrustbe your guidesthroughthisday:theywill keepyouclose toHim. Asyoulive in
His SharedLove,His Peace shinesuponyou.Youwill cease tonotice how weakorstrong youfeel,

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because youwill be focusingonHim. The bestwayto get throughthisday isstepby stepwithHim.
Continue thissharedlove journey,trustingthatthe pathyou are followingisheadedforheaven.
Be still and Thank Him
Thank Himfor the conditionsthatare requiringyouto be still. Do not spoil these quiethoursbywishing
themaway,waitingimpatientlytobe active again. Some of the greatestworksinHis Kingdomhave
beendone fromsickbedsandprisoncells. Insteadof resentingthe limitationsof aweakenedbody,
searchfor His wayin the midstof these verycircumstances. Limitationscanbe liberatingwhenyour
strongestdesire islivingclose toHim.
Quietnessandtrustenhance yourawarenessof yourSharedLove withyou. Donot despise these simple
waysof servingHim. Althoughyoufeelcutoff fromthe activityof the world,yourquiettrustmakesa
powerful statementinspiritual realms. MyStrength and Powershow themselvesmosteffective in
weakness.
Thankfulness
Trust and thankfulnesswill getyousafelythrough thisday. Trustprotectsyoufromworryingand
obsessing. Thankfulnesskeepsyoufromcriticizingandcomplainingthose “sistersins”thatsoeasily
entangle you.
KeepingyoureyesonHim isthe same thingas trustingHim. It is a free choice thatyou mustmake
thousandsof timesdaily. The more youchoose toTrust Him, the easieritbecomes. Thoughtpatterns
of trustbecome etchedintoyourbrain. Relegate challengestothe low prioritytheyneedtobe,sothat
He can be central in yourthoughts. Thus youfocuson Him, entrustingyourconcernsintoHis care.
Be Thankful for the Spirit
Thank Himfor the gloriousgiftof His Spirit. Thisislike primingthe pumpof a well. AsyoubringHim
Thanksgiving,regardlessof yourfeelings,His Spiritisable toworkmore freelywithinyou. Thisproduces
more thankfulnessandmore freedom,untilyouare overflowingwithGratitude.
He showersblessingsonyoudaily,butsometimesyoudon’tperceivethem. Whenyourmindisstuckon
a negative focus,yousee neitherHimnorHisgifts. In faith,thankHim for whateverispreoccupying
your mind. Thiswill clearthe blockage sothatyoucan findHim.
Thankfulness and thoughts
A thankful mind-setkeepsyouintouchwithHim. He hatesitwhenHis childrengrumble,becauseitis
puttingdownthatHe is incharge. Thankfulnessisasafeguardagainstthis deadlysin. Furthermore,a
grateful attitude becomesagridthroughwhichyouview life. Gratitude enablesyoutosee yourSharing
Love. Cultivate athankful heart,forthisglorifiesHim andfill youwithPeace.
Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
Take nothingforgranted,not eventhe risingof the sun. Before SatentemptedEve inthe Gardenof
Eden,thankfulnesswasasnatural as breathing. Satan’stemptationinvolved pointingEve tothe one
thingthat wasforbiddenher. The gardenwasfilledwithdesirable fruits,butEve focusedonthe one
fruitshe couldn’thave ratherthanbeingthankful forthe manygoodthingsfreelyavailable. This
negative focusdarkenedher mind,andthensuccumbedtotemptation.

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Whenyoufocus onwhat youdon’thave or onsituationsthatdispleaseyou,yourmindalsobecomes
darkened. Youtake for granted:life,salvation,sunshine,flowers,andcountlessothergiftsfromHim.
You lookforwhat iswrong andrefuse toenjoylife until thatisfixed.”
Whenyouapproach Him withthanksgiving,yourSharedLove poursintoyou,transformingyouthrough
and through.
Thanksgiving
I am callingyouto a life of thankfulness. Iwantall your moments tobe punctuatedwiththanksgiving.
The basisfor your gratitude isthatI am in charge. I am the Creatorand Controller.Of the universe.
HeavenandEarth is underMy control.
Whenyoucriticize or complain,youare actingas if you thinkyoucouldrun the worldbetterthanHe
does. Fromyour limitedhumanperspective,itmaylookasif He is mismanagingthings. Butyoudon’t
knowwhatHe knowsor seeswhatHe sees. If He pulledbackthe curtainto allow youto see heavenly
actions,youwouldunderstandmuchmore. However,He has designedyouto live byfaith, not by sight.
He lovinglyshieldsyoufromknowing the future orseeingintothe spiritworld. AcknowledgeHim being
incharge, bygivingthanksinall circumstances.
Teaching Thankfulness
Beginbyacknowledgingthateverything –all your possessionsandall youare – belongtoHim. The
dawningof eachnewday isa giftfromHim,not to be takenfor granted. The earth isa live withHis
blessings,givingtestimonyto yourSharedLove. If you slow downyourpace of life,youcanfindHim
anywhere.
Some of His mostpreciouschildrenhave beenlaidaside insickbedsorshutawayin prisons. Others
have voluntarilylearnedthe disciplineof spendingtime alonewithHim. The secret of beingthankful is
learningtosee everythingfromHisperspective. His worldisyourclassroom.
Whensome Basic needislacking – time,energy,money –consideryourselfblessed. Yourverylackis an
opportunitytolatchonto Him inunashameddependence. When youbeginaday withinadequate
resources,youmustconcentrate youreffortsonthe present moment. Thisiswhere youare meantto
live – inthe present; It isa place where He alwaysawaitsyou. Awarenessof yourinadequacyisarich
blessing,trainingyoutorelywholeheartedlyonHim.
The truth is thatself-sufficiencyisamythperpetuatedbypride andtemporarysuccess. Healthand
wealthcandisappearinstantly,ascanlife itself. Rejoice inyour insufficiency,knowingthatHis Poweris
made perfectinweakness.
Thank Him
For the verythingsthat are troublingyou. You are on the brinkof rebellion, closetoshakingyourfistin
His face. You are temptedtoindulge injustalittle complainingaboutHis treatmentof you. But once
youstepoverthat line,wavesof rage and self-pitycansweepyouaway. The bestprotectionagainst
thisweaknessisthanksgiving. ItisimpossibletothankHimand curse Him at the same time.

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ThankingHimfor Challengeswillfeel awkwardandwrongatfirst. But if you persist,yourthankful
words,prayedinfaith,will eventuallymake adifferenceinyourheart. Thankfulnessawakensyouto
your SharedLove.,whichovercomesall yourchallenges.
He expectsone otherkindof paymentforthe SharedLove andbenefits He hasprovidedyou:TRUST.

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Learn a New Habit-Trust
Difficult to continue trusting when nothing seems to happen
(Gn 30:22-24) EventuallyGodansweredRachel’sprayersandgave herachildof herown. In the
meantime,however,she hadgivenhermaidservanttoJacob. TrustingGod whennothingseemsto
happenisdifficult. Butitis harderstill tolive withthe consequencesof takingmattersintoourown
hands. Resistthe temptationtothinkGodhas forgottenyou. Have patience andcourage to waitfor
God to act.
Takes time to build it up
(Gn 50:5) Josephhadprovenhimself trustworthyasPharaoh’sadviser. Because of hisgoodrecord.
Pharaohhad little doubtthathe wouldreturntoEgypt as promisedafterburyinghisfatherinCanaan.
Privilegesandfreedomoftenresultwhenwe have demonstratedourtrustworthiness. Since trust must
be builtgraduallyovertime,take everyopportunitytoprove yourreliabilityeveninminormatters.
Trusting God for the First Time
(Ex 14:10-11) Trappedagainstthe sea,the Israelitesfacedthe Egyptianarmysweepinginforthe kill.
The Israelitesthoughttheywere doomed. AfterwatchingGod’spowerful handdeliveredthemfrom
Egypt theironlyresponse wasfear,whining,anddespair. Where wastheirtrustinGod? Israel had to
learnfromrepeatedexperience thatGodwasable to provide forthem. God haspreservedexamplesin
the Bible sothat we can learnto trust himthe firsttime. By focusingonGod’sfaithfulnessinthe past
we can face criseswithconfidenceratherthanwithfearandcomplaining.
Trusting God spares us much grief
(Ex 14;11-12) Thisis the firstinstance of grumblingandcomplainingbythe Israelites. Theirlackof faith
inGod is startling. Tethowoftendowe findourselvesdoingthe same thing –complainingoverin-
conveniencesordiscomforts? The Israeliteswere abouttolearnsome toughlessons. Hadtheytrusted
God, theywouldhave beensparedmuchgrief.
Lack of trust leads to stress.
(Ex 16:2) It happenedagain. Asthe Israelitesencountereddanger,shortages,andinconvenience,they
complained bitterlyandlongedtobe backinEgypt. But as always,Godprovidedfortheirneeds.
Difficultcircumstancesoftenleadtostress,andcomplainingisanatural response. The Israelitesdidn’t
reallywantto be back inEgypt, theyjustwantedlife togeta little easier. Inthe pressure of the
moment,theycouldnotfocuson the cause of theirstress(inthiscase,lackof trustin god),theycould
onlythinkaboutthe quickestwayof escape. Whenpressure comesyourway,resistthe temptationto
make a quick escape. Instead,focusonGod’spowerand wisdomtohelpyoudeal withthe cause of
your stress.
Essential to marriage.
(Nm5:11-31) This testforadulteryservedto remove ajealoushusband’ssuspicion. Trustbetween
husbandandwife hadto be completelyerodedforaman to bringhiswife tothe priestforthis type of
test. Today priestsandpastorshelprestore marriagesbycounsellingcoupleswhohave lostfaithin
each other. Whetherjustifiedornot,suspicionmustbe removedforamarriage to survive andtrustto
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Don’t trust God with only small problems
(Nm14:5-9) Withgreat miracles,Godhadledthe Israelitesoutof slavery,throughthe desolate desert,
and up tothe veryedge of the promisedland. He hadprotectedthem, fedthem, andfulfilledevery
promise. Yetwhenencouragedtotake thatlast stepof faithand enterthe land,the people refused.
Afterwitnessingsomanymiracles,whydidtheystoptrustingGod? Whydidtheyrefuse toenterthe
promisedlandwhentheyhadbeentheirgoal since leavingEgypt? Theywere afraid. Oftenwe dothe
same thing. We trustGod to handle the smallerissuesbutdoubthisabilitytotake care of the big
problems,the roughdecisions,the frighteningsituations. Don’tstoptrustingGodjustas you are ready
to reach yourgoal. He broughtyou thisfar and won’tletyoudownnow. We can continue trustingGod
by rememberingall He hasdone forus.
Failing to trust God brings problems.
(Nm14:34) God’s judgmentcame inthe formthe people fearedmost. The people were afraidof dying
inthe desert,soGod punishedthembymakingthemwanderinthe desertuntil theydied. Now they
wishedtheyhadthe problemof facingthe giantsandthe fortifiedcitiesof the promisedland. Failingto
trust God often bringsevengreaterproblemsthanthose we originallyfaced. Whenwe runfromGod,
we inevitablyrunintoproblems.
Wipes out fear.
(1 Sm 14:6) Jonathanand hisarmor-bearerweren’tmuchof a force to attack the huge Philistinearmy.
But while everyone else wasafraid,theytrustedGod,knowingthatthe size of the enemyarmywould
not restrictGod’sabilitytohelpthem. Godhonoredthe faithandbrave action of these twomenwitha
tremendousvictory.
Can you trust in God no matter what?
(Jb1:1) Joblostall he hadthrough nofaultof hisown. As he struggledtounderstand whyall thiswas
happeningtohim. It became clearthathe wasnot meantto know the reasons. He wouldhave toface
life withthe answersandexplanationsheldback. Onlythenwouldhisfaithfullydevelop.
We mustexperience life asjobdid – one day at a time and withoutcompleteanswerstoall of life’s
questions. Will we,like JobtrustGodnomatter what? Or will we give intothe temptationtosaythat
God doesn’treallycare.?
God won’t forsake those who trust Him
(Ps9:10) God will neverforsake those whoseekhim. Toforsake someoneistoabandonthat person.
God’spromise doesnotmeanthat if we trust inhimwe will escape lossorsuffering,itmeansthatGod
Himself willneverleave usnomatterwhatwe face.
Real trust brings consistency of character.
(Ps125;1) Have youeverknownpeople whowere drawntoeverynew fadoridea? Such people are
inconsistentandtherefore unreliable. The secret toconsistencyistotrust in God,because he never
changes. He cannotbe shakenbythe changesinour worldand He enduresforever. The fadsandideas
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Trust with a Childlike faith.
(Mk 10:14) Adultsare not as trustingas little children. Tofeel secure,all childrenneedisalovinglook
and a gentle touchfromsomeone whocares. Complete intellectual understandingisnotone of their
requirements. Theybelieve usif theytrustus. Jesussaidthat people shouldbelieve inHimwiththis
kindof childlike faith. We shouldnothave tounderstandall the mysteriesof the universe;itshouldbe
enoughtoknowthat God lovesusand providesforgivenessforoursin. Thisdoesn’tmeanthatwe
shouldbe childishorimmature,butwe shouldtrustGodwitha child’ssimplicityandreceptivity.
How worry affects our trust in God.
(Mt 6:34) Jesussayswe can have onlyone master. We live ina materialisticsocietywhere manypeople
serve money. Theyspendall their livescollectingandstoringit,onlytodie andleave itbehind.Their
desire formoneyandwhatit can buyfar outweighstheircommitmenttoGodand spiritual matters.
Whateveryoustore up,you will spendmuchof yourtime andenergythinkingabout. Don’tfall intothe
materialistictrap,because “the love of moneyisthe rootof all kindsof evil (1Timothy6:10). Can you
honestlysaythatGod, and notmoneyisyour master. One testisto ask whichone occupiesmore of
you7r thoughts,time andefforts.
Children Learn it from parents
(Mt 18:6) Childrenare trustingbynature. Theytrust adults,andthroughthat trust theircapacityto
trust God grows. God hold’sparentsandotheradultswhoinfluence youngchildrenaccountable for
howtheyaffectthese little ones’abilitytotrust. Jesuswarnedthatanyone whoturnslittle children
away fromfaithwill receivesevere punishment.
Helps with fear.
(Mk 4;38-40) The disciplespanickedbecause the stormthreatenedtodestroythemall andJesus
seemedunaware andunconcerned. Theirswasaphysical storm, butstormscome inotherforms. Think
aboutthe stormsinyour life –the situationsthatcause yougreatanxiety. Whateveryourdifficulty,you
have twooptions. You can worryand assume that Jesusnolongercares,or youcan resistfear,putting
your trustin Him. Whenyou feel likepanickingconfessyourneedforGodandthentrust himto care for
you.
A part of Faith.
(Mk 9:24) The attitude of trust and confidence thatthe Bible callsbelief orfaith(Hebrews11:1-6) is not
somethingwe canobtainwithouthelp. Faithisagiftfrom(Ephesians2:8-9). No matterhow much faith
we have,we neverreachthe pointof beingself-sufficient. Faithisnotstoredawaylike moneyinthe
bank. Growingin faithisa constant processof dailyrenewingourtrustin Jesus.
Acting upon trust.
(Lk 17:11-14) People whohadleprosy were requiredtotryto stayaway fromotherpeople andto
announce theirpresence if theyhadtocome near. Sometimesleprosywentintoremission. If a leper
thoughhisleprosyhadgone away,he was supposedtopresenthimself toapriestwhocoulddeclare
himclean(Leviticus14). Jesussentthe tenleperstothe priestbefore theywere healed –and they
went! TheyrespondedinfaithandJesushealedthemonthe way. Is yourtrust inGod so strong that
youact on whathe says evenbefore yousee evidence thatitwill work?

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How we trust in God.
(Jn3;18) People oftentrytoprotectthemselvesfromtheirfearsbyputtingtheirfaithinsomethingthey
do or have,gooddeeds,skill,orintelligence,money,orpossessions. ButnlyGod can save us fromthe
one thingthat we reallyneedtofear – eternal condemnation. We believe inGodbyrecognizingthe
insufficiencyof ourowneffortstofindsalvationandbyaskingHimto do His workinus. WhenJesus
talksaboutunbelieversHe meansthose whorejectorignore Himcompletely,notthose whohave
momentarydoubts.
(Rm3:21-29) Afterall thisbadnewsaboutour sinfulnessandGod’scondemnation,Paul givesthe
wonderful news. There isaway to be declarednotguilty – bytrustingJesusChristtotake away our sins.
To make us rightwithGod, and to empowerustolive the wayHe taught us. God’ssolutionisavailable
to all of usregardlessof ourbackgroundor past behavior.
(Col 1:22-23) The wayto be free fromsinis to trustJesusChristto take it away. We mustremain
”establishedandfirm”inthe truth of the gospel,puttingourconfidence inJesusalone toforgive our
sinsto make us rightwithGod and to empowerustolive the wayhe desires. Whenajudge ina court of
lawdeclaresthe defendant notguilty,the personhasbeenacquittedof all the accusationsorcharges.
Legally,itisas if he or she hadneverbe3enaccused. WhenGod forgivesoursins,ourrecordis wiped
clean. From his perspective,itisasthoughwe had neversinned. God’s solutionisavailable toyou. No
matterwhat youhave done or what youhave beenlike,God’sforgivenessisforyou.
Lack of trust keeps us from receiving God’s best for us.
(Heb3:15-19) The Israelitesfailedtoenterthe promisedlandbecause theydid notbelieve inGod’s
protection,andtheydidnotbelievethatGodwouldhelpthem conquerthe giantsin the land (see
Numbers14, 15). SoGod sentthemintothe desserttowander40 years. Thiswas an unhappy
alternative tothe wonderful giftHe hadplannedforthem. Lack of trust inGod alwayspreventsusfrom
receivingHisbest.
Danger of trusting in your efforts
(Heb4:13) Nothingcanbe hiddenfromGod. He knowsabouteveryone,everywhere,andeverything
aboutus, iswide opentohisall-seeingeyes. Godseesall we doand knowsall we think. Evenwhenwe
are unaware of His presence,He isthere. Whenwe tryto hide fromHim, He seesus. We can have no
secretsfromGod. It isconfortingto realize thatalthoughGodknowsusintimately,He still “shareslove’
withus.
Have you everfeltsurroundedbythe “enemy” orfacedover-whelmingodds? Godisneverintimidated
by the size of the enemyorthe complexityof aproblem. WithHim, there are alwaysenoughresources
to resistthe pressuresand winthe battle. If Godhas calledyouto action,thenbravelycommitwhat
resourcesyouhave to God andrelyuponhimto leadyou to victory.
I wantyou to learna NewHabit. Try saying,“I trust youGod.” In response towhateverhappenstoyou.
If theiris time,thinkaboutwhoyourLoveris inall His PowerandGloryponderalsothe depthand
breadthof His Love for you.
Thissimple practice will helpyousee Him ineverysituation,acknowledgingHisbeingin-charge andin-
control overthe universe. Whenyouview eventsfromthisperspectivethroughthe love of His Shared

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Love – Fearlosesitsgripon you. Adverse circumstancesbecome growthopportunities,whenyou
affirmyourtrust inHim nomatter what. Youreceive blessingsgratefully,realizingtheyflow directly
fromHim Hand. Your continual assertionof trustingHimwill strengthen yourrelationshipandkeepyou
close
Every time youaffirmyourtrust inHim, youput a coinintoyour heavenlybankaccount. Thusyoubuild
up yourreservesinpreparationfordaysof challenges. He keepssafelyinHisSharedLove all trust
investedinHim,withinterestcompoundedcontinuously. The more youtrustHim, the more He
empowersyou.
Practice trustingHim duringquietdays,whennothingmuchseemstobe happening. Thenwhenstorms
come,yourtrust balance will be sufficienttosee youthrough. Store up for yourselftreasure in heaven,
throughplacingyourtrust inHim. Thispractice will keepyouinHis Peace.
Trust Himby relinquishingcontrol intoHis hands. Letgo and letGod. Thisis Hisworld:He made itand
He controlsit. Yours isa responsivepartinthisSharedLove. He searchesamongHischildrenfor
receptivitytoHim. Guardwell thisgiftof SharedLove that I have plantedinyourheart. Nurture itwith
the Light of your SharedLove.
The High Road
I am leadingyoualongthe HighRoad,but there are descentsaswell asascents. Your longingto reach
those goalsyouhave set is good,but youmustnot take shortcuts. Your assignmentistofollow Him,
allowingHimtodirectyourpath. Let goalsbeckonyouonward,butstay close to Him.
Learn to trustHim whenthingsgo“wrong.” Disruptionstoyourroutine,highlightsyourdependence on
Him. Trustingacceptance of challengesbringsblessingsthatfaroutweighthem all. Walkhandinhand
withHimthroughthis day. He has lovinglyplannedeveryinchof the way. Trust doesnotfalterwhen
the path becomesrockyandsteep. Breathe deeplyof yourSharedLove andholdtightlytoHis hand.
Togetherwe can make it.
Trust in Him
DevelopyourtrustinHim inmore and more areas of your life. Anythingthattendstomake youanxious
isa growthopportunity. Insteadof runningawayfromthese challenges,embrace them, eagertogain
all the blessingsHe has hiddeninthe difficulties. If youbelieve He isincharge overeveryaspect of your
life. Itispossible totrustHim in all situations. Don’twaste energyregrettingthe waythingsare or
thinkingabout whatmight have happened. Startat the presentmoment –acceptingthingsexactly as
theyare – and searchfor His wayin the midstof these circumstances.
Trust islike a crutch youcan leanon,as youjourneyuphill withHim. If you,are trustinginHim
consistently,the crutchwill bearasmuch of your weightasneeded. Leanon,trust, and be confidentin
Me withALL your heart and mine.
Trust is the way to Heaven
Trust isthe pathwaytoHeaven. Whenyou walkon thispath,you live inSharedLove. His love shines
more brightlyonthose whofollowthe SharedLove pathof life. Dare to walkonthe highroad,hand in
hand,for itis the mostdirectroute toheaven.

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Trust Him Enough
to spendample time withHim,pushingbackthe demandsof the day. Refuse tofeel guiltyabout
somethingthatisso pleasingtoHim,the Kingof the universe. Because He isincharge,He is able to
bendtime andeventsinyourfavor. You will findthatyoucan accomplishmore inlesstime,afteryou
have given overcontrol of yourlife toHim ina trulylovingrelationship. Also,asyoualignyourself with
His perspective,youcansortout whatis importantandwhat isnot.
Don’tfall intothe trap of beingconstantlyonthe go. Many, many thingspeople doinHisname have no
value inHis kingdom. To avoiddoingmeaninglessworks,stayin continual communicationwithHim. I
will instruct you and teach you inthe way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Refuse to Worry
In thisworldthere will alwaysbe somethingenticingyoutoworry. That is the nature of a fallenplanet:
Thingsare notas theyshouldbe. So the temptationtobe anxiousisconstantlywithyou,tryingtoworm
itsway intoyourmind. The bestdefense is continual communicationwithMe, richly seasonedwith
thanksgiving. Awarenessof OurSharedLove fillsyourmindwithLightandPeace,leavingnoroomfor
fear.
Don’t be Afraid
Trust Himand Don’t be afraid,forHe is yourStrength. Thinkwhatit meanstohave Him as your
Strength. He spoke the universe intoexistence. His Powerisabsolutelyunlimited. Humanweakness,
dedicatedtoHim,islike a magnet,drawingHis Powerintoyourneediness. However,fearcanblockthe
flowof His Strengthintoyou. Insteadof tryingtofightyour fears,concentrate ontrustingHim. When
yourelate to Himin confidenttrust, there isnolimittohow muchHe can strengthenyou.
RememberthatHe wantsyou to share yourlove. Rejoice aswe journeytogethertowardheaven.
Rejoice
Andbe Thankful! AsyouwalkwithHim throughthisday,practice trustingandthanking Himall along
the way. Trust isthe channel throughwhichHis Peace flowsintoyou. Thankfulnessliftsyouupabove
your circumstances. He doesHis greatestworkthroughpeople withgrateful,trustinghearts. Rather
than planningandevaluating,practice trustingandthankingHim continually. Thisisa stepthat will
revolutionizeyourlife.
He is taking Care of You.
Whenyouare wearyand everythingseemstobe goingwrong,youcan still utterthese five words:“I
Love and Trust You”. By doingso,yourelease mattersintoHis control,andyou fall backintoHis
security.
Before youarise fromyourbed,He has alreadyarrangedthe eventsof yourday. Every dayprovides
manyopportunitiesforyoutolearnHiswaysand grow closerto Him. Signsof your SharedLove
brighteneventhe dullestdays,whenyouhave eyesthatreallysee. SearchforMe as for hidden
treasure. Iwill be found by you.

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Glory Gifts
Let Me fill YouwithMy Love,Joy,and Peace. These are Glory-gifts,flowingfromOurSharedLove.
Thoughyou are a human. He has designatedyoutobe filledwithspiritual contents. Yourweaknessis
not a deterrenttobeingfilledwithHis Spirit;onthe contrary,itprovidesan opportunityforHis Power
to shine forthmore brightly.
As yougo throughthisday,trust Him to provide the strengththatyouneedmomentbymoment. Don’t
waste energywonderingwhetheryouare adequate fortoday’sjourney. His Spiritwithinyouismore
than sufficienttohandle whateverthisdaymaybring. That isthe basisforyour confidence! In
quietness(spendingtime alone withMe) andconfidenttrust (relyingonMy sufficiency) isyour
strength.
Moment by Moment
TrustingHimis a momentbymomentchoice. His people have notalways understoodthistruth. After
He performedmiraclesin the wilderness. HischosenchildrentrustedHim intensely –butonly
temporarily. Soonthe grumblingbeganagain,testingHis patience tothe utmost.
Isn’tit oftenthe same waywithyou? You trust Him whenthingsgo well,whenyousee Him workingon
your behalf. Thistype of trustflows readilywithinyou,requiringnoexertionof yourwill. Whenthings
go wrong,yourtrust flowslowsdownandsolidifies. You are forcedto choose betweentrustingHim
intentionallyorrebelling;resentingHim wayswithyou. Thischoice ci a fork inthe road. Stayon the
road of Life.
Don’t Be Afraid
Trust Him,and don’tbe afraid. Many thingsfeel outof control. Yourroutinesare not runningsmoothly.
You tendto feel more secure when yourlifeispredictable. LetHim leadyouto the rock thatis higher
than youand yourcircumstances.
Whenyouare shakenoutof yourcomfortable routines,gripMyhandtightlyandlookforgrowth
opportunities. Insteadof complainingoverthe lossof yourcomfort,acceptthe challenge of something
new. He ismakingyoufitfor His kingdom. Sayyesto the waysHe worksinyour life. TrustHim and
don’tbe afraid.
Your Strength
Trust Himand don’tbe afraid,forHe isyourStrengthandSong. Do not letfearshut downyourenergy.
Instead,investyourenergyinTrustingHimandsingingHis song. The battle forcontrol of yourmindis
fierce,andyearsof worry have made youvulnerable tothe enemy. Therefore,youneedtobe vigilantin
guardingyourthoughts. Do not despise thisweaknessinyourself,sinceHe is usingitto draw youcloser
to Him. Your constantneedforHim createsan intimacythat iswell worthall the effort. Youare most
alone inthisstruggle foryourmind. His Spiritlivingwithinyouiseverreadytohelp. AskHim to Control
your mind. He will blessyouwith Life andLove.
Hold My Hand and Trust.
So longas youare consciousof your SharedLove,all iswell. Itisvirtuallyimpossible tostumblewhile
walkingwithHim. IdesignedyoutoenjoyHim above all else. Youfindthe deepest fulfillmentof your
heartin Himalone.

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Fearful,anxiousthoughtsmeltawaywhile sharinglove. WhenyouturnawayfromHim, youare
vulnerable tothe darknessthatisalwaysatwork inthe world. Don’tbe surprisedbyhow easily you
stumble whenyouforgettoclingtoHis hand. In the world,dependencyisseenasimmaturity. Butin
His kingdom,dependence onHim isa prime measure of maturity.
Nowlet’stake a lookat understanding.

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Understanding
Obeying God even when you don’t understand why.
(1 Chr 15:13-15) WhenDavid’sfirstattempttomove the arch failed(13:8-14) he learnedanimportant
lessonwhenGodgives specificinstructions,itiswise tofollowthemprecisely. Thistime Davidsawtoit
that the Levites carriedthe ark(Numbers4:5-15). We maynot fullyunderstandthe reasonsbehind
God’sinstructions,butwe doknowGod’s instructionsistoknow hisWord. But just as childrendonot
understandthe reasonsforall theirparentsinstructionsuntil theyare older,we maynotunderstandall
of God’sreasonsinthislife. Itisfar betterto obeyGod firsthandthendiscoverthe reasons. We are
neverfree todisobeyGodjustbecause we don’tunderstand.
Gaining Spiritual Understanding
(Mk 4:9) We hear withourears, butthere isa deeperkindof listeningwiththe mindandheartthatis
necessary inorderto gainspiritual understandingfromJesus’words. Some people inthe crowdwere
lookingforevidence touse againstJesus,otherstrulywantedtolearnandgrow. Jesus’wordswere for
the honestseekers.
Why some do not understand God’s truth.
(Mk 4:11-12) Some people donotunderstandgod’struthbecause theyare notready forit. God reveals
truth to people whowillactonit, whowill make itvisibleintheirlives. Whenyoutalkwithpeople
aboutGod, be aware that theywill notunderstandif theyare notyetready. Be patienttakingevery
chance to tell themmore of the truthabout God,and prayingthat the HolySpirit will opentheirminds
and heartsto receive the truthandact onit.
Come to Himfor understanding,since Iknow youfar betterthanyouknow yourself. Icomprehendyou
inall your complexity;nodetail of your life ishiddenfrom Me. He viewsyouthrougheyesof love,so
don’tbe afraidof His lovingawareness. Allow His love toflow intothe deepestrecessesof yourbeing –
cleansing,healing,refreshingandrenewingyou. TrustHimenoughtoaccept yourLove.

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Whenno one else seemstounderstandyou,simplydraw closertoHim. Rejoice inyourLoverwho
understandsyoucompletelyand lovesyouperfectly. AsHe fillsyouwithHis Love,youbecome a
reservoirof love,overflowingintothe livesof others.
Nowthat youhave your Love relationshipwithGodworkedoutwell;letustake alookat the needto
occasionallywaitonGod.

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Wait on God
Waiting sometimes is part of God’s plans
(1 Sm 16:19-21) WhenSaul askedDavidto be in hisservice,he obviouslydidnotknow thatDavidhad
beensecretlyanointedking(16:12). Saul’sinvitationpresentedanexcellentopportunityforthe young
man and future kingtogainfirsthand informationaboutleadinganation(“Davidwentbackandforth
fromSaul.”!7:15).
Sometimesourplans –eventhe oneswe thinkGodhas approved – have to be put on holdindefinitely.
Like David,we can choose to learnandgrow inour presentcircumstances,whatevertheymaybe.
Benefits of waiting on God.
(Ps40:1-4) WaitingforGod to helpus isnot easy,butDavidreceivedfourbenefits fromwaiting. God(1)
liftedhimoutof hisdespair,(2) sethisfeetona rock, (3) gave hima firmplace to stand,and (4) puta
newsongof praise inhismouth. Oftenblessingscannotbe receivedunlesswe gothroughthe trial of
waiting.
Waiting for God’s timing
(2 Pt 3:8-9) God mayhave seemedslowtothese believersastheyfacedpersecutioneverydayand
longedtobe delivered. ButGodis not slow,he isnoton our timetable (Psalm90:4). Jesusiswaitingso
that more sinnerswill repentandturnto him. We mustnot sitand waitfor Christto return,butwe
shouldlive withthe realizationthattime isshortand thatwe have importantworktodo. Be readyto
meetChristanytime,eventoday,yetplanyourcourse of service asthoughhe maynot returnfor many
years.
Come to Himwithyour plansheldina “Wait List.” WorshipHim inspiritandin Truth,allowingHis love
to seepintoyourentire being. TrustHimenoughtoletHim guide youthroughthisday,accomplishing
His purposesinHis timing. SubordinateyourplanstoHisMaster Plan. He is in control overeveryaspect
of yourlife!.
The challenge continuallybefore youistotrustHim and searchfor His way througheachday. Do not
blindlyfollow yourhabitualroute,oryouwill misswhatHe has preparedforyou. Asthe heavensare
higherthan the earth,so are My wayshigherthan yourwaysand My thoughtsthan yourthoughts.
Wait Patiently with Me
While He blessesyou. Don’trushintoyourSharedLove withtime-consciousnessgnawingatyourmind.
He dwellsintimelessness:Iam,I was,I will alwaysbe. Foryou, time isa protection;you’re afrail
creature whocan handle onlytwenty-fourhoursegments of life. Time canalsobe a tyrant,tickingaway
relentlesslyinyourmind. Learnto mastertime,orit will be yourmaster.
Thoughyou are a time-boundcreature,seektomeetHim intimelessness. Asyoufocusonyour Shared
Love,the demandsof yourtime and taskswill diminish. Iwill bless you and keep you,making My Face
shineupon you graciously,giving you Peace.
Oneevening I wasfussing aboutseedsin thegrapesmy wifehad served for supper. Aftercrunching into
anotherseed,I laid down thelaw,“No moregrapesserved in the Swindollhomeunless they are

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seedless! I announced withcharacteristicdogmatism. Later,when nobody elsewasaround to hearher
reproof,Cynthia edged up to me and quietly asked:“Do you know why seedsin grapesbug you?”
“Sure,”I said, “becauseI bite into thosebitter little thingsand they scatter all over my mouth!”
“No,”She smiled,“It’s becauseyou’retoo impatientto dig them outfirst. The purplegrapesreally taste
better… butthey takemoretime.”
There I stood riveted to the pantry doorby a very true (yetpainful) setof facts. I wastoo busy,too much
in a hurry to split open a grapeand pull outthe seeds. Wow! No wonderwaiting is such a difficult
hasslefor meto handle.
Wouldn’tyou ratherdo anything than wait? If the truth were known,oneof uswould ratherdo the
wrong thing than wait.
I havefound,however,thatwaiting istherule rather than the exception in life. The exception is an open
door;when you haveone – go! They don’thappen very often! Butwaiting,when thedooris closed
doesn’tmean you’reoutof thewill of God. You could be right in the center of His will.
The open dooris the exception. The burstof green lightshappen justa few secondsin life. The rest of
the time is filled witha few yellowlights, and mostly red lightsthat flash,“Wait,wait,wait!”
(FromThree StepsForward and Two StepsBack byCharlesSwindoll)
Let usnow take a lookat how youshouldrelate toGod’swill.

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God’s Will
God wants you to help carry out His will for you.
(Ex 40:16) God toldMoseshowto buildthe tabernacle,andMosesdelegatedjobsinordertodo it. God
allowspeopletoparticipate withhimincarryingouthiswill. Yourtask isnot justto sitand watch God
work,but to give yourbesteffortwhenworkneedsto be done.
Asking for God’s guidance
(Nm9:23) The Israelitestraveledandcampedasgod guided. Whenyoufollow God’sguidance,you
knowyouare where Godwants you,whetheryou’re movingorstayinginplace. Youare physically
somewhere rightnow. Insteadof praying:“God,whatdoyouwant me to do next?” Ask, “God, what
do youwant me to do while I’mrighthere?” DirectionfromGodisnot justforyour nextbigmove. He
has a purpose inplacingyouwhere youare right now. BegintounderstandGod’spurpose foryourlife
by discoveringwhathe wantsyoutodo now!
Prayers must be in line with God’s will.
(Mt 21:22) Thisverse isnota guarantee thatwe can get anythingwe wantsimplybyaskingJesusand
believing. Goddoesnot grant requeststhatwouldhurtusor othersor thatwouldviolate hisown
nature or will. Jesusstatementisnota blankcheck. To be fulfilled,ourrequests mustbe inharmony
withthe principlesof God’skingdom. The strongerourbelief,the more likelyourprayerswill be in-line
withGod’swill,andthenGod will be happytogrant them.
Must accept all that comes with it
(Acts21:13-14) Paul knewhe wouldbe imprisonedinJerusalem. Althoughhisfriends pleadedwithhim
to not go there,he knewthathe had to because Godwantedhimto. Noone enjoyspain,buta faithful
God loverwantsabove all else toplease God. Ourdesire tolove Godshouldovershadow ourdesire to
avoidhardshipandsuffering. Whenwe reallywanttodo God’swill,we mustacceptall that comeswith
it – eventhe pain. Thenwe can say withPaul,“The Lord’s will be done.”
May be for you to stay where you are.
(Eph6:19-20) Undiscouragedandundefeated,Paul wrotepowerful lettersof encouragementfrom
prison. Paul didnot askthe Ephesianstopraythat hischainswouldbe removed,butthathe would
continue tospeakfearlesslyforChristinspite of them. Godcan use us in anycircumstance to doHis
will. Evenaswe pray that God will accomplishhisplanthroughusrightwhere we are. KnowingGod’s
eternal purpose foruswill helpusthroughthe difficulttimes.
He iswithyouand for you. Whenyou decide ona course of action that is in line withMy will , nothing
inheavenor earthcan stop you. You may encountermanyobstaclesasyoumove towardyourgoal,but
don’tbe discouraged– nevergive up! WithHis help,youcanovercome anyobstacle;if your action is in

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line with My total plan. Do not expectaneasypath as youjourneyhandinhand withHim, butdo you
rememberthatHe is yourverypresentHelper.
Much stressfrom yourwantingto make thingshappenbefore theirtimeshave come,orare notin His
plansfor you. One of the mainwaysI assertthat I am in charge is inthe timingof events. If youwantto
stay close toHim and dothingsHis way,askHim to show youthe pathforwardmomentbymoment.
Insteadof dashingheadlongtowardyourgoal,letHim setthe course and pace. Slow down,andenjoy
His guidance of you.
Renewing your mind
I am renewingyourmind. Whenyourthoughtsflow freely,theytendtomove towardproblems. Your
focusgetssnaggedon a givenproblem,circlingroundandroundinan attemptto gain mastery. Your
energyisdrainedawayfromothermattersthroughthisnegative focus. Worstof all you lose sightof
Him.
A renewedmindisGod-focused. Trainyourmindto seekHim ineverymoment,everysituation.
Sometimesyoucanfindhim inyoursurroundings:alovedone’ssmile,sunlight. Atothertimes, you
mustdraw inwardto findHim. He is alwayspresentinyourspirit. SpeaktoHim andHe will lightenyour
spirit.
Stillness of your soul.
He will meetyouinthe stillnessof yoursoul. Itis there that He seekstocommunicate withyou. A
personwho isopento theirSharedLove isprecioustoHim. My eyessearch to and fro throughout the
earth, lookingforone whose heartisseekingHim. He seesyoutryingtofindHim, yourmutual search
resultsinjoyful fulfillment.
Stillnessof soul isincreasinglyrare inthisworldaddictedtonoise andspeed. He is pleasedwithyour
desire tocreate a quietspace where youandHe can meet. Don’tbe discouragedbythe difficultyof
achievingthisgoal. He monitorsall youreffortsandam blessedbyeachof yourattempts to seekHis
will.
Empowerment
He neverleadsyoutodo somethingwithoutequippingyouforthe task. That is whyit’sso importantto
seekHiswill ineverythingyoudo. There are manyburned-outChristianswhothinkmore isalways
better,whodeemitunspiritualtosayno.
In orderto knowHis will,youmustspendtime withHim – sharingyourlove. Thisisa wonderful
privilege.
Ever havetroubledetermine God’swill foryourfuture? You are not alone. “do I moveto Mobile or
Minnesota?”“Do I retire or keep working?”“An engineerat IBM or a clerk at Sears?”“Do I marry or stay
single?” The questionsareendless. One followsanother. Every new responsibility bringsmore
decisions. “What college should my son attend?”….
Howin theworld do we knowwhatGod wants? Do weset out a fleece? Seekadvice? Pray? Read the
Bible? All these are rightyet there is one decision that mustbemade first(Hang on,It’sa tough one.)

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To knowGod’swill, we musttotally surrenderto God’swill. Our tendency isto makeGod’sdecision for
him. I used to do thatwith my mom. Asa child I hated to get the flu for two reasons:(1) it hurt;(2) my
momwasa nurse. Since she wasan RN, sheknew the fastestway to tackle the flu bug waswith a
needle… in my bottom. Ouch (Igrewup thinking penicillin wasa dirty word.)
When she would tell me “to go get the medicine.” I would geteverything butthe dreaded needle. I’d
come backwithan armful: Aspirin,Pepto Bismol,ear drops,anklewraps – anything butpenicillin. But as
good momsdo,shealwaysgother pointacross. “Now you know better,she’d say with a smile, and
would go get the (gulp) needle.
Here’s the point,don’tgo to God with optionsand expecthim to chooseoneof yourpreferences. Go to
Him with Emptyhands – no hidden agendas,no crossed fingers,nothing behind yourback. Go to Him
with a willingness to do whateverhesays. If you surrenderyourwill, then he will “equip you with
everything good fordoing hiswill” (Hebrews13:21). It’sa promise.
(FromOn theAnvil by Max Lucado)
Let uslookat the area of Worry.

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Worry
Don’t worry about details beyond your control
(Gn 7:16) Many have wonderedhowthisanimal kingdom rounduphappened. DidNoahandhissons
spentyearscollectingall the animals? Inrealitythe creation,alongwithNoah,wasdoingjustasGod
has commanded. There seemedtobe noproblemsgatheringthe animals –Godtook care of the details
of thatjob while Noahwasdoinghispartby buildingthe ark. Oftenwe dojustthe opposite of Noah.
We worryabout detailsoverwhichwe have nocontrol,whileneglectingspecificareas(suchas
attitudes,relationships,responsibilities) thatare underourcontrol. Like Noah,concentrate onwhat
God has givenyoudodo, andleave the restto God.
Can reveal a lack of faith in God’s control.
(Ps37:8-9) Angerand worry(fretting) are twoverydestructiveemotions. Theyreveal alackof faiththat
God lovesus and isincontrol. We shouldnotworry,insteadwe shouldtrustinGod, givingourselvesto
himfor hisuse and safekeeping. Whenyoudwell onyourproblems,youwill become anxiousandangry.
But if youconcentrate on God and hisgoodness,youwill findpeace. Where doyoufocusyour
attention.
Don’t worry if you can’t understand everything
(Prv20:24) We are often confusedbythe eventsaroundus. Many thingswe will neverunderstand,
otherswill fall intoplace inyearstocome as we lookback and see how God wasworking. Thisproverb
counselsusnotto worry if we don’tunderstandeverythingasithappens. Instead,we shouldtrustthat
God knowswhathe’sdoing,evenif histimingordesignsisnotclearto us. See Psalm37:23 fora
reassuringpromise of God’sdirectioninyourlife.
Holy Spirit helps us to stop
(Mt 10:19-20) Jesustoldthe disciplesthatwhenarrestedforpreachingthe gospel,theyshouldnot
worryabout whatto say intheirdefense –God’sSpiritwouldspeakthroughthem. This promise was
fulfilledinActs4:6-14) and elsewhere. Some mistakenlythinkthismeanswe don’thave toprepare to
presentthe gospel because Godwill take care of everything. Scripture teaches,how –(Colossians4:6).
Jesusisnot tellingustostoppreparingbutto stopworrying.
Other ways to resist.
(Lk 12;22-34) Jesuscommandsus notto worry. But how can we avoidit? Onlyfaithcan freedusfrom
the anxietycausedbygreedandcovetousness. Itisgood to workand planresponsibility,itisbad to
dwell onall the waysour planningcouldgowrong. Worry ispointlessbecauseitcan’tfill anyof our
needs,worryisfoolish becausethe Creatorof the universe lovesusandknowswhatwe need. He
promisestomeetall ourreal needs,butnotnecessarilyall ourdesires.
Most will seem trivial in the future.
(Lk 22;24) The mostimportanteventinhumanhistorywasaboutto take place,andthe discipleswere
still arguingabouttheirprestige inthe kingdom! Lookingback,we say,“Thiswas notime to worry
aboutstatus.” But the disciples,wrappedupintheirownconcerns,didnotperceive whatJesushad
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today? Twentyyearsfrom now,as youlookback, will these worrieslook pettyandinappropriate? Get
your eyesoff yourself andgetreadyforChrist’scomingintohumanhistory forthe secondtime.
He isall around You,like a cocoonof Love. SharedLove withyouis a promise,independentof your
awarenessof Him. Many thingscan blockthe awareness,butthe majorculpritisworry. My children
tendto accept worryas an inescapable factof Life. However,worryisaform of unbelief,itisdammed
by Him.
Who isin charge of yourlife? If itis you, thenyouhave good reasontoworry. But if it isHim,then
worryis bothunnecessaryandcounterproductive. Whenyoustartto feel anxiousaboutsomething,
relinquishthe situationtoHim. Back off a bit,redirectingyourfocustoHim. He will eithertake care of
the challenge Myselforshow you how to handle it. In this worldyou will have problems,but you
neednotlose sightof Him.
If you have beenworrying,youmightbe temptedtoabandonGod.

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Abandon
Don’t give up on God when you feel abandoned.
((Ex 2:23-25) God’s rescue doesn’talwayscome the momentwe wantit. Godhad promisedtobringthe
Hebrewslavesoutof Egypt(Genesis15:16; 46:3, 4). The people hadwaitedalongtime forthat promise
to be kept,but God rescuedthemwhenhe knew the righttime hadcome. God knowsthe besttime to
act. When youfeel thatGod hasforgottonyouin yourtroubles,rememberthatGodhas a time
schedule we can’tsee.
(1 Sm 7:2-3) Israel mournedandsorrowgrippedthe nationfor20 years. The ark was put awaylike an

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How easyitis forus to complainaboutour problems,eventoGod,while we refuse toact,change,and
do whathe requires. We don’teventake the advice He hasalreadygivenus. Do youeverfeel asif God
has abandonedyou? Checktosee if there isanythingHe has alreadytold youto do. You maynot
Nowthat you are livingthe “sharedlove”youwill needtoworkon yourabilities.

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Abilities
Don’t let yours diminish.
(Ex 28:3) the tailorswhomade Aaron’sgarmentswere givenwisdombyGodinorderto do theirtasks.
All of us have special skills. Godwantsto fill uswithHisSpiritsowe will use themforHisglory. Think
aboutyour special talentsandabilitiesandthe waysyoucoulduse them for God’swork inthe world. A
talentmustbe usedor it will diminish.
Responsibility to use them well
(Ex 35;10-19) Mosesaskedpeople withvariousabilitiestohelpwiththe tabernacle. Everyone of God’s
people hasbeengivenspecial abilities. We are responsible todeveloptheseabilities –eventhe ones
not consideredreligious –andto use themfor God’sglory. We can become skilledthroughstudy,by
watchingothers,andthroughpractice. Work on yourskillsorabilitiesthatcouldhelpyourchurchor
community.
(lk12:48) Jesushas toldushow to live until He comes,we mustwatchforHim, work diligently,andobey
His commands. Suchattitudesare especiallynecessaryforleaders. Watchful andfaithful leaderswillbe
givenincreasedopportunitiesandresponsibilities. The more resources,talents,andunderstandingwe
have,the more we are responsible touse themeffectively. Godwill notholdusresponsible forgiftshe
has notgivenus,but all of us have enoughgiftsanddutiestokeepus busyuntil Jesuscomes.
Invest them wisely.
(Mt 13:12) Thisphrase meansthat we are responsible touse wellwhatwe have. Whenpeople reject
Jesus,theirhardnessof heartdrive awayorrenderuselesseventhe little understandingtheyhad.
(Mt 25:15) The masterdivided the money(talents) amonghisservicesaccordingtotheirabilities. No
one receivedmore orlessthanhe couldhandle. If he failedinhis assignment,hisexcusecouldnotbe
that he was overwhelmed. Failurecouldcome onlyfromlazinessorhatredtowardthe master. The

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tallents represent anykindof resource we are given. God givesustime ,gifts,andotherresources
accordingto our abilities,andhe expectsustouse well whatGodhas givenus. The issue isnthow
much we have,buthowwell we use whatwe have.
(1 Pt 4:10-11) Some people,well aware of theirabilities,believethattheyhave the right touse their
abilitiesastheyplease. Othersfeel thattheyhave nospecial talentsatall. Peteraddressedbothgroups
inthese verses. Every-onehassome gifts,findyoursanduse them. All our abilitiesshouldbe usedin
servingothers,none are for our ownexclusive enjoyment. Petermentionsspeakingandserving. Paul
liststhese andotherabilitiesinRomans12:6-8; 1mCorinthians12:8-11; Ephesians4:11.
Utilize them in the church
(Acts6:2-4) Asthe earlychurch increasedinsize,sodiditsneeds. One greatneedwastoorganize the
distributionof foodtothe poor. The apostlesneededtofocusonpreaching,sotheychose othersto
administerthe foodprogram. Each personhasa vital part to playin the life of the church(see 1
Corinthians12).
You may needtodeal withAcceptance.
Acceptance.
Help the rejected feel accepted.
(Jgs11:3) Circumstancesbeyond hiscontrol forcedJephthahawayfromhispeople andintolifeasan
outcast. Today,bothbelieversandnon-believersmaydrive awaythose whodonotfitthe norms
dictatedbyour society,neighborhoods,orchurches. Often,asinJephthah’scase,great potential is
wastedbecause of prejudice –a refusal tolookbeyondill-conceivedstereotypes. Lookaroundyouto
see if there are potential Jephthah’sbeingkeptoutdue to factors beyondtheircontrol. AsaChristian
youknowthat everyone canhave a place inGod’s family. Canyoudo anythingtohelpthose people
gainacceptance for theircharacter andabilities.
Many won’t accept your faith.
(Lk 4:24) EvenJesushimself wasnotacceptedasa prophetinHishometown. Manypeople have a
similarattitude –an expertisanyone whocarriesa briefcase andcomesfrommore then200 miles

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away. Don’tbe surprisedwhenyourChristianlife andfaithare noteasilyunderstoodoracceptedby
those whoknowyouwell.
By nowyou mayhave some accomplishmentsthatyoumayneedtodeal with.

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Accomplishments
Attitudes more important than accomplishments.
(Ezr 3:12) Fiftyyearsafteritsdestruction,the templewasbeingrebuilt(536BC). Some of the older
people rememberedSolomon’stemple,andtheyweptbecause the new templewouldnotbe as
gloriousasthe firstone. But the beautyof the buildingwasnotreallyasimportanttoGod as were the
attitudesof the buildersandworshipers. Godcaresmore about whowe are thenwhatwe accomplish.
Our worldisalwayschangingandonce-magnificentaccomplishmentsdecayanddisappear. Seekto
serve Godwholeheartedly. Thenyouwon’tneedtocompare yourworkwithanyone else’s.
Don’t look for meaning in them.
(Eccl 1:1-11) Solomonhada purpose forwritingskepticallyandpessimistically. Nearthe endof hislife,
lookedbackovereverythinghe haddone,andmostof it seemedmeaningless. A commonbeliefwas
that only goodpeople prosperedandthatonlythe wickedsuffered,butthat hadn’t proventrue inhis
experience. Solomonwrote thisbookafterhe hadtriedeverythingandachievedmuch,onlytofindthat
nothingapartfrom God made himhappy. He wantedhisreaderstoavoidthese same senseless
pursuits. If we try to findmeaninginouraccomplishmentsratherthaninGod, we will neverbe
satisfied, andeverythingwe pursue andbecome wearisome.
Accomplishments evaporate quickly.
(Eccl 1:2) Solomon’skingdom, Israel,wasinitsgoldenage,butSolomonwantedthe peopleto
understandthatsuccessand prosperitydon’tlastlong(Psalm103:14-16, Isaiah40:6-8, James4:14). All
humanaccomplishmentswill one daydisappear,andwe mustkeepthisinmindinorderto live wisely.
If we don’t, we will become eitherproudandself sufficientwhenwe succeedorsorelydisappointed
whenwe fail. Solomon’sgoal wastoshow thatearthlypossessionsandaccomplishmentsare ultimately

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meaningless. Onlythe pursuitof Godbringsreal satisfaction We shouldhonorGod inall we say, think,
and do.
Don’t base your self-worth on.
(1 Pt 2:9-10) People oftenbase theirself-conceptontheiraccomplishments,butourrelationshipwith
Christisfar more importantthanour jobs,successes,wealth,orknowledge. We have beenchosen by
God as His veryown,andwe have beencalledtorepresentHimtoothers. Rememberthatyourvalue
comesfrombeingone of God’s lovers,notfromwhatyou can achieve. Youhave worthbecause of what
God does,notbecause of whatyou do.
We are accountable for many of our own problems.
(Jgs6:13) GideonquestionedGodaboutthe problemshe andhisnationfacedandabout God’sapparent
lack of help. What he didn’tacknowledge wasthe factthat the people hadbroughtcalamityupon
themselveswhentheydecidedtodisobeyandneglectGod. How easyit isto overlookpersonal
accountabilityandblame ourproblemsonGodand others. Unfortunatelythisdoesnotsolveour
problems. Itbringsusno closerto God, and,and itescortsus to the veryedge of rebellionand
backsliding.
Many problemscome,the firstplace tolookiswithin. Ourfirstactionshouldbe confessiontoGod.
Let’stake a lookat howAchievementsaffectsyou.

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Achievements
Relying on them or self-worth.
(Gn 11:4) The towerof Babel wasa great humanachievement,awonderof the world. Butit was a
monumenttothe people themselves,ratherthantoGod. We may buildmonumentstoourselves
(expensiveclothes,bighouse,fancycar,importantjob) tocall attentiontoour achievements, These
may notbe wronginthemselves,butwhen we use themtogive usidentityandself-worth,theytake
God’splace in our lives. We are free todevelopinmanyareas,butwe are not free tothinkwe have
replacedGod. What “towers”have youbuiltinYour life?
Depression may follow great ones.
(Jgs15:18) Samsonwasphysicallyandemotionallyexhausted. Afteragreat personal victory,his
attitude declinedquicklyintoself-pity–“Must I now die of thirst?” Emotionally,we are mostvulnerable
aftera greateffortor whenfacedwithreal physical needs. Severe depressionoftenfollowsgreat
achievements,sodon’tbe surprisedif youfeeldrainedafterapersonal victory. Duringthese timesof
vulnerability,avoidthe temptationtothinkthatGodowesyoufor your efforts. ItwasHis strengththat
gave you victory. Concentrate onkeepingyourattitudes,actions,andwordsfocusedonGod insteadof
Yourself.
It is pride to take full credit for them.
(2 Kgs 19:21-34) God repliedtoSennacherib’stauntingwords(18:19-25),indictinghimforarrogance.
Sennacheribbelieved hiskingdomhadgrownbecause of hisowneffortsandstrength. Inreality,said
God, he succeeded onlybecause of whatGodhad allowedandcaused. Itisarrogance to thinkwe are
solelyresponsible forourachievements. God,asCreator,rulesovernationsandpeople.
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Actions
Children copy their parents.
(Gn 26:7-11) Isaac was afraidthat the meninGerar wouldkill himtogethis beautifulwife, Rebekah. So
he lied,claimingthatRebekahwashissister. Where didhe learnthattrick? He mayhave knownabout
the actionsof hisfather,Abraham(see 12:10-14 and 20:1-4). Parentshelpshape the world’sfuture by
the way theyshape theirchildren’svalues. The firststep towardhelpingchildrenliverightly. Your
actionsare oftencopiedbythose closesttoyou. What kindof example are yousettingforyour
children.
True change is revealed by our actions.
(Ex 9:27-34). Afterpromisingtoletthe Hebrewsgo. Pharaohimmediatelybroke hispromise and
broughtevenmore trouble uponthe land. Hisactionsrevealedthathisrepentance (change) wasnot
real. We do damage to ourselvesandtoothersif we pretendtochange butdon’tmeanit.
What marks you as a lover of God.
(Ex 13:6-9) The Feastof Unleavenedbreadmarkedthe Hebrewsasa unique people –as thoughthey
were brandedontheirhandsand foreheads. Whatdo youdo that marksyou as a loverof God? The
wayyou raise yourchildren,demonstratelove forothers,show concernforthe poor,andlive in
devotiontoGod – these actionswill leavevisible marksforall tosee. While national groupsare marked
by customsand traditions. Christiansare markedbylovingone another(John13:34, 35).
Balancing prayer with action.
(Ex 14:15) The Lord toldMoses to stopprayingand getmoving! Prayermusthave a vital place inour
lives,butthere isalsoa place foraction. Sometimeswe know whattodo,but we pray for more
guidance asan excuse topostpone doingit. If we know what we shoulddo,thenitistime to get
moving.
Think before you act.
(Ex 21:1) These lawswere givenbecause everythingwe dohasconsequences. Itisvital to thinkbefore
acting,to considerthe effectsof ourchoices. Thinkof yourplanstodayand considerwhattheirlong-
range resultswill be . As we deal withothers,we shouldkeepthe principlesof these lawsinmind. We
shouldact responsiblyandjustlywithall people –friendsandenemiesalike.
Complaining versus acti8ng on problems.
(1 Sm 7:2-3) Israel mourned andsorrowgrippedthe nationfor20 years. The ark was putaway like an
How easyitis forus to complainaboutour problems,eventoGod,while we refuse toact, change,and
do whatHe requires. We don’teventake the advice he had alreadygivenus. Do youeverfeel as if God

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Act on what’s right.
(1 Kgs 1:11-14) WhenNathanlearnedof Adonijah’s conspiracy,he immediatelytriedtostopit. He was
a man of bothfaithand action. He knew thatSolomonshouldrightlybe king,andhe movedquickly
whenhe sawsomeone else tryingtotake the throne. We oftenknow whatisright butdon’tact onit.
Perhapswe don’twantto get involved,ormaybe we are fearful orlazy. Don’tstop, withprayer,good
intentions,orangryfeelings. Take the actiontocorrectthe situation.
When we must take decisive action.
(Est 4:13-14) Afterthe decree tokill the Jewswere given,Mordecai andEstercouldhave despaired,
decidedtosave onlythemselves,orjustwaitedforGod’sintervention. Insteadtheysaw thatGod had
placedthemintheirpositionsforapurpose,sotheyseizedthe momentandacted. When itiswithin
our reach to save others,we mustdoso. In a life-threateningsituation,don’twithdraw,behave
selfishly,wallowindespair,orwaitforGod to fix everything. Instead,ask Godfor Hisdirection,and act!
God may have placedyouwhere youare “for such a time as this.”
God doesn’t act through those unwilling to act for Him.
(Est 4:17-5:1) God was incontrol,yetMordecai and Ester had to act. We cannotunderstandhowboth
can be true at the same time,andyettheyare. God chooses to workthroughthose willingtoactfor
Him. We shouldprayas it all is dependedonGodand act as it all dependedonus. We shouldavoidtwo
extremes;doingnothingandfeelingthatwe mustdo everything.
True faith results in action.
(Lk 3:8-9) Confessionof sins andachangedlife are inseparable. Faithwithoutdeedsisdead(James
2:14-26). Jesus’harshestwordswere tothe respectable religiousleaderswholackedthe desire forreal
change. Theywantedto be knownas religiousauthorities,buttheydidn’twanttochange theirhearts
and minds. Thus,theirliveswere unproductive. Repentance (change)mustbe tiedtoaction,or itisn’t
real. FollowingJesus meansmore thansayingthe rightwords,itmeansactingon whathe says.
Do your actions back up your words.
(Mt 3:8) Johnthe Baptistcalledthe people tomore thanwordsof ritual,he toldthemtochange their
behavior:“Produce fruitinkeepingwithrepentance”meansthatGod looksbeyondourwordsand
religiousactivitiestosee if ourconductbacks up whatwe say, andHe judgesourwordsby the actions
that accompanythem. Do your actionsthat accompanythem. Do your actionsmatch yourwords?
(21:30) The sn whosaid he wouldobey,andthendidn’trepresentedthe nationof Israel inJesus’day.
Theysaidtheywantedto doGod’s will,buttheyconstantlydisobeyed. Theywere phony,justgoing
throughthe motions. It isdangeroustopretendtoobeyGod whenour hearts are far from Himbecause
God knowsour true intentions. Ouractionsmustmatch ourwords.
Good actions don’t always reflect good attitudes.
(Mt 5:20) Jesuswassayingthat hislistenersneededadifferentkindof righteousness(goodness)
altogether(loveandobedience),notjustamore intense versionof the Phariseesrighteousness(legal
compliance). Ourrighteousnessmust(1) come fromwhatGod doesinus,not whatwe can doby
ourselves,(2) be God-centered,notself-centered,(3) be basedonlove of God,not approval from
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Let us nowtake a lookat some advice.
Advice
Finding time with God in the midst of activity.
(Jos3:9) Just before crossingoverintothe promisedland,Joshuagatheredthe peopletohearthe words
of the Lord. Theirexcitementwashigh. Nodoubttheywantedtorushon, butJoshuamade themstop
and listen. We live inafast-pacedage where everyone rushesjusttokeepup. Itis easyto getcaught
up inour tasks,becomingtoobusyfor whatGod saysis mostimportant– listeningtoHiswords. Before
makingyourschedule,take time tofocusonwhat God wantsfromall your activities. KnowingwhatGod
has saidbefore yourushintoyourday may helpyouavoidfoolishmistakes.

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Advice of parents often helpful.
(Gn 26:34-35) Esau marriedpaganwomen,andthisupsethisparentsgreatly. Mostparentscan be a
storehouse of goodadvice,because theyhave alifetimeof insightintotheirchildren’scharacter. You
may notagree witheverythingyourparentssay,butat least talkwiththemandlistencarefully. Thiswill
helpavoidthe hardfeelingsEsauexperienced.
Always seek God’s advice.
(Gn 48:15) Jacob spoke of God as hisshepherdthroughouthislife. Inhisoldage,he couldclearlysee his
dependence uponGod. Thismarksa total attitude change fromthat of hisscheminganddishonest
youth. To developanattitude like jacob’s,letGodshepherdyouasyoutrustin hisprovisionandcare.
Whenyu realize thateverygoodthingcomesfromGod,youcan quittryingto grab themforyourself.
Be careful about negativism in advice.
(Num13:33-14:4) The negative opinionof tenmencauseda greatrebellionamongthe people. Because
it ishumannature to accept opinionasfact,we must be especiallycareful whenvoicingour negative
opinions. Whatwe saymay heavilyinfluence the actionsof those whotrustusto give soundadvice.
Don’t be too quick to reject it.
(Num14:6-10) Two wise men,JoshuaandCaleb,encouragedthe peopletoact onGod’s promise and
move aheadinto the land. The people rejectedtheiradvice andeventalkedof killingthem. Don’tbe
too quickto rejectadvice youdon’tlike. Evaluate itcarefully,comparingittothe teachinginGod’s
Word. Thisadvice may be God’smessage.
Seek God’s advice even in minor issues.
(Jos9:14-17) Whenthe leaderssampledthese men’sprovisions,theysaw thatthe breadwasdry and
moldy,the wineskinswerecracked,andthe clothesandsandalswornout. But theydidnot see through
the deception. Afterthe promisehad beenmade andthe treatyratified,the factscame out – Israel’s
leadershadbeendeceived. Godhad specificallyinstructedIsraeltomake notreatieswiththe
inhabitants of Canaan(Exodus23:32; 34:12; Numbers33:55; Deuteronomy7:2,20:17, 18). As a
strategist,JoshuaknewenoughtotalktoGod before leadinghistroopsintobattle. Butthe peace treaty
seemedinnocentenough,soJoshuaandthe leadersmade thisdecisionontheirown. Byfailing toseek
God’sguidance andrushingaheadwiththeirownplans,theyhadto deal withangrypeople andan
awkwardalliance.
How to carefully evaluate it.
(1 Kgs 12:6-14) Rehoboamaskedforadvice,buthe didn’tcarefullyevaluate whathe wastold. Fhe had,
he wouldhave realizedthatthe advice offeredby the elderswaswiserthanthatof hispeers. To
evaluate advice,askif itisrealistic,workable,andconsistentwithBiblicalprinciples. Determineif the
resultsof followingthe advice will be fair,make improvements,andgiveapositive solutionordirection.
Seekcounsel fromthose more experiencedandwiser. Advice ishelpful onlyif itisconsistentwithGod’s
standards.
(2 Chr 10;1-15) Followingbadadvice cancause disaster. Rehoboamlostthe chance torule a peaceful,
unitedkingdombecausehe rejectedthe advice of Solomon’soldercounselors,preferringthe counsel of
hispeers. Rehoboammade twoerrorsinseekingadvice:(10he didnot give extraconsiderationtothe

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suggestionsof those whoknewthe situationbetterthanhe,and(2) he did not ask God forwisdomto
discernwhichwasthe betteroption It iseasyto follow the advice of ourpeersbecause theyoften feel
as we do. But theirviewmaybe limited. Itisimportantto listencarefullytothose whohave more
experience thenwe do–theycan see the biggerpicture.
Don’t seek God’s advice if you’re going to ignore it.
(2 Chr 18:3-8) WickedAhabaskedJehoshaphattojoinforceswithhiminbattle (18:2-3). Before making
that commitment,JehosaphatrightlysoughtGod’sadvice. However,whenGodgave hisanswerthrough
the prophetMicaiah(18:16). Jehoshaphatignore it(18:28). It doesusno goodto seek God’s advice if
we ignore itwhenitis given. Real love forGodisshownnot bymerelyaskingfordirection,butby
followingthatdirectiononce itisgiven.
Test other’s advice against God’s Word.
(2 Chr 22:4-5) Althoughitiswise toseekadvice,we mustalsocarefullyweighthe advice we receive.
Ahaziahhadadvisers,butthe advisershe chose tolistentowere wickedandledhimtoruin. Whenyou
seekadvice,listencarefullyanduse God’sWordto “testeverything,Holdontothe good.”(1
Thessalonians5:21)
Understand a person’s situation before giving advice.
(Jb5:17) Eliphaswascorrect – itis a blessingtobe disciplinedbyGodwhenwe dowrong. Eliphaz’s
advice,however,didnotapplytoJob. As we know fromthe beginningof the book. Job’ssufferingwas
not a resultof some greatsin. We sometimesgive people excellentadvice onlytolearnthatitdoesnot
applyto themandis therefore notveryhelpful. All whooffercounsel fromGod’sWord shouldtake care
to thoroughlyunderstandaperson’ssituationbefore givingadvice.
Some need compassion more than advice.
(Jb6:6-7) Jobsaidthat Eliphaz’sadvice waslike eatingthe tastelesswhiteof anegg. When people are
goingthroughsevere trials,ill-advisedcounsel isdistasteful. Theymaylistenpolitely,butinside theyare
upset Be slowto give advice tothose whoare hurting. Theyoftenneedcompassionmore thanthey
needadvice.
Seek it from those with more wisdom & experience
(Prv6:20-23) It is natural and goodfor children,astheygrow towardadulthood,tobecome increasingly
independentof theirparents. Youngadults,however,shouldtake care notto turn a deaf ear to their
parents– to rejecttheiradvice justwhenitisneededmost. If youare strugglingwithadecisionor
lookingforinsight,checkwithyourparents orotherolderadults whoknow youwell. Theirextrayears
of experience mayhave giventhemthe wisdomyouseek.
(10:20) Words froma good personare valuable (“choice silver). A lotof poor advice isworthlessthena
little goodadvice. Itiseasyto getopinionsfrompeoplewhowilltell usonlywhattheythinkwill please
us,but such advice isnothelpful. Insteadwe shouldlookforthose whowill speakthe truth,evenwhen
it hurts. Thinkaboutthe people towhomyougofor advice. What doyou expecttohearfrom them?
Seeking it from everyone but God.
(Is30:1) The obstinate childrenare the people of Judah(see1:2),those whohave rebelledagainstGod.
The negotiationsforanalliance were underway,andIsaiahcondemnedtheirtwistedplans. The people

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of Judahsoughtadvice fromeveryone butGod. Whenwe are drivenbyfear,we tendtosearch
everywhere forcomfort,advice,andrelief,hopingtofindandeasywayout of troubles. Insteadwe
shouldconsultGod. AlthoughHe givesemergencyhelpinacrisis,he preferstobe our Guide
throughoutourlives. ByreadingHisWord and activelyseekingtodoHiswill,we canmaintainourbond
withHimwho providesstabilitynomatterwhatthe crisis.
Love often means giving tough advice.
(Mk 10:21) Jesusshowedgenuinelove forthisman,eventhoughHe knew thatthe man mightnot
followhim. Love isable togive toughtadvice. Itdoesn’thedge aroundthe truth. Christlovedus
enoughtodie for us,and He alsolovesusenoughtotalkstraightto us. If Hislove were superficial he
wouldgive usonlyHisapproval,but because Hislove iscomplete,he givesuslife changingchallenges.
Affections control the way we live.
(Prv4:23-27) Our heart – our feelingsof love anddesire –dictatestoa greatextenthow we live because
we alwaysfindtime todo whatwe enjoy. Solomontellsustoguard our heartabove all else,making
sure we concentrate on those desiresthatwill keepusonthe rightpath. Make sure youraffections
pushyoouin the rightdirection. Putboundariesonyourdesires,don’tgoaftereverythingyou see.
Look straightahead,keepyoureyesfixedonyourgoal (sharedlove),anddon’tgetsidetrackedon
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Agreements
Don’t break the agreement you made to follow God.
(Dt 2:14-15) Israel didnothave to spend40 yearson the way to the promisedland. Godsentenced
themto desertwanderingsbecause theyrejectedHislove,rebelledagainstHisauthority,ignoredhis
commandsfor rightlivingandwillfullybroke theirendof the agreementmade inExodus19:8 and24:3-
8. In short,theydisobeyedGod. We oftenmake life’sjourneymore difficultthannecessaryby
disobedience. Share love withGodandreadand follow Hiscommandsinthe Bible,andmake apromise
to stickwithGod whateveryoursituation. Youwill findthatyourlife will be lesscomplicatedandmore
rewarding.
Agreeing to God’s plan for us.
(Jos1:16) If everyone hadtriedtoconquerthe promisedlandhisownway,chaoswouldhave resulted.
In orderto complete the enormoustaskof conqueringthe land,everyone hadtoagree to the leader’s
planand be willingtosupportandobeyhim. If we are goingto complete the tasksGodhas given us,we
mustfullyagree toHis plan,pledge ourselvestoobeyit,andput Hisprinciplesintoaction. Agreeingto
God’splan meansbothknowingwhatthe planis(asfoundin the Bible) andcarryingitout daily.
Aided by the Holy Spirit.
(Mt 18:19-20) Jesuslookedaheadtoa new daywhenHe wouldbe presentwith the followersnotinthe
body,butthrough HisHolySpirit. In the bodyof believers(the church),the sincere agreementof two
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withthem. Twoor more believers,filledwiththe HolySpirit,will prayaccording toGod’s will,nottheir
own,thustheirrequests will be granted.
You mightdeal withambition
Ambition
Was Korah’s undoing/Inappropriate ambition is greed in disguise.
(Nm16:8-10) Mosessaw throughtheircharge to theircharge to theirtrue motivation –some of the
Leviteswantedthe powerof the priesthood. Like Korah,we oftendesire the special qualitiesGodhas
givenothers. Korahhadsignificantworthwhile abilitiesandresponsibilitiesof hisown. Inthe end,
however,hisambitionformore causedhimto lose everything. Inappropriate ambitionisgreedin
disguise. Concentrateonfindingthe special purposeGodhasfor you.
Shouldn’t be motivated by selfishness.
(Jgs9:2-5) Israel’skingwastobe the Lord andnot a man. But Abimelechwantedtousurpthe position
reservedtoGod alone. Inhisselfishquest,he killedall bugtone of his70 half brothers. People with
selfishdesiresoftenseektofulfill them inruthlessways. Examineyourambitionstosee if theyare self-
centeredorGod-centered. Be sure youalwaysfulfillyourdesiresinwaysthatGod wouldapprove.

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Controlling it.
(2 Sm 5:12) “Davidknewthat the LORD had establishedhim…” Althoughthe pagankingdomsbased
theirgreatness onconquest,power,armies,andwealth,Davidknew thathisgreatnesscame onlyfrom
God. To be greatmeanskeepingaclose relationshipwithGodpersonallyandnationally. Todothis,
Davidhad to keephisambitionundercontrol. Althoughhe wasfamous,successful,andwell liked,he
gave God firstplace inhis life andservedthe people accordingtoGod’spurposes. Doyouseek
greatnessfromGodor frompeople? Inthe drive forsuccess,remembertokeepyourambitionundedr
God’scontrol.
Jesus exposed political ambitions of religious leaders.
(Jn18:13) BothAnnasand Caiaphashad beenhighpriests. AnnaswasIsrael’shighpriestfromA.D.6to
15, whenhe wasdeposedbyRomanrulers. Caiaphas,Annas’s son-in-law wasappointedhioghpriest
fromA.D. 18 to 36/37). Accordingto Jewishlaw,the office of HighPriestwasheldforlife. ManyJews
therefore stillconsidered Annasthe highpriestandstilledcalledhimbythattitle. ButalthoughAnnas
retainedmuchauthorityamongthe Jews,Caiaphasmade the final decision. BothCaiaphasandAnnas
cared more abouttheirresponsibilitytoleadthe people toGod. Thoughreligiousleaders,theyhad
become evil. Asthe nation’sspiritual leaders,theyshouldhave beensensitivetoGod’srevelation. They
shouldhave knownthatJesuswasthe Messiahaboutwhomthe Scriptures spoke,andtheyshouldhave
pointedthe peopletohim. Butwhendeceitful menandwomenpursueevil,theywanttoeliminate all
opposition. Insteadof honestlyevaluatingJesus’claimsbasedontheir knowledge.of Scripture,these
religiousleaderssoughttofurthertheirownselfishambitionsandwere evenwillingtokill God’sSon,if
that’swhat ittook,to do it.
When ambition is appropriate.
(Mk 9:34) The disciples,caughtupintheirconstantstruggle forpersonal success,were embarrassedto
answerJesus’question. Itisalwayspainful tocompare ourmotiveswithChrist’s. Itisnot wrongfor
believerstobe industriousorambitious. Butwhenambitionpushesobedience andservicetoone side,
it becomessin. Pride orinsecuritycancause usto overvalue positionandprestige. InGod’skingdom,
such motivesare destructive. The onlysafe ambitionisdirectedtowardChrist’skingdom,notourown
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Anger
God doesn’t use His to judge us.
(Gn 4:11-15) Cainwas severely punishedforthismurder. Godjudgesall sinsandpunishes
appropriately,butnotsimplyoutof angeror vengeance. Rather,God’spunishmentismeanttocorrect
us and restore ourfellowshipwithHim. Whenyou’re correcteddon’tresentit,insteadrenewyour
fellowshipwithGod.
God’s anger versus God’s patience.
(Gn 19:24) In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah,we see two facesof God’s character:his greatpatience
(agreeingtospare a wickedcityfortengood people) andHisfierce anger(destroyingbothcities). Aswe
grow spiritually,we shouldfindourselvesdevelopingadeeperrespectforGod because of His anger
towardsin,and alsoa deeperlove forGodbecause of His patience whenwe sin.
Blinds us to our wrongdoing,
(Gn 27:41) Esau was so angry at Jacob that He failedtosee hisownwrongingivingawaythe birthright
inthe firstplace. Jealousangerblindsusfromseeingthe benefitswe have andmakesusdwell onwhat
we don’thave.
Controlling it.
(Gn 27:41) WhenEsau lostthe valuable family blessing,hisfuturesuddenlychanged. Reactinginanger,
he decidedtokill Jacob. Whenyoulose somethingof greatvalue,orif othersconspire againstyouand
succeed,angeristhe firstand mostnatural reaction. Butyou can control yourfeelingsby(1)
recognizingyourreactionforwhatitis,(2) prayingfor strength,and (3) askingGod for helptosee the
opportunitiesthatevenyourbadsituationmayprovide.

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Resulting from wounded pride.
(Nm22:29) The donkeysavedBalaam’slifebutmade Himlookfoolishinthe process,soBalaamlashed
out at the donkey. We sometimesstrikeoutatblameless peoplewhogetinourway because we are
embarrassedorour pride ishurt. Lashingoutat otherscan be a signthat somethingiswrongwithus.
Don’tallowyourownhurt pride to leadyouto hurt others.
Using it constructively.
(1 Sm 11:6) Angerisa powerful emotion. Oftenitmaydrive peopletohurtotherswithwordsor
physical violence. Butangerdirectedat sinandthe mistreatmentof othersisnot wrong. Saul was
angeredbythe Ammonites’threattohumiliate andmistreathisfellowIsraelites. The HolySpiritused
Saul’sangerto bringjustice andfreedom. Wheninjustice orsinmakesyouangry,askGod how youcan
channel thatanger inconstructive waystohelpbringabouta positive change.
(Mk 3:5) Jesuswasangryabout the Phariseesuncaringattitudes. Angeritself isnotwrong. Itdepends
on whatwe do withthe anger. Toooftenwe expressedourangerinselfishandharmful ways. By
contrast,Jesusexpressedhisangerbycorrectinga problem –healingthe man’shand. Use youranger
to findconstructive solutionsratherthantotear people down.
(Eph4:26-27) The Bible doesn’ttell usthatwe shouldn’tfeel angry,butitpointsoutthatit isimportant
to handle ourangerproperly. If ventedthoughtlessly,angercanhurt othersand destroyrelationships.
If bottledupinside,itcancause usto become bitteranddestroyusfrom within. Paul tellsustodeal
withour angerimmediatelyinawaythat buildsrelationshipsratherthandestroysthem. If we nurse
our anger,we will give Satananopportunitytodivide us. Are youangrywithsomeone rightnow? What
can you doto resolve yourdifferences? Don’tletthe dayendbefore youbegintoworkon mending
your relationship.
Why God was angry at Uzzah for touching the ark.
(2 Sm 6:6-7) Uzzah wasonlytryingto protectthe ark, so wasGod’s angeragainstUzzah just? According
to Numbers4:5-15, the ark wasto be movedonlybythe Levites,whowere tocarryit usingthe carrying
poles– theywere nevertotouchthe ark itself. Totouch itwas a capital offense under Hebrew law
(Numbers4:15). God’sactionwas directedagainstbothDavidanduzzah. Davidplacedthe ark ona
cart, followingthe Philistinesexample (1Samuel 6:7-8) ratherthan God’scommands. Uzzah, though
sincere inhisdesire toprotectthe ark, hadto face the consequencesof the sinof touchingit. Also,
Uzzah may nothave beena Levite. AsDavidsoughtto bringIsrael backintoa relationshipwithGod.
God had to remindthe nationdramaticallythatenthusiasmmustbe accompaniedbyobedience toHis
laws. The nexttime Davidtriedtobring the ark to Jerusalem, he wascareful tohandle itcorrectly(1
Chronicles15:1-15).
Can lead to hatred and murder.
(1 Kgs 21:4) AfterhearingGod’sjudgment(20:42),Ahabwenthome topout. Drivenbyangerand
rebellionagainstGod,he hada fit of rage whenNaboth refusedtosell hisvineyard. The same feelings
that ledhimto a careerof powergrabbingdrove himtoresentNaboth. Rage turnedto hatredand led
to murder. Naboth,however,wantedtoupholdGod’slaws;itwasconsideredadutyto keepancestral
landin the family. The incidentshowsthe cruel interplaybetweenAhabandJezebel,twoof the most
wickedleadersinIsrael’shistory.

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Learning from God’s
(Ps30:5) Like a shot givenbya doctor,the discomfortof God’sangerlastsonlya moment,butthe good
effectsgoonfor a longtime. Let God’sanger be a sharp painthat warnsyou to turn fromsin.
Takes our focus off God.
(Ps37:8-9) Angerand worry(fretting) are twoverydestructive emotions. Theyreveal alackof faiththat
we shouldshare love withGodand thatHe is incontrol. We shouldnotworry,insteadwe shouldtrust
inGod, givingourselvestoHimforHis use and safekeeping. Whenyoudwell onyourproblems,youwill
become anxiousandangry. But if youconcentrate onGod andHis goodnedss,youwillfindpeace.
Where do youfocus your attention.
When God’s patience gives way to anger.
(Ps74:1-2) God’sanger againstIsrael hadgrownhot duringthe many yearsof theirsinand idolatry. His
patience enduringforgenerations,butatlastit was setaside forjudgment. If you fall intosinand
quicklyseek God’sforgiveness,hismercymaycome quicklyandhisangermayleave quickly. If you
persistinsinningagainstHim,don’tbe surprisedwhenHispatience runsout.
Danger of anger.
(Mt 5 21-22) Killingisaterrible sin,butangerisa greatsin toobecause italsoviolatesGod’scommand
to love. Angerinthiscase refersto seething,broodingbitternessagainstsomeone. Itisa dangerous
emotionthatalwaysthreatenstoleapoutof control,leadingtoviolence,emotional hurt,increased
mental stress,andspiritual damage. Angerkeepsusfromdeveloping aspiritpleasingtoGod. Have you
everbeenproudthatyou didn’tstrike outandsay whatwas reallyonyourmind? Self-controlis good,
but Christwantsus to practice thought-control aswell. Jesussaidthatwe will be heldaccountableeven
for our attitude.
When it is appropriate.
(Nm25:10-11) It isclearfrom Phinehas’sstorythatsome angerisproperandjustified. Phinehaswas
angry because of hiszeal forthe Lord. But how can we know whenouranger isappropriate andwhenit
shouldbe restrained? Askthese questionswhenyoubecomeangry:(1) Whyam I angry? (2) Whose
rightsare beingviolated? If onlyyourrightsare at stake,itmaybe wisertokeepangryfeelingsunder
control. But if the truth is at stake,angerisoftenjustified,althoughviolence andretaliationare usually
the wrong wayto expressit(Phinehas’scase wasunique). If we are becomingmore andmore like God,
we shouldbe angeredbysin.
(Jn2:15-16) Jesuswasobviouslyangryatthe merchantswhoexploitedthose whohadcome toGod’s
house toworship. There isa difference betweenuncontrolledrage andrighteousindignation –yetboth
are calledanger. We must be verycareful how we use the powerful emotionof anger. Itisright to be
angry aboutinjustice andsin. Itis wrongto be angry overtrivial personal offenses.
(Jas1:19-20) These versesspeakof angerthateruptswhenouregosare bruised–“I am hurt.” “My
opinionsare notbeingheard.” Wheninjustice andsinoccur,we shouldbecome angrybecause others
are beinghurt. But we shouldnotbecome angrywhenwe feel offendedorneglected. Selfishanger
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Why is God angry with sinful people?
(Rom1:18) Why isGod angry at sinful people? Because theyhave substitutedthe truthaboutHimwith
a fantasyof theirownimagination(1:25). Theyhave stifledthe truthnaturallyrevealstoall people in
orderto believe anythingthatsupportstheirownself-centeredlife-styles. Godcannottolerate sin
because Hisnature ismorallyperfect. He cannotignore or condone suchwillful rebellion. Godwantsto
remove the sinandrestore the sinner – and he isable to, as longas the sinnerdoesnotstubbornly
distrustor rejectthe truth.But Hisanger surgesagainstthose whopersistinsinning. Make sure you are
not pursuingafantasyrather thanthe true God. Don’tsurpressthe truth aboutHim merelytoprotect
your own life-style.
Determine why you are angry with others’ sins.
(Rom2:1) Wheneverwe findourselvesfeelingjustifiablyangryaboutsomeone’ssin,we shouldbe
careful. We needto speakoutagainstsin,butwe mustdo itin a spiritof humility. Oftenthe sinswe
notice mostclearlyinothersare the onesthathave takenroot inus. If we lookcloselyatourselves,we
may findthatwe are committingthe same sininmore sociallyacceptable forms. Forexample,aperson
whogossipsmaybe verycritical of otherswhogossipabouthimor her.
Venting it under the guise of discipline.
(2 Cor 2:11) Wed use church discipline tohelpkeepthe churchpure and to helpwaywardpeople
repent.ButSatan triestoharm the church bytemptingitto use discipline inan unforgivingway. This
causesthose exercisingdiscipline tobecome proudof theirpurity,anditcausesthe personwhoisbeing
disciplinedtobecome bitterandperhapsleave the churchentirely. We mustrememberthatour
purpose indiscipline istorestore apersonto fellowship,nottodestroyhimorher. We mustbe
cautiousthat personal angerisnotventedunderthe guise of churchdiscipline.
Do you get angry when confronted?
(Gal 4:16) Paul did notgain greatpopularitywhenhe rebukedthe Galatiansforturningawayfromtheir
firstfaithinChrist. Human nature hasn’tchangedmuch – we still getangrywhenwe’re scolded. But
don’twrite off someone whochallengesyou. There maybe truthin whathe or she says. Receive hisor
herwords withhumility;carefullythinkthemover. If youdiscoverthatyouneedtochange an attitude
or action,take stepsto do it.
Don’t discipline out of anger.
(Eph6:4) The purpose of parental discipline istohelpchildrengrow,nottoexasperate andprovoke
themto angeror discouragement(seealsoColossians3;21). Parentingisnoteasy – ittakeslotsof
patience toraise childreninalovingChrist-honoringmanner. Butfrustrationandangershouldnot be
causesfor discipline. Insteadparentsshouldactinlove,treatingtheirchildrenasJesustreatsthe
people He loves. Thisisvital tochildren’sdevelopmentandtotheirunderstandingof whatChristislike.
Danger of words spoken in anger.
(Jas3:6) Jamescomparesthe damage the tongue can do to a raging fire – the tonque’swickednesshas
it’ssource in hell itself. The uncontrolledtongue candoto terrible damage. Satanusesthe tongue to
divide people andputthemagainstone another. Idle andhateful wordsare damagingbecause they
spreaddestructionquickly,andnoone can stop the resultsonce theyare spoken. We dare not be
carelesswithwhatwe say,thinkingwe canapologize later,because evenif we do,the scars remain. A

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fewwordsspokeninangercan destroya relationshipthattookyearsto build. Before youspeak,
rememberthatwordsare like fire – youcan neithercontrol norreverse the damage theycando.

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Answers
Not knowing them all develops faith.
(Jb1:1) Aswe read the bookof Job,we have informationthatthe charactersof the storydo not. Jobthe
maincharacter of the book,lostall he had throughno faultof His own. As he struggledtounderstand
whyall thiswas happeningtohim. He wouldhave toface life withthe answersandexplanationsheld
back. Onlythenwouldhis faithfullydevelop. We mustexperience life asJobdid – one day at a time
and withoutcomplete answerstoall life’squestions. Will we,like Job,trustGod,nomatterwhat? Or
will we give intothe temptationtosaythat God doesn’tcare?
Only God has them all.
(Mt 11:25) Jesusmentionedtwokindsof people inHisprayer;the “wise” –arrogant in theirown
knowledge –andthe “little children”–Humblyopento receive the truthof God’sWord. Are you wise in
your owneyes,ordo youseekthe truth in childlike faith,realizingthatonlyGodhasall the answers.
Don’t think you have all the answers.
(Lk 6:2) The Phariseesthoughttheirreligioussystemhadall the answers. TheycouldnotacceptJesus
because He didnot fitintotheirsystem. We couldmissChristforthe same reason. Beware of thinking
that youor your church has all the answers. NoreligioussystemisbigenoughtocontainChrist
completelyortofulfill perfectlyall Hisdesiresforthe world.
Eternity will answer our questions.
(1 Cor 13:12) Paul offersaglimpse intothe future togive ushope thatone day we will be complete
whenwe see Godface to face. Thistruth shouldstrengthenourfaith –we don’thave all the answers
now,but one daywe will see Christinpersonandbe able to see withGod’sperspective.
Beware of those who claim to have them all.
(Jude 10) false teachersclaimedthattheypossessedsecretknowledge thatgave themauthority. Their
“knowledge”of Godwas esoteric– mystical andbeyond humanunderstanding. The nature of God is
beyondourunderstanding,butGodinHisgrace, has chosentoreveal Himself tous – in HisWord, and
supremelyinJesusChrist. Therefore,we mustseektoknow all we canabout whatHe has revealed,
eventhough we cannotfullycomprehendGodwithourfinite humanminds. Beware of those whoclaim
to have all the answersandwho belittlewhattheydonotunderstand.

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Appreciation – Asking
Let others know you appreciate them.
(Num10:29-32) By complimentingHohab’sdessertskills,Moseslethimknow he wasneeded. People
cannot knowyouappreciate themif youdonot tell themtheyare importanttoyou. Complimenting
those whodeserve itbuildslastingrelationshipsandhelpspeople know theyare valued. Thinkabout
those whohave helpedyouthismonth. Whatcan you doto letthemknow how much you needand
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Ask God anything and expect anything.
(Gn 18:33) God showedAbrahamthataskingfor anythingisallowed,withthe understandingthat God’s
answerscome fromGod’s perspective. Theyare notalwaysinharmonywithourexpectations,foronly
He knowsthe whole story. Are youmissingGod’sanswertoa prayerbecause youhaven’tconsidered
any possible answersotherthanthe one youexpect?
Ask questions before fighting.
(Jos22:11-34) Whenthe tribesof ReubenandGad and the half-tribe of Manassehbuiltanaltarat the
Jordanriver,the restof Israel fearedthatthese tribeswere startingtheirownreligionandrebelling
againstGod. But before beginninganactual all-out-war,Phinehasledadelegationtolearnthe truth,
followingthe principle taughtinDeuteronomy13:12-19. He was preparedtonegotiate ratherthanfight
if a battle wasnotnecessary. Whenhe learnedthatthe altar wasfor a memorial ratherthanfor pagan
sacrifice,warwasavertedandunityrestored.
As nationsandas individuals,we shouldbenefitfromasimilarapproachtoresolvingconflicts.
Assumingthe worstaboutthe intentionsof othersonlybringstrouble. Israel avertedthe threatof civil
war by askingbefore assaulting. Beware of reactingbefore youhearthe whole story.
Don’t be afraid to ask others for help.
(Neh2:7-8) Afterhisprayer,Nehemiahaskedthe kingforpermissiontogoto Judah. Assoon as he got a
positive answer,he beganaskingforadditionalhelp. Sometimeswhenwe have needs,we hesitate to
ask the rightpeople forhelpbecause we are afraidtoapproach them. NotNehemiah! He wentdirectly
to the personwhomost able tohelp. Theymaybe more interested andapproachablethanyouthink.
God’sanswersto prayermay come as a resultof our askingothers.

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Assumptions
Don’t assume God won’t help you.
(Gn 20:11-13) Because AbrahammistakenlyassumedthatAbimelechwasa wickedman,he made a
quickdecisiontotell ahalf-truth. Abrahamthoughtitwouldbe more effective todeceive Abimelech
than to trustGod to work inthe king’slife. Don’tassume thatGodwill notwork in a situationthathas
potential problems. Youmay notcompletelyunderstandthe situation,andGodmayintervene when
youleastexpectit.
Don’t assume worst in others.
(Nm32:1) Three tribes(Reuben,Gad,andthe half-tribe of Manasseh) wantedtolive eastof the Jordan
River(referredtoasthe Transjordan area) on landtheyhad alreadyconquered. Mosesimmediately
assumedtheyhadselfishmotivesandwere trying toavoidhelpingthe othersfightforthe landacross
the river. But Mosesjumpedtothe wrongconclusion. Indealingwithpeople,we mustfind outall the
facts before makingupourminds. We shouldn’tautomaticallyassume thattheirmotivesare wrong,
evenif theirplanssoundsuspicious.
(Jos22:11-34) Whenthe tribesof ReubenandGad and the half-tribe of Manassehbuiltanaltarat the
JordanRiver,the restof Israel fearedthatthese tribeswere startingtheirownreligionandrebellion
againstGod. But before beginninganall-outwar. Phinehasledadelegationtolearnthe truth,
followingthe principle taughtinDeuteronomy13:12-19). He waspreparedtonegotiate ratherthan
fightif a battle wasnot necessary. Whenhe learnedthatthe altarwas for a memorial ratherthanfor
pagan sacrifice,warwasavertedandunityrestored.
As nationsandas individuals,we wouldbenefitfromasimilarapproachtoresolvingconflicts. Assuming
the worst aboutthe intentionsof othersonlybringstrouble. Israel avertedthe threatof civil warby
askingbefore assaulting. Beware of reactingbeforeyouhearthe whole story.
Don’t assume someone won’t respond to the gospel.
(Jos2:8-13) Many wouldassume thatRehab – a pagan,a Canaanite,anda prostitute –wouldneverbe
interestedinGod. YetRahab waswillingtoriskeverythingshe hadfora God she barelyknew. We must

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not gauge a person’sinterestinGodbyhisor her background,life-style orappearance. We shouldlet
nothinggetinthe way of our tellingpeople aboutGod.
(Acts9:13-14) “Nothim,Lord; that’simpossible. He couldneverbecome aChristian!” Inessence,
that’swhat AnaniassaidwhenGodtoldhimof Saul’sconversion. Afterall,Saul hadpursuedbelievers
to theirdeath. Despite these understandable feelings,AnaniasobeyedGodandministeredtoSaul. We
mustnot limit God– He can do anything. We mustobeyand follow God’sleading,evenwhenHe leads
us to difficultpeople andplaces.
Don’t be suspicious in yours.
(1 Chr 19:2-3) Hanun misreadDavid’sintentions. Because he wasoverlysuspicious,he broughtdisaster
uponhimself. Because of pastexperiences,itiseasytobe overlysuspiciousof others,questioningevery
move andsecondguessingtheirmotives. Butwhile we shouldbe cautiousandwise aswe deal with
others,we shouldnotassume theireveryactionisill-intended.
Wrong ones lead to wrong conclusions.
(Jb10:13-14) In frustration,Jobjumpedtothe false conclusionthatGodwas outto get him. Wrong
assumptionsleadtowrongconclusions. We dare not take our limitedexperiencesandjumpto
conclusionsaboutlife ingeneral. If youfindyourself doubtingGod,rememberthatyoudon’thave all
the facts. God wantsonlythe verybestfor yourlife. Manypeople endure greatpain,butultimately
theyfindsome greatergoodcame from it. Whenyour struggling,don’tassume the worst.
Assumptions come from applying a true principle wrongly.
(Jb13:4) Job comparedhisthree friendstophysicianswhodidnotknow whatthey are doing. They
were like eye surgeonstryingto performopen-heartsurgery. Manyof theirideasaboutGodwere true,
but theydidnotapplyto Job’ssituation. Theywere righttosaythat God is just. Theywere rightto say
God punishessin. Buttheywere wrongtoassume that Job’ssufferingwasajust punishmentforhissin.
Theytooka true principle andapplieditwrongly,ignoring the vastdifferencesinhumancircumstances.
We mustbe careful and compassionate inhow we applyBiblical condemnationstoothers,we mustbe
slowto judge.
Don’t assume your problems don’t have solutions.
(Jn6:5-7) WhenJesusaskedPhilipwhere theycouldbuyagreatamountof bread,Philipstarted
assessingthe probable cost,Jesusstartedtoteachhimthatfinancial resourcesare notthe most
importantones. We can find whatGod doesin usby assumingwhatisand isnot possible. Isthere
some impossible tasksthatyoubelieve Godwantsyoutodo? Don’t letyourestimate of whatcan’t be
done keepyoufromtakingon the task. God can do the miraculous,trusthimtoprovide the resources.
Don’t assume you’ve married the wrong person.
(1 Cor 7:17) Apparentlythe Corinthianswere readytomake wholesalechangeswithoutthinking
throughthe ramifications. Paul waswritingtosaythat people shouldbe Christianswhere theyare. You
can do God’swork and demonstrate yourfaithanywhere. If youbecame a Christianaftermarriage,and
your spouse isnota believer;rememberthatyoudon’thave tobe marriedtoa Christiantolive for
Christ. Don’tassume that youare inthe wrongplace or stuck withthe wrongperson. Youmay be just
where Godwantsyou (see 7:20).

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Attention
What occupies most of yours.
(Nm11:4-6) Dissatisfactioncomeswhenourattentionshiftsfromwhatwe have towhat we don’thave.
The people of Israel didn’tseemtonotice whatGodwasdoingfor them – settingthemfree,making
thema nation,givingthemanewland – because theywere sowrappedupinwhatGod wasn’tdoingfor
them. Theycouldthinkof nothing butthe deliciousEgyptianfoodtheyhadleftybehind. Somehowthey
forgotthat the brutal whipof Egyptianslaverywasthe costof eatingthatfood. Before we judge the
Israelitestooharshly,itishelpful tothinkaboutwhatoccupiesourattentionmostof the time. Are we
grateful forwhatGod has givenus,or are we alwaysthinkingaboutwhatwe wouldliketohave? We
shouldnotallowourunfilleddesirestocause usto forgetGod’sgiftsof life,foold,health,work,and
friends.
Using prayer to get attention.
(Mt 6:5-6) Some people,especiallythe religiousleaderswantedtobe seenas“holy,”and publicprayer
was one wayto get attention. Jesussaw throughtheir self-righteousacts,however,andtaughtthatthe
essence of prayerisnotpublicstyle butprivate communionwithGod. There isa place forpublicprayer,
but to prayonlywhere otherswill notice youindicatesthatyoureal audience isnotGod.
Work for God even if you don’t get credit for it.
(Lk 8:2-3) Here we catch a glimpse of afew of the people behindthe scenesinJesus’ministry. The
ministryof those inthe foregroundisoftensupportedbythose whose workislessvisiblebutjustas
essential. OfferyourresourcestoGod,whetherornotyou will be oncenterstage.
Nowletus take a lookat an area that the Trinityconsidersveryimportant –Attitude.

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Attitude
About approaching God.
(Ex 3:5-6) At God’scommand,Mosesremovedhissandalsandcoveredhisface. Takingoff hisshoeswas
an act of reverence,coveringhisownunworthinessbefore God. Godis our friend,buthe isalsoour
sovereignLord. Toapproach Him frivolouslyshows alackof respectandsincerity. Whenyoucome yo
God inworship,doyouapproach himcasually,ordo you come as thoughyouwere an invitedguest
before aking? If necessary,adjustyourattitude soitissuitable forapproachingaholyGod.
Having a positive attitude toward God
(Ex 14:13-14) The people were hostile anddespairing,butMosesencouragedthemtowatchthe
wonderful wayGodwouldrescue them. Moseshada positive attitude! Whenitlookedasif theywere
trapped. MosescalleduponGod to intervene. We maynotbe chasedbyan army, but we maystill feel
trapped. Insteadof givingintodespair,we shouldadoptMoses’attitude to“standfirmand… see the
deliverancethe Lordwill bring.”
Is yours more negative than positive.
(Nm13:25-29) God toldthe Israelitesthatthe promisedlandwasrichandfertile. Notonlythat,He
promisedthatthisbountiful landwouldbe theirs. Whenthe spiesreportedbacktoMoses,theygave
plentyof goodreasonfor enteringthe land,buttheycouldn’tstop focusingontheirfears. Talkof giants
(descendantsof Anak) andfortified citiesmade iteasytoforgetaboutGod’spromise tohelp. When
facinga tough decision,don’tletthe negativescause youtolose sightof the positives. Weighbothsides
carefully. Don’tletpotential difficultiesblindyoutoGod’spowertohelpandHis promise to.
Snowball effect of a negative attitude.
(Nm16:41) Just one day afterKorahand hisfollowerswereexecutedforgrumblingandcomplaining
againstGod, the Israelitesstartedall overwithmore mutteringandcomplaining. Theirnegativeattitude
onlycausedthemto rebel evenmore andtobringabout evengreatertrouble . Iterodedtheirfaithin
God and encouragedthoughtsof givingupandturningback. The path to openrebellionagainstGod
beginswith dissatisfactionandskepticism, thenmovestogrumblingaboutbothGodandpresent
circumstances. Nextcomesbitternessandresentment,followedfinallybyrebellionandopenhostility.
If you are oftendissatisfied,skeptical,complaining,orbitter –beware! These attitudesleadtorebellion
and separationfromGod. Anychoice to side againstGod isa stepin the directionof lettinggoof Him
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Lashing out a sign of wrong attitude.
(Nm22:29) The donkeysavedBalaam’slifebutmade himlookfoolishinthe process,soBalaamlashed
out at the donkey. We sometimesstrikeoutatblamelesspeoplewhogetinourway because we are
embarrassedorour pride ishurt. Lashingoutat otherscan be a signthat somethingiswrongwithus.
Don’tallowyourownhurt pride to leadyouto hurt others.
Don’t conform to those of society.
(Jgs17:2) Micah and hismotherseemedtobe goodand moral and may have sincerelydesiredto
worshipGod,but theydisobeyedGodbyfollowingtheirowndesiresinsteadof doingwhatGodwanted.
The attitude that prevailedinMicah’sdaywas this:“Everyone didashe saw fit”(17:6). This is
remarkablysimilartotoday’sprevailingattitudes. ButGodhas givenusstandards. He has not leftour
conduct upto us and our opinions. We can avoidconformingtosociety’slow standardsbytakingGod’s
commandsseriouslyandapplyingthemtolife. Independence andself-reliance are positive traits,but
onlywithinthe frameworkof God’sstandards.
Attitudes toward menial tasks.
(Ru2:7) Ruth’stask,thoughmenial,tiring,andperhapsdegradingwasdone faithfully. Whatisyour
attitude whenthe taskyouhave beengivenisnotupto your true potential? The taskat hand maybe
all youcan do. Or,as in Ruth’scase,it maybe a testof yourcharacter that can openup new doorsof
opportunity.
Do you let others dictate your attitude.
(1 Sm 8:19-20) Israel wascalledto be a holynation,separate fromandunique amongall others
(Leviticus20;26). The Israelites’motive inaskingforakingwasto be like the nationsaroundthem. This
was intotal oppositiontoGod’soriginal plan. Itwasnot theirdesire fora kingthatwas wrong,but their
reasonsforwantinga king.
Oftenwe letothers’valuesandactionsdictate ourattitudesandbehavior. Have youevermade a wrong
choice because you wantedtobe like everyoneelse? Be careful thatthe valuesof yourfriendsor
“heroes”don’tpull youawayfromwhat God saysis right. WhenGod’s people wanttobe like
unbelievers,theyare headingforspiritual disaster.
Attitude of always looking for good in others.
(2 Sm 1:17-27) Saul hadcausedmuch trouble forDavid,butwhenhe died. Davidcomposedalament
for the Kingand hisson. Davidhad everyreasontohate Saul,buthe chose not to. Insteadhe chose to
lookat the good Saul had done andto ignore the timeswhenSaul hadattackedhim. It takescourage to
layaside hatredand hurtand to respectthe positive side of anotherperson,especiallyanenemy.
Effective living begins with the right attitudes.
(2 Kgs 1:13-15) Notice howthe firsttwocaptainscalledElijah“manof God,”theywere not being
genuine –God was notin theirhearts. The thirdcaptainalso calledhim“manof God,” but he humbly
beggedformercy. His attitude showedrespectforGodand hispowerandsavedthe livesof hismen.
Effective livingbeginswitharightattitude towardGod. Before religiouswordscome toyourmouth,
make sure theyare fromyour heart. Let respect,humility,andservanthoodcharacterize yourattitude
towardGod and others.

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Color our personality.
(Prv15:15) Ourattitudescolorour whole personality. We cannotalwayschoose whathappenstous,
but we can choose our attitude towardeachsituation. The secrettoa cheerful heartisfillingourminds
withthoughtsthatare true,pure,and lovely,withthoughtsthatdwell onthe goodthingsinlife
(Phillippians4:8). Thiswas Paul’ssecretas he facedimprisonment,anditcan be ours as we face the
strugglesof dailyliving. Lookat yourattitude andthenexamine whatyouallow toenteryourmindand
whatyou choose to dwell on. Youmay needtomake some changes.
Do your attitudes reflect the values of the world or Christ?
(Mt 5:3-12) With Jesus’announcementthatthe kingdomwasnear(4:17),people were naturallyasking,
“How do I qualifytobe inGod’skingdom? JesussaidthatGod’s kingdomisorganizeddifferentlyfrom
worldlykingdoms. Inthe kingdomof heaven,wealthandpowerandauthorityare unimportant.
Kingdompeople seekdifferentblessings andbenefits,andtheyhave differentattitudes. Are your
attitudesacarbon copy of the world’sselfishness,pride,andlustforpower,ordo theyreflectthe
humilityandself-sacrificeof sharinglove withGod.
Outward obedience without a change of heart.
(Mt 5:20) The Phariseeswereexactingandscrupulousintheirattemptstofollow theirlaws. Sohow
couldJesusreasonablycall ustoa greaterrighteousnessthantheirs? The Pharisees’weaknesswasthey
were contenttoobeythe lawsoutwardlywithoutallowingGodto change theirhearts(orattitudes).
Jesuswassayingtherefore thatthe qualityof our goodnessshouldbe greaterthenthatof the
Pharisees. Theylookedpious,buttheywere farfromthe Kingdomof God. God judgesourheartsas
well asour deeds,foritisin the heartthat our real allegiance lies. Be justasconcernedaboutyour
attitudesthatpeople don’tsee asaboutyouractions that are seenbyall.
Slipping into skeptical attitudes.
(Mt 11:16-19) Jesuscondemnedthe attitudeof Hisgeneration. NomatterwhatHe saidor did,they
tookthe opposite view. Theywere cynical andskeptical becausehe challengedtheircomfortable,
secure,andself-centeredlives. Toooften we justifyourinconsistenciesbecauselistening toGodmay
require usto change the way we live.
Must be consistent with actions.
(Mt 15:8-9) The prophetIsaiahalsocriticizedhypocrites(Isaiah29:13),and JesusappliedIsaiah’swords
to these religiousleaders. Whenwe claimtohonor God while ourheartsare far fromHim, our worship
meansnothing. Itis notenoughto act religious. Ouractionsand our attitudesmustbe sincere. If they
are not,Isaiah’swordsalsodescribe us.
Sin begins with wrong attitudes.
(Mk 7:18-19) Do we worrymore about whatisin dietsthanwhatis inour heartsand minds? Asthey
interpretedthe dietarylaws(Leviticus11),the Jewsbelievedtheycouldbe cleanbefore Godbecause of
whattheyrefusedtoeat. ButJesuspointedoutthatsinactuallybeginsinthe attitudes andintensions
of the innerperson. Jesusdidnotdegrade the law,butHe pavedthe way , forthe change made clearin
Acts 10:9-29 whenGodremovedthe cultural restrictionsregardingfood. We are not pure because of
outwardacts – we become pure onthe inside asChristrenewsourmindsandtransformsus intohis
image.

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Developing new ones toward problems.
(Luke 12:13) Problemslike thiswereoftenbroughttorabbis,forthemtosettle. Jesusresponse,though
not directlytothe topic,isnot a change of subject. RatherJesusispointingtoa higherissue –a correct
attitude towardthe accumulationof wealth. Life ismore thanmaterial goods,farmore importantisour
relationshipwithGod. JesusputHisfingeronthisquestioner’sheart. Whenwe bringproblemstoGod
inprayer,He doesthe same – showingushow we needtochange and grow inour attitude towardthe
problem. The answerisoftennotthe one we were lookingfor,butitismore effective inhelpingus
trace God’shand inour heart.
Attitudes toward money and wealth.
(Mk 10:21) What doesyour moneymeantoyou? AlthoughJesuswantedthismantosell everythingand
give hismoneytothe poor, thisdoesnotmeanthat all believersshouldsell all theirpossessions. Most
of Hisfollowersdidnotsell everything,although,theyusedtheirpossessionstoserve others. Instead,
thisstory showsusthat we mustnot letanythingwe have or desire keepusfromfollowingJesus. We
mustremove all barrierstoservingHimfully. If Jesusasked,couldyougive upyourhouse? Yourcar?
Your level of income? Yourpositiononthe ladderof promotion? Yourreactionmayshow yourattitude
towardmoney – whetheritisyour servantor yourmaster.
Hurtful attitudes toward others.
(1 Cor 10:33) Paul’scriterionforall hisactionswasnotwhat he likedbest,butwhatwasbestfor those
aroundhim. The opposite attitude wouldbe:(1) beinginsensitive anddoingwhatwe want,nomatter
whois hurtby it,(2) beingoversensitive anddoingnothing,forfearthatsomeone maybe displeased,
(3) beinga“yes” person,bygoingalong witheverything,tryingtogainapproval frompeople rather
than fromGod. In thisage of “me first” and“lookingoutfor numberone.” Paul’sstartlingstatementis
a good standard. If we make the goodof others,one of our primarygoals,we will developa serving
attitude thatpleasesGod.
Attitude of worldliness.
(1 Jn 2:15-16) Some people thinkthatworldlinessislimitedtoexternal behavior –the people we
associate with,the placeswe go,the activitieswe enjoy. Worldlinessis alsointernal because itbeginsin
the heart andis characterizedbythree attitudes:(1) the cravingsof sinful men –preoccupationwith
gratifyingphysical desires;(2) the lustof the eyes – cravingand accumulatingthings, bowingtothe God
of materialism,and(3) boastingof whatyouhave and do – obsessionwithone’sstatusorimportance.
Whenthe serpenttemptedEve (Genesis3:6),he temptedherinthese areas. Also,whenthe devil
temptedJesusinthe desert,thesewere histhree areasof attack(see Matthew 4:1-11).
By contrast,God valuesself-control,aspiritof generosity,andacommitmenttohumble service. Itis
possible togive the impressionof avoidingworldlypleasureswhilestill harboringworldlyattitudes in
one’sheart. It isalso possible,like Jesus,tolove sinnersandspendtime withthemwhile maintaininga
commitmenttothe valuesof God’skingdom. Whatvaluesare mostimportantto you? Do your actions
reflectthe world’svaluesorGod’svalues.
As a final lookintobecoming aloverof Godand as a resultjoininginaneternal love fest;letusreview
some of what we covered.

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230
In Review
When it seems everyone else if grabbing for all that he or she can get; it's easy to conclude that
maybe we gave up too much to become a lover of God?
The truth is, we did "give up" a lot. For instance, we gave up death for eternal life (Rom. 6:22-
23). We gave up Satan's kingdom for an eternal love fest with God-the Creator and Controller of
the universe. We gave up the role of a slave to sin for inclusion in God's family as a co-heir with
Christ (Rom. 8:15-17).
You may have something the your Lover wants from you. It could be an attitude or an action or
both. Perhaps you made a promise in the past and just haven't followed through.
Take some time right now to ask your lover if there's something you're holding back that's
hindering your relationship with Him. If he brings something to your mind, then determine to
give it to Him right now.
Maintaining God's plan for you will often mean saying "No" to pleasure. It may mean saying
"no" to an immediate pleasure and trusting God to meet your needs. Take inventory of your
life. If a temptation needs to be resisted, resist it. If something is hindering your walk with God;
deal with it. Ask God to renew your commitment and to use your life to bring glory to Him.
Write down five difficulties you have experienced in trying to live in a Christian manner? How
do you think you might best cope with these?
__________________________________________________
You can take an inventoryof howyourlife hasbeenimpactedbythe lesson'sof thisbook andreviewif
youare pleasedwiththe changesthattookplace. You can review whetheryouhave made anhonest
efforttofree yourself fromthe tyranny of yourpast,personal control overyourlife. Youcan review
whetheryouhave beguntotreatyour God, othersandyourself withmore respect. Eachdayyou should
be takingpleasure inmeetingnew challengesandinfindingnew waystofulfill God'splan foryourlife.
You shouldhave metwithobstaclesduringtheselessons,andyoushouldhave done yourbesttodeal
withthemwithoutfeelingincontrol of all aspectsof them. You shouldnolongerhave a needtobe in
control. You shouldbe learningto role withthe punches,andmore importantly,youshouldbe learning
to forsee problemareasandavoidsin.
You should be able to look back over the time you have read this book with a quick
satisfaction. And you should be looking for and to the coming future with a sense of excitement
and keen anticipation, knowing that you and Your Lover can handle whatever He brings to you
in His Plan.

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Obedience sets us before God in such a way that we can be transformed and confirmed to the
way of our lover. Jesus invited people to share his yoke, adding that his yoke was easy and his
burden was light. We too are yoked to One who is loving us. Our only task is to keep in step
with him. He chooses the direction and leads the way. As we walk step by step with him, we
have lost the crushing burden of needing to take care of ourselves and get our own way, and we
discover that the burden is indeed light. We come into the joyful, peaceful life of loving and
obeying.
By its very nature, this book is never complete and over, because it is an invitation and pointer to
growth and change. Whether you have worked systematically through this book, or simply
participated in it here and there, we hope and pray that you will continue to heed the invitations
to personal growth and upbuilding in the Shared Love of God, the Christian church manifest in
your local congregation of the faithful. We encourage you:
. to follow up with your trainer if selected,
. to talk with others about your responses to the exercises or in discussions.
. to seek opportunities to share in silent or directed prayer retreats for further teaching
and reflection, and, most of all,
. to identify life issues and priorities about which you need consistently and persistently
to be in prayer and training - be bold in setting yourself a training program and goals for
growth in your relationship with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Meyer spells out this thought: "When we want to know God's will, there are three things which
always concur - the inward impulse, the Word of God, and the trend of circumstances. God in
the hearts, impelling you forward; God in the Book, confirming whatever He says in your heart;
and God in circumstances. Never start until all three things agree."
Write a letter to God. You might want to have your letter contain any or all of the following
areas:
. Thanking God for the experience,
. Planning with God, how you are going to use the skills and insights you have gained.
. As Lover God the questions or guidance about living that are still unanswered for you.
. Ask God to continue empowering you for your service to him.
God has a leadership role for each of us. We need to seek his will with all of our ability, and the
grace to be obedient to his heavenly vision. And as a result of that we will receive a vision of
what he is calling us to do with our lives. When we worked together caring for the problems of
others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ's example of putting others first, and
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(Philippians 2:1-8)
"Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you. You have fellowship with the
Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one another. I urge you, then, to make me
completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and
mind. Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble
toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one
another's interests, not just for your own. The attitude you should have is the one that Christ
Jesus had:
"He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become
equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had and took the nature of
a servant. He became like man and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the
path of obedience all the way to death."
"Whoever does not accept the Family of God like a little child shall not enter into it," Jesus
says. From children we can learn again to delight in nature, to accept each other, to reach out in
joy and in our need. From children we can learn again to approach our Lover in Heaven without
fear and to accept our equality with Jesus.
(Proverbs 13:9)
"The righteous are like a light shining brightly; the wicked are like a lamp flickering out."
The Council of Trent's Decree on Justification states that "all men" are called to be sons or
daughters of God with Christ (chapter 2), but they can freely reject this family (chapter 5). We
reach this decision through the help of the Holy Spirit. The process of passing from the Child of
Earth and sin to a member of God's family is called justification (chapter 4). God through Christ
provides grace (divine help) to assist us (chapter 7).
This concept as well as the concepts of religion; consist of all of the realities (attitudes,
convictions, emotions, rituals, beliefs and institutions) we deal with the existence of the universe,
earth and humans, it's creation (the start), its purpose (Why), its orderliness (How), and its
spiritual involvement (the beyond in the midst of life-Bonhoeffer) through faith in a God.
ATTITUDES
"The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your
heart; to your child, a good example; to your father, deference; to yourself, respect; to all people,
charity.
Man was created by God in his own image. One of the most important aspects of this, is the
free-will God has provided us, This free-will allows us to choose to be God's child or Earth's
child. This free will has to deal with our Earthly Nature. This Earthly Nature was given to us so
that we could have a choice. But even more important is the fact that our earthly nature, gives us
some thing to overcome and conquer so that we can earn and receive as a reward, being "God's
Lover." By choosing and earning it, it becomes something that grows deep in our

233
heart. Something that we desire with all of our heart. It becomes the most important thing in our
existence.
In that case, we will be able to join God's family, with the love and adoration that we need to
have, in order to give God the Glory he deserves. This glory we owe him, must be the most
important aspect of our existence. It must be what we desire with our whole heart, being and
spirit. Without that all encompassing aspect of our existence, the Love to be given to God, we
can not join Him as one being, one family and our ultimate purpose and destination.
Since we must overcome our Earthly Nature, we cannot trust our spontaneous inclinations for
they are too often directed toward hurting others and ourselves, or exhalting ourselves as "Glory
to Man." Our perception of what is right is so distorted that even when we honestly pursue it, we
often fail.
God understands our plight, however, and that is why he has given us the Scriptures. God's holy
Spirit uses our prayerful study of the Bible as a means for renewing the image of God within
us. Consequently, the Scriptures remain essential as a guide to how God wants us to live.
God wants to protect us while we learn holiness and teach us how to love Him and His
Family. Toward that end he has given us both his Word with it's commands, instructions and its
prohibitions and his Holy Spirit to apply the Word to each of us. If we respond to the Holy Spirit
and trust God, that Word serves as a map to guide us back to our true purpose.
"Christianity is not a voice in the wilderness, but a life in the world. It is not an idea in the air
but feet on the ground, going God's way... Fidelity to duty is its root and branch. Nothing we can
say to the Lord, no calling Him by great or dear names can take the place of the plain doing of
His will."
The Christian life is to be a life liberated from our earthly nature and sin, and into harmony with
God and his family. As we respond to the subtle work of the Holy Spirit, we learn to love as
God has commanded. "We love because he first loves us" (1 Jn. 4:19). That is the essential
expression of Christianity. True freedom is living fully and completely to the Shared Love of
God by living as his lover. Only in this way can we love our neighbors and ourselves as God
intended.
1. Decide not to be depressed.
2. Do not accept defeat.
3. Reject selfishness and grief.
4. Add up your joys never count your sorrows.
5. Become a servant of God.
6. Accept the comfort of God, which he offers through his control.
We must neve loose sight of the fact that he is our God. This means that we must submit our
will to his will. The importance of a full commitment to him, and the individual plan for each
person. Each person who commits to the plan, and live's in obedience to it will experience God's
blessing. Each of us in responsible to accept the plan and live by it.

234
"We will be like our God; if our god is pleasure we will be soft, if our god is money we will be
hard, if our God is the ultimate one, we will reach life's ultimate fulfillment."
"To be content with little is difficult, to be content with a lot is impossible." (Anonymous)
As we grow we understand the character of God and Christ our model. But our growing
understanding does not automatically make us Christlike. There is also an element of will, of
submission to our training plan.
(1 Clement 17:1-2)
"How blessed and wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God."
"Life in immortality! brightness in righteousness! truth in full assurance! faith in confidence!
temperance in holiness."
Once we recapture our childlike nature, free from defenses we can begin to be faithful in all of
our relationships and to have a good "family" life. The following verses contrast take piety with
true humility and contrasting kingdom values with worldly values, and provide standards of
conduct.
(Luke 6:20-25)
Jesus looked at his disciples and said,
"Happy are you poor; the Kingdom of God is yours!
"Happy are you who are hungry now; you will laugh!
"Happy are you who weep now; you will laugh!
"Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and say that you are evil, all
because of the Son of Man! Be glad when that happens and dance for joy, because a great
reward is kept for you in heaven. For their ancestors did the very same things to the prophets.
"But how terrible for you who are rich now; you have had your easy life!
"How terrible for you who are full now; you will be hungry!
"How terrible for you who laugh now; you will mourn and weep!"
We have happiness to look forward to, but we must have humility in accepting it. Don't let pride
in your achievement cut you off from God.
(Luke 18:14)
"... For everyone who makes himself great will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself
will be made great."
But we must not be so humble that we do not provide the spirit to human "the salt." If Christians
make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value to God.
(Matthew 5:13)
"You are like salt for all mankind. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty
again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it."

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God expects us as his children, not to remain as babies. He wants us to become his responsive
and thankful grownup children. He desires not merely to change and train us but to live in
mutual love with us. For this he must open our eyes to himself as a person so that we can live
trusting him, and walk with him as a friend. Who we are totally committed to him, we become
like him; his personal love becomes our guide.
This book is an attempt to wake you up to the glorious privilege of being a child of God - the
privilege of loving him. But knowing God takes work and training. Any deep relationship take
great effort. No good marriage or friendship is ever formed by people who do strictly what they
want when they want. Why did Jesus foretell Peter's denial? He wanted Peter to understand;
that he was not ready to go with Jesus. He had lessons, hard lessons to learn on earth. Like Peter
we have unfinished business here. God is not done working on us. Nor is he done working,
through us, on his other children. We must wait and train.
God's purpose in the universe is to establish intimacy with those who love him, so that we can
join him in heaven and provide and enjoy mutual love and glory. He gives himself to anyone
who will love him and obey him. For those with serious love - love willing to commit and trust
totally - he will return love beyond all they could ask or think.
To get to this point we have work to do, learning to complete our training and allowing him to
change us in preparation for our graduation to heaven. We need time, for there is much to learn
and much to change.
The Children of God are to take heart and go fourth with determination. Their mission is to be
the salt that gives common life its Savior, they are to be like a light shining in a dark
place. Their job is to form a "spiritual guide," whose acts of mercy and charity radiate through
the world (Matt. 4:1-16). God's kind of love is directed outward towards others, not inward
toward ourselves. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own
desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return.
(1 Corinthians 13:2-7)
"I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move
mountains - but if I have no love, this does me no good.
"Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or
selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is
happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail."
To live as God's Child means living in true fellowship with one another, accepting forgiveness of
our sins through Christ, and following in his footsteps. This is the old Gospel which is ever new;
through it we have passed from darkness to light, from hate to love, from sin to forgiveness. We
cannot claim to love God and live like pagans.
We must not lose our Purpose: "God's Glory and Praise."

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(Nehemiah 9:5)
"Stand up and praise the Lord your God; praise him forever and ever! Let everyone praise
his glorious name, although no human praise is great enough."
He chose you as his child; will you deny him that pleasure? Will you fail to follow his Training
Program?
(Job 22:22-30)
"Accept the teaching he gives; keep his words in your heart. Yes, you must humbly return to
God and put an end to all the evil that is done in your house. Throw away your gold, dump your
finest gold in the dry stream bed. Let Almighty God be your gold, and let him be silver piled
high for you. Then you will always trust in God and find that he is the source of your joy. When
you pray he will answer you, and you will keep the vows you made. You will succeed in all you
will do, and light will shine on your path. God brings down the proud and saves the humble. He
will rescue you if you are innocent, if what you do is right."
He is there for our needs, love, and sustenance.
"What the mystery and doctrine of the Trinity mean when all is said and done, is that the God
who created us, who sustains us, who will judge us, and who will give us eternal life is not a God
infinitely removed from us. On the contrary, our God is a God of absolute proximity, a God who
is communicated truly in the flesh, in history, within our human family, and a God who is
present in the spiritual depths of our existence as well as in the core of our unfolding human
history, as the source of enlightment and community" (Catholicism - Richard P. McBrien, X.
361).
He is there to provide guidance to our true vocation.
"To have a vocation from God is to know oneself called to be a saint, not in the sense of having
superior moral or mystical capabilities, but as one who has gained a new relationship to the
world. In scripture there is but one vocation, common to all Christians: to become the children
of God and to live as such. Called to believe the mighty acts of God, men must also - since they
have not been removed from the world - live in responsible obedience to God wherever they may
be.
"It is at this point that vocation has ramifications for men's work. It is not by their work that men
are saved. The gifts of grace and of faith are from God. Nor are these gifts given in varying
degrees. All those who receive, receive equally. The Reformation denies all hierarchies of
Spiritual status. There is a universal priesthood of all believers.
"This means that there is no God - preferred work. The clergy have not entered upon labors
which assure their superiority to the commonality. Nor, on the other hand, is the clergyman any
more accountable to serve God responsibly in his work than is any Christian in his" (Christian
Service).

237
You now have a personal relationship with God. You have a intellectual and emotional
relationship. And in addition if your church provides you with the Eucharist, you also receive
Christ's body and blood, soul and divinity. You now have the ultimate relationship possible, on
this earth, with your God.
Then when we graduate to our home and family in heaven, we shall be able to say with Paul, "I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith;" and we shall hear
Christ say to us "well, done, good and faithful servant."
The Be Happy Attitudes
Robert Schuller
"Happiness-that deep inner strength that is made up of courage, faith, hope, and peace. Mix
them together, and you have happiness!
Happiness-the courage to hang on in the face of severe adversity!
Happiness-the faith that God will have the last word, and it will be good!
Happiness-the hope that even though you can only see the shadow, someday the clouds will clear
away and the sun will shine again!
Happiness-the quiet sense of self-esteem that comes when you know you have done your best.
Happiness-the assurance that you have been merciful and kind to enemy and friend alike.
Happiness-the quiet assurance that God will be merciful and kind to you too.
Happiness-the beautiful belief that this life, no matter how difficult it may be, is not your final
destination."
We have provided you with what we believe are some of the essentials. Some of them may
disagree with what you have received from your current religion. We do not wish to take you
away from your current religion. We simply feel that it is vital to your growth to receive the
truths we wish to call your attention to.
"My conclusion is as follows: one has the right to disagree when one has a duty to disagree, in
the name of a recognized truth, whether this is historical biblical truth... and the duty can only be
that of the truth" (Father Yves Congar, O.P.-Roman Catholic Theologian).
Here you are at this point of our journey together. Is this just the beginning? The beginning of a
lifetime of living in a more distinctively Christian way? A way you perhaps could not have
begun to imagine at the start? God has taught you, loved you, equipped you, matured you within
your growth plan. We expect this growth plan to continue and improve.

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He's There
Phyllis C. Michael
If there's a breeze, a worthy breeze,
A kite can fly quite high;
Up, up above the earth it sails
Wind-anchored in the sky.
If there's a God (there is a God),
His arms won't let you fall;
They will sustain, they will give hope
He loves us, loves us-all.
Then trust in his unfailing power,
Give him your every care;
Lean back and rest upon His breast,
He's there, He's always there.
Now is the time for action, and in that sense the book is "seeing you off at the station." Your
journey will be the result of God's action and your commitment. We are excited to have been a
part of your journey so far. You should be thrilled and expectant for what the rest of the journey
will be. Our prayer is that you have found in this book, the start of the guidance you will need
on the journey.
We hope you will look forward, anticipating how God will us your skills and weaknesses, your
life, your love. You say "Good Review" to the book, and say "Hello" to a future filled with
growth in God's plan, toward the ultimate reward, joining God and his Family in Heaven.
This book has provided you some basics to consider and put into action. But at this point, it is all
a waste; if you do not maintain this plan. It is absolutely essential that you actively participate in
a church and a religion. They will provide you with the maintenance support to this plan. Do it,
and I'll see you up there. May you always be a Lover of God.
"May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, the sunshine warm
upon your face, the rainfall soft upon your field. And until we meet again, may God hold you in
the palm of his hand."
If you find, that after studying this book, you are still having a difficult time coping with
life, please seek professional help (e.g. Local Ministers, Local Mental Health Programs,
etc.). This Book, is not intended to replace professional Help.
Reader Prayer
O heavenly Father, I reach out to your guidance and will. Fill me with a special wisdom so that I
might always choose to follow the right path. Shine your light before me so that I will never
stray. Amen.

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Table of Contents
Why should you read this book?..........................................................................................................2
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................3
Lover of God ......................................................................................................................................4
Are You a Lover of God?..................................................................................................................4
I’m not a Christian yet.....................................................................................................................4
Time for the evaluation...................................................................................................................5
Define the Relationship...................................................................................................................5
A Loving Evaluation.........................................................................................................................5
Casual or a Commitment.....................................................................................................................8
John 3 – Nicodemus........................................................................................................................8
Decision or Love .............................................................................................................................9
Selling Christianity ..........................................................................................................................9
Knowing or Loving Him. ....................................................................................................................12
Luke 7..........................................................................................................................................12
Knew,intimacy, commit................................................................................................................13
Best Friend Forever (BFF)..................................................................................................................16
Luke 14 ........................................................................................................................................16
Is He Your One and Only?..............................................................................................................16
1. For what do you sacrifice your money?...................................................................................16
2. When your hurting, where do you go for help? .......................................................................17
3. What disappoints or frustrates you the most?.........................................................................17
4. What is it that really gets you going? ......................................................................................17
Loving orfollowing...........................................................................................................................21
Matthew 23..................................................................................................................................21
Your focus on the inside/outside ...................................................................................................22
Choosing following over a loving relationship.................................................................................22
Missing what really Matters ..........................................................................................................23
Self or spirit-led................................................................................................................................25
John 16 ........................................................................................................................................25
Are you a Spirit-filled Lover ...........................................................................................................25
Week is Strong..............................................................................................................................26

240
Spiritual Breathing........................................................................................................................26
You and God-a relationship...............................................................................................................28
Matthew 7 ...................................................................................................................................28
1. Does your Life Reflect what you believe?................................................................................28
More Than a Feeling.....................................................................................................................29
2. What you have done putyou on the right road?......................................................................29
3. Do I love God and does He love me?.......................................................................................29
Anyone – an invitation......................................................................................................................31
Anyone Means Everyone...............................................................................................................31
A passionate pursuit.........................................................................................................................31
Loving others................................................................................................................................31
Cohabiting with God .....................................................................................................................32
Do You Like Me.............................................................................................................................32
Lost that Loving Feeling.................................................................................................................33
Total Surrender................................................................................................................................35
Living in Denial .............................................................................................................................35
No exception clause......................................................................................................................35
The Fine Print...............................................................................................................................36
Signing up for Slavery....................................................................................................................37
No Control-any-day...........................................................................................................................37
Loving God Theology.....................................................................................................................38
What Real Love is..........................................................................................................................38
God’s reason for creating the world...............................................................................................38
God’s patience with us should cause us to lov e Him.......................................................................38
Relationship between fear andlove. ............................................................................................38
Could youlove God if youlosteverything.......................................................................................39
Suffering can’t separate us from God’slove....................................................................................39
Loving those who who wrong us....................................................................................................39
Talking aboutlove vs . demonstrating it. ........................................................................................39
Measured by how we treat others.................................................................................................39
The focus of all God’s laws.............................................................................................................40
Difficult to love if you think only of yourself....................................................................................40
Genuine vs superficial love............................................................................................................40

241
Lovingyour neighbor. ...................................................................................................................40
God’s love basis for self-worth...................................................................................................40
Consistency of God’s love..............................................................................................................41
God’s love is bigger than any problem............................................................................................41
God sets the pattern forlove.........................................................................................................41
God’s love can change life’s outcome.............................................................................................41
Love tied to obedience..................................................................................................................41
Don’t let small problems hinder your sharing of love.......................................................................41
Jesus talks to Peter about love.......................................................................................................41
Love is contagious.........................................................................................................................42
Why it is a key to the Christian life.................................................................................................42
Real love takes effort. ...................................................................................................................42
God’s challenges is a sign of His love..............................................................................................42
Sharing Love Day to Day....................................................................................................................44
Shared Love .....................................................................................................................................45
Your Human .................................................................................................................................45
I am with you always.....................................................................................................................46
Where is your Center?..................................................................................................................46
Be Still..........................................................................................................................................46
Rest in Our Shared Love ................................................................................................................46
Rest In Our Shared Love................................................................................................................46
You are His...................................................................................................................................47
The Song of Love...........................................................................................................................47
He is in the Depths of Your Being...................................................................................................47
Hold on to Your Shared Love .........................................................................................................47
He is For You.................................................................................................................................48
Your Focal Point............................................................................................................................48
Everlasting Love............................................................................................................................48
Let His Love Stream to You,...........................................................................................................48
Come to Me.....................................................................................................................................49
God’s presence helps us handle change. ........................................................................................49
Yours is more important than words..............................................................................................49
Pride and God’s presence incompatible..........................................................................................49

242
Desire to be in God’s presence.......................................................................................................49
God’s presence in challenges.........................................................................................................49
God never leaves us......................................................................................................................49
Seek Him......................................................................................................................................50
Facing nothing alone.....................................................................................................................50
Seek Him More and More..............................................................................................................50
Nearby is good..............................................................................................................................50
Come to Him, Weakling,................................................................................................................51
Save your Best Effortfor God.........................................................................................................51
Basic Training...............................................................................................................................51
A Heavy Life..................................................................................................................................51
Communication................................................................................................................................53
Why many are afraid to talk with God............................................................................................53
Control.............................................................................................................................................54
You must choose what will control you. .........................................................................................54
Satan’s temporary control of earth ................................................................................................54
Submitting to God’s control...........................................................................................................54
God’s control over Satan...............................................................................................................54
God always in ultimate control. .....................................................................................................54
Practicing thought Control.............................................................................................................54
Amazing freedom..........................................................................................................................55
Releasing Control..........................................................................................................................55
Let Him Control Your Mind............................................................................................................55
Challenge Overload...........................................................................................................................56
The world will challenge our faith. .................................................................................................56
Let God help you with Life’s challenges..........................................................................................56
Blaming others for ours.................................................................................................................56
Don’t run away from Challenges....................................................................................................56
None are too complicated for God.................................................................................................56
Lying brings more. ........................................................................................................................56
God will help solve yours...............................................................................................................57
God overcomes the impossible ones..............................................................................................57
Christianity doesn’t guarantee problem free life.............................................................................57

243
What they can teach us.................................................................................................................57
Wrong solutions worse than no solution. .......................................................................................57
Let them make you better, not bitter.............................................................................................57
When you can’t solve your problems, God can. ..............................................................................58
How God views our problems........................................................................................................58
Maintain your faith despite them...................................................................................................58
God can get you out of any-kind. ...................................................................................................58
Do you complain or pray about them.............................................................................................58
God is concerned over each of yours..............................................................................................59
Finding hope in the midst of challenges..........................................................................................59
Focus on positive aspects of Challenge...........................................................................................59
Challenges fromfailing to trust God...............................................................................................59
Overrating your challenges............................................................................................................59
Do you believe God can help youwith?..........................................................................................60
Not usually solved by change of location........................................................................................60
Sometimes caused by allowing sin to remain in your life.................................................................60
How to keep themfrom getting the upper hand.............................................................................60
Our problems are no problem for God to solve...............................................................................60
Turn to God firstwhen problems develop. .....................................................................................61
Look first within yourself for why they come. .................................................................................61
Don’t complain about themwithout doing something about them..................................................61
Putting giant ones in perspective...................................................................................................61
Let them drive you toward God, not away from Him.......................................................................61
Look for solutions rather than blame. ............................................................................................62
Challenges come from excusing sin................................................................................................62
Seek God before Challenges come.................................................................................................62
Flood of Challenges.......................................................................................................................66
Challenges are your Friend............................................................................................................66
Keep walking the path...................................................................................................................67
Let Him Help You..........................................................................................................................67
Live above Your Challenges. ..............................................................................................................67
Welcoming Challenges..................................................................................................................67
Challenges....................................................................................................................................68

244
Resisting Challenges.........................................................................................................................68
Welcome Challenging Times..........................................................................................................68
Preparationfor the day.....................................................................................................................71
Staying preparedfor opportunities. ...............................................................................................71
How God was preparing Mosesfor leadership................................................................................71
Preparing ourselves for fulfilment of God’s promises......................................................................71
Prepare leaders to succeed you.....................................................................................................71
Good leaders prepare their people to function without them..........................................................71
To serve God often begins at a young age. .....................................................................................72
Preparing children tofulfill God’s call.............................................................................................72
Leads to peace..............................................................................................................................72
Vital to project well done. .............................................................................................................72
Making spiritual preparations........................................................................................................72
Combining prayer with preparation. ..............................................................................................73
Preparationfor temptation. ..........................................................................................................73
Preparationfor those who challenge your faith. .............................................................................73
Daily adventure ............................................................................................................................73
One Step at a Time........................................................................................................................73
Rest and refreshments..................................................................................................................74
One Day at a Time.........................................................................................................................74
Do onlywhat I give you to do.........................................................................................................74
This is the Day ..............................................................................................................................75
Choice Points................................................................................................................................75
Find Him..........................................................................................................................................77
Start with Him..............................................................................................................................77
He is involved...............................................................................................................................77
He is God .........................................................................................................................................79
What Creation teaches about Him. ................................................................................................79
Did He really create the world. ......................................................................................................79
How we are made in His image......................................................................................................79
Can’t hide from Him......................................................................................................................79
How we build our relationship with Him.........................................................................................80
Pleasing Him.................................................................................................................................80

245
Letting others see Godin you. .......................................................................................................80
Why we should obey Him..............................................................................................................80
Nothing is too hard for Him...........................................................................................................80
Does God change His mind............................................................................................................80
We must seek His perspective not ours..........................................................................................81
His justice vs His mercy. ................................................................................................................81
Was His punishment unfair to Sodom’s righteous people................................................................81
We must seek His perspective, not ours.........................................................................................81
His great patience vs. Hisfierce anger............................................................................................81
He often works in wayswe can’t see..............................................................................................82
Often does the Impossible.............................................................................................................82
Focus attention on God, not yourself. ............................................................................................82
Looking to Him for provision and care............................................................................................82
Brings good out of evil...................................................................................................................82
Let Him deal with your problem.....................................................................................................82
Often uses unexpected sources when working in our lives. .............................................................83
Acting reverently before Him.........................................................................................................83
Do you want Him in or out of your life............................................................................................83
Using His name irreverently...........................................................................................................83
Wants to be with you....................................................................................................................83
Are you trying to shape him to yourliking?.....................................................................................83
Ways He speaks to us....................................................................................................................83
Our easy access to God, ................................................................................................................84
His laws not designed to withhold goodfrom us,............................................................................84
How strongis God?.......................................................................................................................84
Some of His characteristics............................................................................................................84
If you believe in God you must follow His ways...............................................................................84
Danger of failing to recognize God’s presence. ...............................................................................85
Do you follow God or a form of godliness.......................................................................................85
Not an ingredient of, but the source of life,....................................................................................85
Characteristics of God...................................................................................................................85
Worship Him Only.........................................................................................................................89
Jesus-the Risen One......................................................................................................................89

246
I am with you................................................................................................................................90
You need Him...............................................................................................................................90
Self Pity........................................................................................................................................90
Stop judging.................................................................................................................................90
God the Ultimate Giver.................................................................................................................91
You Have Everything. ....................................................................................................................91
Be Still and Know I am God............................................................................................................91
Almighty God................................................................................................................................91
The Creator..................................................................................................................................92
In a world of unrelenting changes , ................................................................................................92
He is With You,.............................................................................................................................92
Remember that you Live in............................................................................................................92
Deepest Longings..........................................................................................................................92
Dependence.....................................................................................................................................93
Disciples were to depend on othersfor support..............................................................................93
What it means to depend on God. .................................................................................................93
All Yours.......................................................................................................................................94
He is Leading you,.........................................................................................................................94
Empty hands and an Open Heart ...................................................................................................94
Dependence.................................................................................................................................94
Walk By Faith, Not By Sight. ..............................................................................................................96
Abraham was tested by difficulties.................................................................................................96
Made Abraham right with God. .....................................................................................................96
Lack of it brings series of problems ................................................................................................97
Grows with exercise......................................................................................................................97
Lack of it brings trouble.................................................................................................................97
Faithis following God despite the difficulties..................................................................................97
Faithinvolvesendurance to the end. .............................................................................................97
Affected by relationship................................................................................................................97
How well does yours take pressure................................................................................................98
Criteria by which Godworks through people..................................................................................98
God’s provision aslarge as your faith.............................................................................................98
God opens the door to new resources............................................................................................98

247
Faithis believing in the impossible.................................................................................................98
Don’t get so pre-occupied with yours that you don’t share it...........................................................99
Your life must show evidence. .......................................................................................................99
God can rekindle the smallest amount...........................................................................................99
Not knowing all the answers develops Faith. ..................................................................................99
Adversity destroys counterfeit faith...............................................................................................99
Could you trust God if you lost everything......................................................................................99
God does not guarantee prosperity. Faith must not be based on personal comfort........................ 100
Linked to optimism. .................................................................................................................... 100
When you feel stagnant in Faith...................................................................................................100
Comes alive when we apply Scripture. ......................................................................................... 100
Faith won’teliminate feelings of rejection or disappointment. ...................................................... 100
Being faithful regardless of the situation...................................................................................... 100
Is yours real?.............................................................................................................................. 101
Doesn’t alwaysexempt us from suffering..................................................................................... 101
What motivates your Faith.......................................................................................................... 101
Relationship between faith and deeds.......................................................................................... 101
New believers can share it too.....................................................................................................102
Our faith affects others. .............................................................................................................. 103
Why some may resist your faith...................................................................................................103
Faith often proved during persecution. ........................................................................................ 103
Difference between faith and belief............................................................................................. 103
Whenit isn’t popular to believe...................................................................................................103
Strengthened by waiting. ............................................................................................................ 103
Accept the Situation.................................................................................................................... 111
Relax in My Healing,.................................................................................................................... 111
Goodness....................................................................................................................................... 112
God Brings it out of bad circumstances......................................................................................... 112
Not enough to be good some of the time..................................................................................... 112
Doing good in the wrong way. .....................................................................................................113
Looking for the Good in others. ...................................................................................................113
You can be good but miss what’s important. ................................................................................ 113
Something done well is not always good...................................................................................... 113

248
Determining the quality of yours..................................................................................................113
Learning to ask what is good for us. ............................................................................................. 113
Goodness alone won’t bring eternal life....................................................................................... 114
Some may call your good deedsevil............................................................................................. 114
Doing Goodfor the wrong reasons............................................................................................... 114
How to live a truly good life......................................................................................................... 114
How God works in all thingsfor good........................................................................................... 114
You may not see fruit of your efforts............................................................................................ 115
Being good vs. being godly. ......................................................................................................... 115
Learning to see itin midst of evil..................................................................................................115
He want’s to be Central............................................................................................................... 116
Taste and See That He is Good.....................................................................................................116
Growth Opportunities..................................................................................................................... 117
Difficulties an opportunity for growth.......................................................................................... 117
Being Spiritually Fit..................................................................................................................... 117
Mapping your Spiritual growth. ...................................................................................................117
Hearing, Learning, and following..................................................................................................118
It is gradual, notinstant............................................................................................................... 118
Suffering an opportunity for Spiritual Growth............................................................................... 118
Is shown by what we do and don’t do. ......................................................................................... 119
Time alone with God is important to Spiritual growth. ..................................................................119
Understanding the process of spiritual growth. ............................................................................ 119
Parallels between physical & Spiritual life..................................................................................... 119
God’s pruning strengthens us......................................................................................................119
How a person becomes pure and holy.......................................................................................... 119
Time with Him............................................................................................................................ 120
Stay conscious of Him................................................................................................................. 120
Guidance........................................................................................................................................ 121
God’s guidance can come in unexpected ways.............................................................................. 121
God supplies help wherever He leads........................................................................................... 121
A clear message from God doesn’t mean instant results................................................................ 121
Stubbornnessexcludes you from God’s guidance.......................................................................... 121
God doesn’t always do what seems best to us.............................................................................. 121

249
God guides you more than you think............................................................................................ 122
Guidance comes from acting on previous directions .....................................................................122
Don’t ask God for it if you don’tintend tofollow it. ......................................................................122
How do we receive God’s guidance.............................................................................................. 122
How to find itin the Bible............................................................................................................ 122
When Godisn’t clear................................................................................................................... 123
God increases the available options............................................................................................. 123
God comes only to prepared hearts............................................................................................. 123
Recognizing God’s leading inyour life. ......................................................................................... 123
Follow God’s leadingeven if it seems a demotion......................................................................... 123
Hope.............................................................................................................................................. 125
Comes from seeing God’s perspective.......................................................................................... 125
In the midst of a crisis. ................................................................................................................ 125
Hope in Jesus always rewarded....................................................................................................126
How it helps us live now.............................................................................................................. 126
Antidote for boredom................................................................................................................. 126
Because God isin control of History............................................................................................. 126
No Problem-Free Life. ................................................................................................................. 127
Waiting, Trusting, and Hoping......................................................................................................127
Get some Joy..................................................................................................................................128
Contrasting two kinds ................................................................................................................. 128
Inward joy vs happiness .............................................................................................................. 128
What true Joy is?........................................................................................................................ 128
A cure for jealousy...................................................................................................................... 128
Forgiveness changes bitterness to joy. ......................................................................................... 128
The key to Joy is:......................................................................................................................... 128
Obtaining the ultimate Joy........................................................................................................... 128
Two Masters............................................................................................................................... 129
Morning Stillness........................................................................................................................ 129
Bubbling Spring........................................................................................................................... 129
Learn to Laugh............................................................................................................................ 129
Your Mind......................................................................................................................................131
What we put intoit determineswhat comes out. ......................................................................... 131

250
How to renew yours.................................................................................................................... 132
Continually Listen to Him............................................................................................................. 132
Bring Him Your Mind................................................................................................................... 132
The world is too muchfor you. ....................................................................................................133
The Peace that He Gives You ....................................................................................................... 133
All Mine......................................................................................................................................133
Life comes from God....................................................................................................................... 134
Life comes from the breath of God .............................................................................................. 134
How to find “real” life ................................................................................................................. 134
Using it more wisely.................................................................................................................... 135
God’s ability to restore it............................................................................................................. 135
How we waste ours..................................................................................................................... 135
The best way toenjoylife............................................................................................................ 135
Why yours must be filled with God?............................................................................................. 135
Which life is mostimportant to you. ............................................................................................ 135
What it means to live life abundantly........................................................................................... 136
What you putintoit is more important than what you get out of it. .............................................. 136
Life is short no matter howlong you live................................................................................... 136
Love Who YouAre ...................................................................................................................... 136
Overflowing Abundance.............................................................................................................. 136
Mine for all time......................................................................................................................... 137
No Guidance............................................................................................................................... 137
Heaven is both present and future............................................................................................... 137
God’s Path..................................................................................................................................137
When You approach Him............................................................................................................. 138
Stay With Him............................................................................................................................. 138
The Path........................................................................................................................................ 139
Patience......................................................................................................................................... 141
In waitingfor God’s timing. ......................................................................................................... 141
Key to achieving many goals........................................................................................................ 141
Problems can exercise ours ......................................................................................................... 141
God uses delays to test ours........................................................................................................ 141
Bless You With Peace...................................................................................................................... 144

251
Found by focusing on God’s promises. ......................................................................................... 144
What would you give upfor it?....................................................................................................144
Obedience leads to Peace............................................................................................................ 144
The Kind of peace the Holy Spirit brings. ...................................................................................... 144
Peace vs. the Peace of God.......................................................................................................... 144
Can affect our decisions. ............................................................................................................. 144
Must be active not passive. ......................................................................................................... 145
Peace that transcends understanding .......................................................................................... 145
His Peace....................................................................................................................................145
To receive His peace ................................................................................................................... 145
Come and Rest........................................................................................................................... 146
Peace is a light............................................................................................................................ 146
Peace be With You!..................................................................................................................... 146
See that He is Good..................................................................................................................... 146
Meet Your Needs........................................................................................................................ 146
Steadiness..................................................................................................................................147
Plan............................................................................................................................................... 149
We can’t always see God’s overall plan........................................................................................ 149
No one can thwart God’s plans....................................................................................................149
God doesn’t need much from us to accomplish his plan for ourlives.............................................. 149
Agreeing to God’s planfor us.......................................................................................................149
Once set in motion, some can’t be reversed................................................................................. 149
God reveals His plans through history. ......................................................................................... 150
Strength and Shield..................................................................................................................... 150
Less to your doubts..................................................................................................................... 150
Talk aboutit. .............................................................................................................................. 150
Friend and Lover......................................................................................................................... 151
Recognize Your Weakness........................................................................................................... 151
Piece of Clay............................................................................................................................... 151
Gift of Peace............................................................................................................................... 152
Relax in my Healing Presence.......................................................................................................... 153
Refresh yourself.......................................................................................................................... 153
Adventure is Good...................................................................................................................... 153

252
Sit Quietly ..................................................................................................................................154
His Presence............................................................................................................................... 154
Let Him Anoint You..................................................................................................................... 154
Praying Continually......................................................................................................................... 156
Ask God anything butexpect anything. ........................................................................................ 156
Why God may withhold an answer............................................................................................... 156
Why God may not be answering yours......................................................................................... 156
Don’t let guiltfeelings keep you from praying............................................................................... 156
When discouraged...................................................................................................................... 157
What to request of God in prayer. ............................................................................................... 157
Don’t alwaysexpectimmediate answers...................................................................................... 157
Serious Prayer............................................................................................................................ 157
What it clarifiesfor us? ............................................................................................................... 157
Spontaneous prayer.................................................................................................................... 157
The secret to a close relationship with God. ................................................................................. 158
Pray evenwhen God seems far away. .......................................................................................... 158
Moving from prayer to praise......................................................................................................158
A weapon againstevil.................................................................................................................. 158
Can release tensions of emotional stress...................................................................................... 158
Places our focus on God.............................................................................................................. 158
Intercessory Prayer..................................................................................................................... 158
Why many are afraid to talk with God.......................................................................................... 159
Can change events...................................................................................................................... 159
Prayerin the midst of panic......................................................................................................... 159
How to you react to answered prayer. ......................................................................................... 159
We can pray anywhere anytime...................................................................................................159
Shallow repetition and persistence in Prayer................................................................................ 159
The Lord’s prayer........................................................................................................................ 160
Discernment to ask for the right things......................................................................................... 160
God’s attitude toward ours.......................................................................................................... 160
Importance of praying alone........................................................................................................ 160
Relying on the Holy Spirit in Praying............................................................................................. 160
Can we ask for anything?............................................................................................................. 160

253
Finding time to pray.................................................................................................................... 161
Keys to effective prayer............................................................................................................... 161
Conditions of prayer.................................................................................................................... 161
How and when God answers ours................................................................................................ 161
Should precede important decisions. ........................................................................................... 161
Puts us under God’s control......................................................................................................... 162
Important toevangelism............................................................................................................. 162
What constant prayer means?.....................................................................................................162
Lessons from Jesus longest prayer. .............................................................................................. 162
Relationship to Others.................................................................................................................... 165
You will be treated as you treat others......................................................................................... 165
Importance of Spiritual Family.....................................................................................................165
In eternity ..................................................................................................................................166
Develop them with other Christians............................................................................................. 166
How to build strong ones with other Christians............................................................................. 166
Why submission important to Relationships................................................................................. 166
Christ has broken down barriers to relationships.......................................................................... 166
In the home................................................................................................................................ 167
Broken ones affect other believers............................................................................................... 167
Satan/Devil ....................................................................................................................................168
Who He is...................................................................................................................................168
Limited by God ........................................................................................................................... 169
Why He tempts us....................................................................................................................... 169
Can imitate parts of God’s works to deceive................................................................................. 169
Can he force people to do wrong? ............................................................................................... 169
God is aware of all Satan does. ....................................................................................................169
Can he persuade God to change His plans. ................................................................................... 169
Aided by demons........................................................................................................................ 170
God’s control over Satan............................................................................................................. 170
Our ongoing battle with Satan.....................................................................................................170
Obeying God neutralizes Satan. ...................................................................................................170
How to withstand his attacks.......................................................................................................170
His work has become more intense.............................................................................................. 171

254
Thanksgiving..................................................................................................................................172
It’s time toexpress yours............................................................................................................. 172
Developing an attitude of thankfulness........................................................................................ 172
Should be a Continuous part of Life.............................................................................................. 173
Elements of Thanksgiving............................................................................................................ 173
In all areas of life......................................................................................................................... 173
Thank those who helped you.......................................................................................................173
About the Spiritual Gifts of others................................................................................................ 173
For God’s available strength. ....................................................................................................... 173
For those who bring you Joy........................................................................................................ 174
How to give thanks in everything................................................................................................. 174
Thankful Heart............................................................................................................................ 174
Bring Him Your Weakness............................................................................................................ 174
Be still and Thank Him................................................................................................................. 175
Thankfulness .............................................................................................................................. 175
Be Thankful for the Spirit............................................................................................................. 175
Thankfulness and thoughts.......................................................................................................... 175
Sacrifice of Thanksgiving ............................................................................................................. 175
Thanksgiving............................................................................................................................... 176
Teaching Thankfulness................................................................................................................ 176
Thank Him..................................................................................................................................176
Learn a New Habit-Trust................................................................................................................. 178
Difficult to continue trustingwhen nothing seems to happen........................................................ 178
Takes time to buildit up.............................................................................................................. 178
Trusting Godfor the First Time....................................................................................................178
Trusting God spares us much grief............................................................................................... 178
Lack of trust leads to stress.......................................................................................................... 178
Essential to marriage................................................................................................................... 178
Don’t trust God with only small problems .................................................................................... 179
Failing to trust God brings problems............................................................................................. 179
Wipes out fear............................................................................................................................ 179
Can you trustin God no matter what?.......................................................................................... 179
God won’tforsake those who trust Him....................................................................................... 179

255
Real trust brings consistency of character..................................................................................... 179
Trust with a Childlike faith........................................................................................................... 180
How worry affects our trust in God.............................................................................................. 180
Children Learnit from parents.....................................................................................................180
Helps with fear. .......................................................................................................................... 180
A part of Faith............................................................................................................................. 180
Acting upon trust........................................................................................................................ 180
How we trust in God. .................................................................................................................. 181
Lack of trust keeps us from receiving God’s best for us..................................................................181
Danger of trusting in your efforts.................................................................................................181
The High Road ............................................................................................................................ 182
Trust in Him................................................................................................................................ 182
Trust is the way to Heaven .......................................................................................................... 182
Trust Him Enough ....................................................................................................................... 183
Refuse to Worry.......................................................................................................................... 183
Don’t be Afraid........................................................................................................................... 183
Rejoice....................................................................................................................................... 183
He is taking Care of You............................................................................................................... 183
Glory Gifts..................................................................................................................................184
Moment by Moment................................................................................................................... 184
Don’t Be Afraid........................................................................................................................... 184
Your Strength............................................................................................................................. 184
Hold My Hand and Trust.............................................................................................................. 184
Understanding................................................................................................................................ 186
Obeying God evenwhen you don’t understandwhy. ....................................................................186
Gaining Spiritual Understanding ..................................................................................................186
Why some do not understand God’s truth.................................................................................... 186
Wait on God...................................................................................................................................188
Waiting sometimes is part of God’s plans..................................................................................... 188
Benefits of waiting on God. ......................................................................................................... 188
Waiting for God’s timing ............................................................................................................. 188
Wait Patientlywith Me................................................................................................................ 188
God’s Will ......................................................................................................................................191

256
God wants you to help carry out His will for you........................................................................... 191
Asking for God’s guidance ........................................................................................................... 191
Prayers must be inline with God’s will......................................................................................... 191
Must accept all that comeswith it ............................................................................................... 191
May be for you to stay where you are.......................................................................................... 191
Renewing your mind................................................................................................................... 192
Stillness of your soul. .................................................................................................................. 192
Empowerment............................................................................................................................ 192
Worry ............................................................................................................................................ 194
Don’t worry about details beyond your control ................................................................................ 194
Can reveal a lack of faith in God’s control.................................................................................... 194
Don’t worry if you can’t understandeverything............................................................................ 194
Holy Spirit helps us to stop.......................................................................................................... 194
Other ways to resist.................................................................................................................... 194
Most will seem trivial in the future............................................................................................... 194
Abandon........................................................................................................................................ 196
Don’t give up on God when you feel abandoned........................................................................... 196
Abilities.......................................................................................................................................... 198
Don’t let yours diminish. ............................................................................................................. 198
Responsibility to use themwell....................................................................................................198
Invest them wisely...................................................................................................................... 198
Utilize them in the church ........................................................................................................... 199
Acceptance. ...................................................................................................................................199
Help the rejected feel accepted...................................................................................................199
Many won’t accept your faith......................................................................................................199

257
.................. 201
Accomplishments........................................................................................................................... 201
Attitudes more important than accomplishments......................................................................... 201
Don’t look for meaningin them...................................................................................................201
Accomplishmentsevaporate quickly. ........................................................................................... 201
Don’t base your self-worth on. ....................................................................................................202
We are accountable for many of our own problems......................................................................202
Achievements.................................................................................................................................203
Relying on them or self-worth. ....................................................................................................203
Depression may follow great ones. .............................................................................................. 203
It is pride to take full credit for them............................................................................................ 203
Actions........................................................................................................................................... 204
Children copy their parents. ........................................................................................................ 204
True change is revealed by our actions......................................................................................... 204
What marks you as a lover of God................................................................................................ 204
Balancing prayer with action........................................................................................................ 204
Think before you act. .................................................................................................................. 204
Complaining versus acti8ng on problems...................................................................................... 204
Act on what’s right...................................................................................................................... 205
When we must take decisive action. ............................................................................................ 205

258
God doesn’t act through those unwilling to act for Him................................................................. 205
True faith results in action........................................................................................................... 205
Do your actions back up your words............................................................................................. 205
Good actions don’t always reflect good attitudes.......................................................................... 205
Advice............................................................................................................................................ 206
Finding time with God in the midst of activity............................................................................... 206
Advice of parents often helpful....................................................................................................207
Always seek God’s advice............................................................................................................ 207
Be careful about negativism in advice. ......................................................................................... 207
Don’t be too quick to rejectit......................................................................................................207
Seek God’s advice even in minor issues........................................................................................ 207
How to carefullyevaluate it......................................................................................................... 207
Don’t seek God’s advice if you’re going to ignore it.......................................................................208
Test other’s advice against God’s Word........................................................................................ 208
Understand a person’s situation before giving advice....................................................................208
Some need compassion more than advice.................................................................................... 208
Seek itfrom those with more wisdom & experience .....................................................................208
Seeking itfrom everyone but God................................................................................................ 208
Love often means giving tough advice.......................................................................................... 209
Affections control the way we live. .............................................................................................. 209
Agreements ...................................................................................................................................210
Don’t break the agreement you made tofollow God.....................................................................210
Agreeing to God’s planfor us.......................................................................................................210
Aided by the Holy Spirit............................................................................................................... 210
Ambition........................................................................................................................................ 211
Was Korah’s undoing/Inappropriate ambitionis greedin disguise. ................................................ 211
Shouldn’t be motivated by selfishness.......................................................................................... 211
Controllingit............................................................................................................................... 212
Jesus exposed political ambitions of religiousleaders....................................................................212
When ambitionis appropriate.....................................................................................................212
Anger............................................................................................................................................. 213
God doesn’t use His to judge us...................................................................................................213
God’s anger versus God’s patience............................................................................................... 213

259
Blinds us to our wrongdoing,....................................................................................................... 213
Controllingit............................................................................................................................... 213
Resulting from wounded pride.....................................................................................................214
Using it constructively................................................................................................................. 214
Why God was angry at Uzzah for touching the ark. ....................................................................... 214
Can lead to hatred and murder....................................................................................................214
Learning from God’s.................................................................................................................... 215
Takes our focus off God............................................................................................................... 215
When God’s patience gives way to anger. .................................................................................... 215
Danger of anger.......................................................................................................................... 215
Whenit is appropriate. ............................................................................................................... 215
Why is God angrywith sinful people?........................................................................................... 216
Determine why you are angry with others’ sins. ........................................................................... 216
Venting it under the guise of discipline......................................................................................... 216
Do you get angry when confronted?............................................................................................ 216
Don’t discipline out of anger........................................................................................................ 216
Danger of words spoken in anger................................................................................................. 216
Answers......................................................................................................................................... 218
Not knowing them all develops faith............................................................................................ 218
Only God has them all................................................................................................................. 218
Don’t think you have all the answers............................................................................................ 218
Eternity will answer our questions............................................................................................... 218
Beware of those who claim to have them all................................................................................. 218
Appreciation – Asking..................................................................................................................... 220
Let others know you appreciate them.......................................................................................... 220
Ask God anything and expect anything......................................................................................... 221
Ask questions before fighting.......................................................................................................221
Don’t be afraid to ask others for help........................................................................................... 221
Assumptions ..................................................................................................................................222
Don’t assume God won’t help you. .............................................................................................. 222
Don’t assume worst in others......................................................................................................222
Don’t assume someone won’t respond to the gospel....................................................................222
Don’t be suspiciousin yours. ....................................................................................................... 223

260
Wrong ones lead to wrong conclusions........................................................................................ 223
Assumptions come from applying a true principle wrongly............................................................ 223
Don’t assume your problems don’t have solutions........................................................................ 223
Don’t assume you’ve married the wrong person........................................................................... 223
Attention....................................................................................................................................... 224
What occupies most of yours.......................................................................................................224
Using prayer to get attention.......................................................................................................224
Work for God evenif you don’t get creditfor it............................................................................. 224
Attitude ......................................................................................................................................... 225
In Review....................................................................................................................................... 230
Reader Prayer............................................................................................................................. 238

261

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