Worry

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"       Matthew 6:27   NKJV

People all over the world become ill because of worry. It attacks the heart, the glands and the whole nervous system. It profoundly affects your health. Bob Gass said, 'I have never known a person who died from overwork, but many who died from worry.' 

Jesus, in our text today said, 'Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?' Now a cubit is about 18 inches long, so you can see this would make a big difference to a person's height. But even then, what good would it do if you died of worry? None! George Muller said, 'The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.' Did you get that? As soon as worry and anxiety are allowed to enter the situation, faith is deflated. We doubt and go without.

Therefore, common sense tells us that worry is the conclusion of believing the lies of the devil. It brings fear. Fear unhooks us from faith and the supernatural. It puts us in bondage to the natural realm. An acronym of the word FEAR is (F) False (E) Evidence, (A) Appearing, (R) Real (Copyright Bob Gass). Things go wrong or problems pop into our minds and if we're not careful, fear enters in and we start on a downward spiral.

As a Christian, every time we begin to worry we're forgetting who is in charge - Jesus. He said we should seek His Kingdom first. (Matthew 6:33). Now, we either believe and trust Jesus or we don't. Trusting Him requires putting everything into His hands and allowing Him to provide, protect and show us the way through each and every situation. I like The Living Bible's version of 1 Peter 5:7, 'Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.' 

We need to grasp hold of this. Faith needs to rule in our hearts, not fear. So, as soon as any negative problem comes along, we need to cast it over to Jesus. An attitude of joy helps here, because joy is a strength. (Nehemiah 8:10).

Are you a worrier? If so, make it a priority today, to rectify this. Remember, only a small percentage of what we worry about happens, the rest disappears and is forgotten about. So, cast your worrying nature over to Jesus and ask Him to replace it with faith:

'Lord Jesus, from this moment, I refuse to worry about anything. I place my whole life into Your hands and trust You to take care of me. Please Lord, re-energise my measure of faith and give me the ability to cast out fear from this day forth. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

What happened?

 "Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one"                                     V16 of Ephesians 6:14-18.  NKJV

One moment you may be going along fine and joyful, the next, BAM, you're flat on your face and in the depths of despair. What happened? You were hit by one of Satan's arrows, one designed to take you out. This may be in the form of sickness that hits you in a moment. Or it may be you're involved in an accident of some sort or something else that takes the wind out of your sails.

Derek Prince says, 'The devil chooses the weakest moments and the weakest place,' and there is a lot of truth in this. However, it's not always this way. Many times we have begun or completed a new piece of work for God and we are so excited at the potential of the project, and suddenly it goes wrong or someone comes along and totally destroys it all by negative and hurtful words. We are devastated but we need to know that we're under an attack.

You see, the devil is quite skilled at distracting us from our work for God. He'll use people to pour scorn on what we have done, distracting us and others from what He has planned. On a small scale we may decide to have a closer relationship with the Lord by increasing our quiet time with Him. As soon as we begin, the telephone may ring, the kids may urgently need us or someone may call at the house. We're distracted.

On a larger scale, our whole ministry may be going so well with excitement bubbling and then suddenly, something goes wrong, preventing the work going on. Satan fires scud missiles at us and they're sent to achieve distraction and mayhem. The acronym of SCUD is (S) Satan, (C) Continually, (U) Uses, (D) Distractions. This helps us to see that Satan has to fire something major at us to prevent us doing God's work. If you're under attack, you're on the right path.

But we must wear the Armour of God, we're lost without it. Soldiers don't go into battle without some sort of protection. Now you can use a small shield of faith or a large one. For myself, I choose the large size because it covers us all over. What I'm talking about here is, our faith. You've either got it or you haven't. If it's the latter, then you won't please God (Hebrews 11:6), and you'll be walked all over.

This is why our faith needs developing, we need to stand and keep standing so that whatever comes our way, we can withstand it. This means we can resist or oppose the attacks with a determined effort. 

You're a soldier, so put your armour on and stand. If you get kicked over, get back up again. We never surrender because we're warriors of God and this means that we are winners. You may not feel that way but it's true. Start doing your exercises right now - read, pray and study the Word. You never know when an attack is coming!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

Seek Peace

"Seek peace and pursue it"                                                       Psalm 34:14.  NKJV

As each day goes by, the world appears to be getting more and more violent and hostile - terrorism, murders, rapes and violence around every corner. The people who offend, mostly show no remorse as witnessed on recent news coverage on BBC TV. There has always been these things but not as regular as they are nowadays.We're living in the last days for sure.

Therefore, this is why we need to be living in peace ourselves and attempting to spread it around wherever we go. The Living Bible quotes our text as, 'Try to live in peace with everyone; work hard at it.' Just those last four words sum it up well, - 'work hard at it.' It is not easy to live in peace when things around you are pretty bad, and that is where patience and hard work are needed.

Take for instance noisy neighbours with wild parties and BBQ's that get out of hand. We're all entitled to live our lives and enjoy this but sadly, some people take it a step further and have their music so loud it can be heard in the next county. If we retaliate in anger, they may just turn the volume up louder. So we need peace to help us through, coupled with prayer. We need to be mindful of who we are - representatives of God; we also need to remember Romans 12:18, 'If it is possible as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.' A quiet word with a neighbour the next day is far better than going in with all guns blazing when they're in party mood. The weapon that we have and need is prayer. That changes things big time.

Then there are car parking spaces. If you park on the road outside your home, you'll be familiar with those who park in your parking space as soon as you drive off. The thing is, as much as you think you own the road, you don't and I'll park there if I want to. Joking aside, it can wind us up especially if it's raining and we have a car full of shopping to unload and we have nowhere to park. Again, we need to, 'Seek peace and pursue it.' It's not easy I know, but again, prayer works wonders. I ask God to keep our parking space whenever we drive off, and it works. Try it. I could go into great detail about the people who light bonfires and burn plastic, causing toxic fumes, but really it's the same thing and needs us to, 'Seek peace and pursue it.'

Grab hold of this verse in Isaiah 26:3 and personalise it as a prayer whenever you need to:

'You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.'

The answer to remaining in peace is to stay focused on Jesus, your whole mind concentrating on the one who offers everlasting peace. It is training ourselves to trust in God more and more. He knows what is going on and if you let Him, He'll sort it, and that's a promise.

Keep your peace.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

That Special Something More

"Oh taste and see that the LORD is good."                                Psalm 34:8

 To taste something is to sip, savour or possibly to put into the mouth in order try out a new dish. In this verse, it can be defined in a similar manner by describing a first time encounter. Hence, to 'partake of, especially for the first time experience.' Allow me to give an example:

During my pastoral training and often afterwards, I used a special method of describing Jesus to someone, in the street or wherever I was. I would ask them to pretend they had never tasted, eaten or even heard of a Mars bar. I would go on to say how it was full of malt, caramel, fudge and covered in gorgeous, rippling milk chocolate. It was then wrapped in brown and red paper with a picture of the bar on the front and it sat there waiting to be opened and eaten. I would get the person to imagine what it felt like as they began to eat it. Then I would tell them that I could talk about this all of the day but unless they put it in their mouth and tried it, they would never know what it tasted like. And this is how it is when we discuss Jesus with someone. We could tell them how wonderful He is and how He can change their lives; but until they try Him (taste) for themselves, they would never know. 

This evangelistic method, gave me quite a lot of success when I was witnessing on the streets and I used it on a regular basis. However, when I sat an exam and wrote about this, my lecturer marked me down as he felt offended that I had compared Jesus to a chocolate bar. I tried to explain that many people had accepted Jesus because of it but it fell on deaf ears. Understand this, you can never please everyone so stop trying. I carried on using this method of evangelism and it still works. Never let anyone stop you from doing God's work.

Each one of us had to taste Jesus in order to find out what He was like. The world is a counterfeit in comparison to Heaven. Consider it for yourselves; yes it is brilliant to be alive and to be able to enjoy the things of the earth such as, nature, wildlife and all of the beauty around. It's also wonderful to have people love us and we love them; and yet, without Jesus something is always missing. For some people, drugs, booze, sex and crazy living are ok for a time, but it's only a temporary buzz. Some people want more, so they try more drugs, booze, sex and crazy living. Some end up paying a heavy price by losing their lives - all because they were searching for that 'special something more.'

That special something more is called Jesus and He's the greatest 'something more', that we could ever have. Do you know that? You have to taste Him and see that He is the business; He meets the needs; He bridges the gap. Why not taste Him and see.

'Lord Jesus, I need You in my life. Please forgive my sin and come and live in my heart. I've blown it so many times that I don't know where to turn, except to You. I want to taste You and see what You can do in my life. Come and help me Jesus. Amen

If you've said that prayer, you're born again. Tell someone and get the Christian help you need.

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

Walking in Praise Part 3

"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them."

                                                                                                                 Psalm 34:7.  NKJV

Charles F Stanley says, 'Who knows how often we have been protected or delivered from harm by an angel assigned to guard us? Who knows how that angel is defending you right now?'

Profound words from Dr Stanley, this can be backed up in Psalm 91:11 where it says:

                  'For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways'

As God's children, we are assigned angels who protect us as we call out to God for help. 'I sought the LORD, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears,'  (Psalm 34:4). We have so much to thank and praise Him for. Don't let life steal your song, joy or peace.Things will come along designed to knock your faith, but keep praising Him, He's worth it.

Top people such as pop stars, film stars and politicians, just to mention a few, have bodyguards who shadow them wherever they go; keeping them safe. As Children of God, we're the elite and have our own personal bodyguard - Jesus Himself. He encamps around us and, whereas the top people have to pay for the services, we get it for free and top service too.

There have been many times in our lives that if Jesus hadn't watched over us and kept us safe, we would have been goners. Picture the scene where Daniel's friends were in the red hot furnace, recorded in Daniel 3:24-25. Three had been cast into the furnace and yet, Nebuchadnezzar had seen four, one was Jesus. And then there was Daniel in the Lon's den. Daniel said to Darius, 'My God sent His angel and shut the lion's mouths, so that they have not hurt me.' (Daniel 6:22). Divine intervention because the angel of the LORD encamped around them. Therefore, consider how you are protected too. As you pray, praise and worship God, He will do this. The closer you are to Jesus, a fuller realisation of this will take root within you.

What is there to fear? Hebrews 13:6 clearly tells us, 'The LORD is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?' Whatever you do and wherever you go, He is right by your side and will never leave you or walk away. Keep blessing and praising Him. 

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

Walking in Praise Part 2

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul shall make its boast in the LORD, the humble shall hear of it and be glad. (3) Oh magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together."

                                                                                                                Psalm 34:1-3   NKJV

When we walk in praise - blessing and rejoicing in God - we will have to balance out the good times and the bad times, the better times and the stressful times; when we're sick, moody or depressed, in work or out of work, rich or poor, in a hospital bed or a dentist's chair. There are many things that will try to attack our desire to praise God. This is why James tells us to, 'Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.' (James1:2-3)

How does His praise continually be in our mouth? (Psalm 34:1) Answer = by living 24/7 for Him, studying your bible and enjoying His presence. Start by turning the TV off and reading a Christian book or listening to a Praise CD and fill your life with Him.

Praise is uplifting and makes you feel good; it makes you look radiant. Remember Moses when he had been in God's presence? His face shone. (Exodus 34:29) People see the difference. Also when we're walking with God, deeply, we can't stop talking about Him. Every opportunity we have, we slip Jesus into the conversation. Have you lost that feeling?

When we get to know Him the way He wishes for us, this is all we want do, and it is very important. However, Bill Johnson says, 'There's one thing more important than knowing God and that is God knowing you.' We must remember Jesus' words in Matthew 7:21-23:

'Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My father in Heaven, (22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name?' (23) And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'

This is quite a scary passage and we automatically feel, 'Is He talking to me? Will I get to Heaven?' Let me tell you, if you are born again and in Jesus and He in you, which is a Covenant relationship, relax, you're safe. There are people who profess to be Christians and aren't. As Jesus said, 'You will know them by their fruit.' (Matthew 7:15-20)

So get to know Jesus more and more, in fact, better than you ever have, and consequently, allow Him to get to know you. Drop your guard, that brick wall you've built around yourself. You can't hide things from God. He knows everything, so let Him purge away stuff within you that blocks your walk with Him. Do this and you're in for a blessing! 

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

Walking in Praise

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul shall make its boast in the LORD, the humble shall hear of it and be glad. (3) Oh magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together."

                                                                                                                Psalm 34:1-3   NKJV

If it is not already your practice, praise God throughout the day. Exalt Him when you wake up, when you eat, when you leave the house and when you return. An attitude of worship and trust in the Lord will make an amazing difference in your life. Why not speak in tongues for a time; just let the Holy Spirit use the words that reach deeper into the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:18).

Basically, it is getting into a routine of praising and blessing God before anything else; before you do anything or before you go anywhere. Also, don't forget to ensure that you're dressed in God's Armour (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Train your soul - Mind Will and Emotions, to be synchronised to the Holy Spirit at all times. This includes what we think and learn about and what we take on board. Have a will that says, 'This is the day the LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.' (Psalm 118:24). This is a choice we make - a choice to be so grateful to God for all He's done, that we just want to praise and rejoice in Him.

Don't forget, when we praise and rejoice in God, it stops the devil in his tracks. He doesn't want any part in a worship session. He backs off and flees. Therefore, if you want to keep the devil at bay, do it the right way, get praising Jesus.

Our emotions begin to bubble when we praise God. Just close your eyes and picture a scene in Heaven. God is in the distance - a huge figure clad in glistening white; and before Him angels and saints are praising, bowing, standing up and bowing again. Picture yourself there. The atmosphere is breathtaking, there's no words to describe itl. This is why we need our prayer language. Now realise that, who you've been praising and worshipping, lives in your heart; accompanies you throughout your day - Jesus Himself. We have so much to thank Him for.

As we boast in the Lord, we may be saying, 'Thank you for a new day of my life Lord, thank you for Your constant faithfulness; the care and provision You give me each day.' There is so much we need to be grateful and thankful for. We only scrape the surface most days.

As we begin to get our prayer, praise and study time right, our walk with Jesus will take off in a more powerful way!

Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com