Jesus knows how you feel!

"14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need."     Hebrews 4:14-16    NKJV

Jesus has been there. He knows what life is like and what it takes to walk with God. He knows the struggles, the heartaches and the persecution that may come our way every now and again. He knows what a struggle it is to keep our sinful nature under control and how temptation can lead us astray at any time. He's been there, as we say in these times, He has the t-shirt, but His is covered with His blood shed on the cross for each one of us.

Jesus is our great High Priest. He is the only High Priest that is great. We can go to Him whenever we need to and His door is always open. He has passed through the heavens; He is the Son of God and He is the only one that truly knows what the Christian life is like and what a battle it can be at times. He knows temptation but He never sinned; He does know what the pull of it can feel like, however. He knows.

Jesus sympathises with us, with our struggles, with the sin we commit and the way we feel when we do sin. He tells us to 'Hold fast', our confession. This means we are to cling to our confession with determination. It takes all we have got. We are to cling to His forgiveness, to the fact that He knows what it is like. He cares. 

Sympathise in the Greek, is made up of two words = 'Suffer with', and this is what Jesus does for each of us. Counsellors speak about being in someone's Internal Frame of Reference; and this means, to sit in their shoes so that you know exactly what it is like to suffer. David Jeremiah in a comment about 'Suffer with', says: 'The term expresses the compassion of one who does not simply see suffering from the outside, but who enters into the suffering and makes it his or her own.' Copyright 2013 David Jeremiah.

Jesus becomes involved in what we do - if we allow Him, and that includes our suffering. He knows what weakness is. This is why He tells us that, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'  2 Corinthians 12:9. He calls us to pass all our problems to Him and whenever, we have blown it - which we do and will do until we are perfected in Heaven - to have the confidence to approach the throne of grace, confess our sin and receive His love and forgiveness. We receive His grace and His mercy (Hebrews Hesed), and we receive this to help in our time of need V16, in other words, 'just at the right time'.  

In conclusion, He will never cast you aside; He will never ground you or tell you that 'you've gone too far this time'. Not at all. As you come boldly to His throne, He will bless you beyond your wildest dreams. Why? Because He just can't stop loving you.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Be a worthy soldier of Jesus

"So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called (that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character , moral courage, personal integrity and mature behaviour - a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation)."                                                             Ephesians 4:1 Amplified Study Bible

This is the life that Jesus has called us to and the life that grabs the attention of people around you. Yes, you may suffer persecution from people who see you living for Jesus but, deep down, many of them want to be like you but they can't lose their street credibility, they have so much peer pressure that they just have to play the roles that they do.

To start with today, ask yourself:

Does my life exhibit godly character?

Do I live a life that expresses gratitude to God for my salvation?

Your honest answers to these two questions, will give you an idea about your Christian walk and what changes you may need to make in order to get it on track. To start with:

*  Change the way you talk about yourself. 

You are a child of God, so act accordingly. Don't accept the bad things others may say about you, just start confessing what God says about you and begin living that life, for Him. Listen to your words and change them where necessary. Only use wholesome, faith-building words about yourself.

*  Does what I do and say, live up to what I practice  - Christianity?

When you are in non-Christian company, be careful to keep your Christian values uppermost. Keep your witness by refusing to act the way the others may be acting - such as, dirty jokes, gossip and the language you use. When you're in company with non-believers - family or friends - it is so easy to drop your guard and start saying things like they do; using unwholesome words and generally lowering your standards. The American preacher, Bill Winston says, 'You can't run with rabbits and hunt with the hunters as well.' There is a choice that we have to make and this goes for the company that we keep.

*  Don't get dragged in

Don't ever let what the majority is thinking or saying influence you to go against the Word of God. Remember Joshua and Caleb. They had been sent out with others to spy out the land that God was leading them into. Joshua and Caleb came back singing its praises saying how great the land was. The others, brought a bad report - full of woe - saying that it was not for them, it would be a bad move (Numbers 13). So therefore, they ended up wandering around the wilderness for 40 or so years, and died there, except for Joshua and Caleb and that generation. Don't allow anyone to cloud your judgement. If God says it's ok, then it's ok.

Just live your life for Jesus, living up to your calling. This way you will be blessed.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Laugh your way to victory

"Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (11) So the Levites quieted all the people saying, 'Be still, for the day is holy, do not be grieved."    

                                                                                                         Nehemiah 8:10-11    NKJV

Ezra the priest had just read the Book of the Law to the people. He had started in the morning and now, at midday, he concluded. The people were so touched by the Word of God that they began to weep. Nehemiah, the governor at that time, told the people not to mourn or indeed, weep because the day was holy. Instead, he told them, to be filled with the joy of the Lord which is their strength.

Realise that each new day is holy to us because Jesus is in our lives. We should live holy lives because He is holy. (1Peter 1:15). And what is more, each day Jesus tells us not to mourn or be sorrowful but, to be joyful. 'This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.' (Psalm 118:24). He has created a new day for us - a day that is holy and he expects us to enjoy it - be glad in it and joyful. 

There are many opposites that we come up against each day. Take for instance faith; the opposite of this is fear. Joy is no different; it has an opposite and this is despair, which is the misery of the world. It includes depression, anger, moaning, criticism, judging and aggression. These are all wrapped up in weakness, failure and spiritual decay. So therefore, joy is our strength; but to live the opposite is weakness.

God did not say, 'This is the day the Lord has made, we will despair and moan about it'. Absolutely not. We can choose to do this, that is our right. However, it is not a very good choice. It's far better to carry out God's directive, 'we will rejoice and be glad in it'. 

Laughing is a great way to be free. It releases tension. We can laugh our way to victory. We can also laugh ourselves into good health. 'A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.' (Proverbs 17:22).

Joy and merriment are a recipe for victory and we should choose to live this way every day of our lives. We need it - the world needs it. Each day is a holy day with Jesus and He is never in despair. Take a leaf or two out of His book - these verses.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Are you holding a grudge?

"But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him."                                          V30 of Luke 15:11-32     NKJV

We all know the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the way he went off with his father's inheritance, wasted it on wild living and then returned to his father asking for help and forgiveness. It is well documented and we can all see a part of ourselves within the text. However, what about the brother? It would appear - from his perspective at least - that there was a kind of favouritism between his father and younger brother. Younger children sometimes do take the 'favourite' roll for a time.

The father must have been devastated to hear that his younger son was leaving home but, he acted very fairly to him, sharing out equally, his livelihood between the two sons. But when this all went wrong and he returned to the homestead, the older brother, being a faithful and reliable son, felt that his brother had treated the family abysmally.

He was hurt and angry towards his brother and his father for welcoming him back as if he was a king returning from a mighty battle. He had a big, 'This is not fair, Pharisaical attitude and he couldn't even bring himself to call his brother by name. He called him, 'this son of yours'. Have you ever been like this? I have, especially when our dog has been up to no good. I say to my wife, 'This dog of yours has done - whatever.' We may joke but we do this.

The older brother couldn't see that grace was ruling the moment - the unmerited favour which God shows to us all when we need it. We don't deserve it but we get it anyway, and this was what happened to the younger brother. The older brother had a major grudge about all of this and we don't read that he ever repented.

We have to be careful of this powerful weapon. Grudges hold you back, they separate you from God; it is unforgiveness with a giant blame and accusation attached to it. Be careful, there is only one accuser and that is Satan himself. 

Think back, are you holding a grudge about some person who has wronged and hurt you or treated you unfairly? Listen to me, you are going nowhere with God until you let go of this and forgive the person. When you do, you will receive God's grace to help you deal with it all.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

He has anointed us and sent us to carry on the work

"18 The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."                            Luke 4:18-19    NKJV

Jesus stood in the synagogue and read this out, loud and clear. He was reinforcing Isaiah's statement in Isaiah 61:1-2 and declaring that this was being fulfilled in their presence; He was the promised Messiah.

Later, in Chapter 9:1-2, we read that He passed this ministry to His disciples, 'Then He called His disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.' And then the entire church Acts 1&2.

As disciples of Jesus ourselves, we have this same mission. Jesus has commissioned us (Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 16:14-18), to carry on this work wherever we are and whenever we can. We have been anointed by Jesus Himself to preach the gospel to the people who haven't heard it or don't fully understand the meaning of it. Without this, they are hell-bound, it is serious business. There are many people who are brokenhearted in our world today, who desperately need Jesus. He is the answer to their problems and their longing and they need us to explain this to them. Then there are those who are chained and held captive to drugs, porn, abuse of all kinds and poverty. They are in need of Jesus, they need to be set free and we, have the power within us, to do that. Depression, oppression, sickness, loneliness, just to name a few, are being suffered by people all over the world. I heard the other day about a person who was executed in a distant country for owning a bible. People need Jesus and now!

And we have the capability, we have the anointing of Jesus and there are many ways that we can help. We can send money to Christian charities; we can help children be schooled, fed and clothed by a small amount of cash each month. But also, there are the people in our neighbourhood, the people we live near to, who we work with, our family or friends. Everyone needs Jesus. This is why Jesus anointed you and I. We can make a difference.

Their is vast pain in this world. People have lost loved ones through Covid 19. People have lost someone through a car crash or a stabbing. People have been raped. Pain, pain and more pain. We can't take the pain away but we can help a little.

Do you realise that there is someone living near to you who has awful, pain-filled problems? They don't know Jesus either. They really have no one to help them. Can you help?

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Your Valentine

"6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. 8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me."     Psalm 63:6-8    NKJV

It's Valentine's Day and many people, all over the world are receiving cards, flowers and the promise of a nice meal later on. Some celebrate it, some don't. But when you think about it, what a fabulous way of showing somebody that you love them; care for them and enjoy them in your life. It's designed that we send a card to someone that is special in our lives. Does that include Jesus; after all, He's special isn't He?

Just imagine what you could write on a card to Jesus:

'Jesus, I just want to say that I love You. You are truly wonderful and words cannot express what You mean to me. You were there for me when it seemed that everyone else had deserted me and You built me up into the person that I am today. Thank you Jesus for saving me and giving me my life back. Jesus, You really are my lifeline, my rock and my redeemer and I am eternally grateful for all You have given me; my family, my home, my ability to work and be blessed. Today Jesus, I salute You and declare that You are my number one Valentine.'

JESUS

YOU ARE MY VALENTINE!  💕

It may seem a little zany to do this, but why not and who cares. You are demonstrating just how much the King of kings means to you. Why not give it a try today!

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Watch the devil doesn't trip you up!

"Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."                                                            1 Peter 5:8    NKJV

Without trying to promote paranoia, we need to realise that our enemy may be around every corner hoping to trip us up. But, when we are walking with the King of kings, we always have the victory. This is why praise is so vital to our survival.

Gloria Copeland writes: 

'Your mind is where the battle will take place. Whatever you allow to captivate your mind will rule your life. Will it be the Word of God or the lies of Satan'   Gloria Copeland, From Faith to Faith.

The main area that the enemy hits us, is in our thought life. He will plant things in our minds that are so convincing and as we focus on this lie, he brings us False Evidence that Appears Real - F.E.A.R. If we're not careful, we begin to believe the lie and we are captivated and nothing anybody says to the contrary convinces us differently. This happens every day to people and it drives a wedge between relationships, home-life, church-life and even our places of work. We become convinced that someone has gossiped about us; convinced that our partner is being unfaithful; we become paranoid that we are being forced out of a particular job and whatever else. It all originates from believing the lie - which we allow, to take over our minds.

When thoughts such as these come, we need to cast them down at once and take authority over them. (2 Corinthians 10:5). We need to take authority before we're taken over by it all. Just refuse to consider the lies. How do we refuse to consider the lies? By praising and worshipping God.  

'(3) Your unfailing love is better than life itself. How I praise You. (4) I will praise You as long as I live lifting up my hands to You in prayer. (5) You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise You with songs of joy.'        Psalm 63:3-5    NLT

By doing this, we are allowing the Word of God to rule our life and the devil will shoot away:

'Therefore, submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.' James 4:7 The devil will then lose that particular battle. 'The Lord is known for His justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds'. Psalm 9:16 NLT. Instead of the devil snatching and devouring us, we have taken control over him in this particular incident. We have caught him in God's trap. But be careful, he will try again at a later stage. 

From today, learn to recognise what comes into your mind. The devil will bring aggression and disruption and will try to cause pain and heartache. God fills your mind with joy and wholesome thoughts that thrill your heart. In other words, you will either feel fear or faith. Learn to recognise this and clear your mind.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE