Live a Carefree life

"Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."   

                                                                                Philippians 4:6-7    CSB

We have spent a little while within these verses over the past week or so; but, there is so much we can glean from them. One thing that I love is, the work of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He was a great preacher and writer and his sermons made people sit up and take notice. And, they're still doing this today, throughout the world. Spurgeon's interpretation of this verse is worth taking notice of. He wrote:

'Live with that holy carelessness which is the very beauty of the Christian life - when all our care is cast on God, and we can joy and rejoice in his providential care of us.'

                                                                                                                 Charles Haddon Spurgeon

If we adopt a holy carelessness, we can then begin to enjoy our daily lives - 'Carefree'. Sorrow, sadness, pain, problems and worries, usually spring out of ourselves when we face a crisis. However, allowing God's carelessness into our lives, conquers this areas. John 14:27.

To announce that we are careless people may raise eyebrows, but we are not saying this. We are announcing that the cares we have about this and that, are no longer ours, we've handed them to God. 'Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares about you' 1 Peter 5:7. Therefore, we are care-less or in it's correct term carefree.

Imagine shouting out at church or wherever else, 'I will not let that effect me - I couldn't care less, because God has my cares'. It is something that we all need to consider. How many hours a week do you send worrying about your problems? How many steps do you walk - check your step counter? It is pointless to worry about these things, because the worry and the cares remain there. Surely, it makes more sense to pass the cares over to God. Consider breaking down in the middle of nowhere, with no mobile phone, and somebody stopping to offer you some help. Would you receive their help or allow pride to take up its place and wave them on? Yes there may be safety issues involved, but, if there was no other way, it may be a life-saver.

By operating in the 'Careless' mode', you're not being irresponsible, you are being wise. God has all the answers; He offers us all the help we need. Why not receive this help and live a Carefree life!

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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'I won't ever become angry'

"I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Him I will trust."        

                                                                                           Psalm 91:2  NKJV 

This verse is actually a declaration and when we say it and mean it, we believe it. However, we need to be careful of the times when sin is creeping around. Yes, we have a hedge of protection around us, but only if we keep ourselves in a place of Holiness. If we allow sin to enter our lives then the hedge of protection is breeched and the devil can come in and cause mayhem. For instance, RT Kendall says, 'Will my flesh rule this moment or my spirit?' What RT is saying is if I sin, my flesh will rule, if I refuse to sin, I will remain on the right side of God. 

One of our biggest problems is our reactions. When someone annoys us, it can be difficult not to retaliate, especially if the person offends us or rattles our cage too much. This annoyance can lead to anger and before too long, the hedge of protection is in danger of being breeched. God gave me my own interpretation of anger some years ago. It includes: Aggression, Retaliation, Bad Mouthing and Threatening. These all equate to anger.

AGGRESSION   Whether we are of the aggressive type or not, it is easy to fall into this trap if we are pushed too far.

RETALIATION    We are then led to want to retaliate, 'How dare he say that' etc. Once we verbalise this, we are on the way to:

BAD MOUTHING  This may or may not include some unsavoury language. The thing is, once we have allowed ourselves to get this far, we want to let rip.

THREATENING  Sadly, this is a stage we can fall into, 'If you don't apologise, I will...' This is a threat that has come out of your mouth. It cannot be taken back.

All the more reason why we need to be in control of ourselves. God is our refuge, our fortress and we trust Him. So, if we do, call out to Him instead of taking the walk of doom and becoming angry. You know it makes sense and you may feel that this would never happen to you. Don't be fooled. It will if you're not careful!

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Confess God's Word and live it

"But David found strength in the LORD his God." v6         1 Samuel 30.  CSB

David was very troubled. The Amalekites had attacked his camp carrying off their women and children and, David's men were in such a state, they were threatening to stone him. Even though he was very concerned about this, he did something we all should do when we are in crisis - he found strength in God. He remembered how God had rescued him in the past; how He had always been there for him and, never let him down. He gave it to God and, God saved the day, as he always does when we do this. For the whole account, read Chapter 30.

This reminds me of a Christian chorus we used to sing back in the mid 80's. It was written by an evangelist called Isobel Chapmen and the words went like this:

'I'm happy, I'm healthy, I'm blessed and anointed and filled with the power of God x2

The Joy of the Lord is my strength, and by His stripes I am healed,

I'm anointed with the oil of gladness and, filled with the power of God

                                                          Copyright Isobel Chapman

The person singing or quoting this chorus is actually confessing God's Word upon themselves. Check this:

'The Joy of the Lord is my strength'  Nehemiah 8:10

'And by His stripes I am healed'  Isaiah 53:5

'I'm anointed with the oil of gladness'   Isaiah 61:3

And filled with the power of God'. Romans 15:13

We need to do this more and more because, we're actually confessing what God is saying about us. If a person is feeling a little depressed and confesses these words, it will be impossible to remain in a depressed state because, the words are 'POWER' they are 'ETERNAL' and they break the chains of satanic power just by confessing them.

As a Christian, The joy of the Lord is your strength; you are healed by the stripes of Jesus; you are anointed with the oil of gladness and, you are filled with the power of God.

But to know this is not enough, you need to digest it and begin to live it and confess it every day. You are an Anointed Person of God - a Special creation made in the image of God Himself. Get up and start confessing it!

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Don't be troubled. Part 2

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled or fearful."                  John 14:27   CSB   

We ended yesterday's reading with the fact that there would be people reading the commentary, suffering trouble and fear. Look at Jesus' words here, He talks of peace - a peace that the world can't give or even understand. This peace is there in the midst of storms and tribulation. It surpasses all knowledge and understanding, guarding the heart and mind in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:7.

Isaiah 26"3 says, 'You will the keep the mind that is dependent on You, in perfect peace for it is trusting in You.' Notice that God keeps our mind in perfect peace for it tests in Him. God wants each one of us to always be dependent on Him - we trust and depend on none but Jesus. Also notice, that as we do, He keeps us in perfect peace, which is shalom, shalom. This is a Hebrew method of putting great emphasis on a word. It includes health, happiness, well-being and peace. It's a wholeness that some people call, 'Nothing missing - nothing broken'.

Think about this, Jesus tells us not to worry, not to be troubled and to have no fear. We also see that, as we depend on Him fully, He will keep us in perfect peace. Therefore, if perfect peace includes or health, then this must mean that He wants us to be in good health, So, why aren't we?

Sickness brings us trouble and distress; it also cause us to worry, so if Jesus told us not to do these things, then He must want us well; and this is where our faith kicks in. Have you the faith to refuse sickness in your body? If you say, 'yes', be careful because all kinds of doubt and fear will come on you. The enemy doesn't want you well, so he will cause you to doubt and think, 'If I don't se a doctor about this, I could die.' See a doctor if you need to but, let Jesus have the overall place of authority in this.

Just mull this over, God doesn't waste words. He wouldn't have said these things if He didn't mean them. One thing I know, you may be sick today and you shouldn't be, so, receive your healing in Jesus' name. Amen!

Don't be troubled Part 1

"Don't let you heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me."  

                                                              John 14:1   Christian Standard Bible 

Why do we allow ourselves to become troubled about things? It's understandable when we do, but hasn't Jesus told us not to allow our hearts to be troubled? In fact, Jesus actually says, 'Don't let your hearts be troubled.' There is an emphasis on the ''Don't let'. It means that we ourselves, allow our heart to be troubled. It is we that become all frustrated and confused, frightened and panicky. Take control and don't allow yourself to be this way.

The word.'Troubled', here means to be distressed. From this, we can see how important it is to be in control of ourselves. The disciples on the boat that night, met a storm and were distressed and scared. Whereas in reality they should have taken control and prayed against this fear. Admittedly, it is not easy to do this. I can hear the familiar, 'that's easier said than done', and its normal to feel this way. But we are not normal are we? We belong to Jesus and, He is in control of what is normal. We are not abnormal though, not at all, we have the power of God within us - that Dunamis power, and this is very much, not normal.

There comes a time in our walk, when we have to believe what we cannot see. Let me explain:

'So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal'.  2 Corinthians 4:18

We cannot see faith but, it is there. We cannot see electricity but put your finger inside a socket and, you'll soon discover it is there, ok? We are of the unseen. We live by faith and when we do, we are looking at the unseen which will be seen. Bartimaeus, couldn't see, he was blind, but when he believed Jesus for his sight, he saw. He looked and believed in the unseen.

And we must do this. There are many people today, some possibly reading this, who are in trouble (distressed). They may be in need of healing and are tempted to feel afraid. Others may be in debt or have lots of frightening issues. Jesus said, 'Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. Why don't you do that right now and then watch Jesus move at your request.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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The Unexpected

"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring - what your life will be."  James 4:14   CSB 

The unexpected can hit us when we are totally unaware of it. It may be in the form of good news or bad. Therefore, we need to make the best of what we have got, and appreciation is the key!

It is so easy to take things for granted, expecting things to take place without even thinking about it. Married couples can be prone to do this. Maybe, they have been together so long the things are just expected to happen when they happen. The shock comes when they don't, because the one we were expecting to do a particular thing has been taken, or left home. 

Appreciation needs to rule high in a person's life. We need to consider: 'Have I taken things for granted?' 'Do I expect my spouse or significant other, to do this without me having to ask?' Do I appreciate what I have got - what God has given me or, do I take it all for granted?'

In our relationship with God, it is so easy to get into a situation where we expect God to do things for us, just because He told us: 'If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it' John 14:14. Don't get me wrong, God wants us to live expectantly but, this doesn't mean that it is all taken for granted. When we ask, we need to expect Him to do things with appreciation and thanksgiving in our hearts. We read in Philippians 4:6:

'Don't worry about anything but, in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.'

Paul tacked on to this verse, possibly the most important part 'Thanksgiving'. Actually, 'thanksgiving' is a key part of praise and worship. We are so grateful for what He has done, and will do for us, that we can't stop the appreciation.

Don't forget, the unexpected can visit at anytime. This may be in a positive or negative manner. Just be appreciative for what you have, for what God has done and what He will do in the future

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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God has a great plan for you

"For I know the plans I have for you - this is the LORD'S declaration - plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."   Jeremiah 29:11    CSB 

We read it often but, do we really believe 100% that God has plans to bless us in our lives? His intention is to bless us as we seek Him with all we have got and, we will find Him when we do this. The very reason that we get up each morning is to fulfil His purpose. As we spend time with Jesus in our quiet times, we begin to realise how special and committed to us He is. He has some great plans for us and although it may have been a bumpy ride for some up to now, it will get better.

This scripture was written to God's people who were in exile in Babylon. Jeremiah wrote to them, letting them know that if they will seek God with all of their hearts, they will find Him. He will show them that they are not, a forgotten people but, people who have a hope and a future. This praise was made to them in the midst of a great pagan culture.

This is also meant for us; we live in a pagan culture. All around us there are many non-believing people worshipping nature with many gods involved. This is why we need to stand out in the crowd; possibly unlike these people, we have a certain hope which, if we walk closely to God, He will fulfil in our lives. He has a bright future for us, our well-being is in His hands.

Do you realise that God has placed you where you are for a reason? You are part of His plan. You may have an idea what God wants for you but, things may be preventing your progress. Think for a moment, if you can't change what you feel needs changing, then perhaps God has allowed it so, find a way to prosper in it - find a way to make it work, find a way to work with it instead of beating your head against a wall in frustration. This may be the way forward.

Remember, He is in charge, let Him show you the way, instead of vice-versa. He really does know best!

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

        

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

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