Be in control of your thoughts

".. bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."  

                                                                               2 Corinthians 10:3-6  NKJV

It is imperative that we are in control of our thoughts. The devil wars against us and, this area is one of his main lines of attack. If he can get you thinking about the wrong type of things, he's happy.

In this day of incredible technology, temptation is unlimited. Porn is readily available 24/7 and the temptation can be so great that some, may find they are unable to avoid it because it has become an addiction. On most media platforms, we receive invitations to join sex groups. The offer of sexual activity is available if a person wants this.

Gambling sites tempt a person to become rich in a moment. They may offer teasing free go's so that the temptation to continue becomes greater. Many people fall into this trap ending up with large debts that they are unable to pay. Our children may be subjected to suicide sites, as highlighted in the news recently. What can be more evil that tempting a young person to end their lives?

Once a seed is sown into our thought life, it can be very difficult to avoid it. It can nag away until the temptation becomes so great, that sin is activated. Adultery is a big temptation. There appears to be a low level of values in our society today with feelings such as, 'It's ok, let's have some fun'. But the devil is a liar and the fun can soon turn into heartache, once found out.

Extreme discipline needs to be a part of our lives. This is why the Apostle Paul gave us this scripture. Read the four verses above and you'll see his remedy into dealing with our thoughts. We know when a bad thought enters our mind - we know it is temptation. Therefore, this is the time to put an end to it by calling upon Jesus and giving Him the thoughts so that He can help. This is taking the thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

This is serious business and one in which we need to be on guard. The devil is sly and crafty and, if you're not careful, he can trick you into falling for it. Don't even give him the chance!

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Receive the Peace of God

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  

                                                                                Philippians 4:6-7    NKJV 

The Greek translation for anxiety describes, being pulled in different directions. Our hope pulls us one way and fear, the other. A person is literally pulled apart when anxiety takes up residence. This is why we feel like our life is falling apart. The Old English root for worry, means to strangle. When we worry or become anxious, it can feel like we are being strangled by the negative affects it causes, such as, headaches, neck pains, ulcers, back pains or even worse. It also affects our thinking, digestion, sleep pattern and co-ordination. When worry and anxiety attack, we need to cast this over to God; not just the big things but the little things too, before they too, become big things.

The action we should take is prayer and supplication. Supplication means to pray humbly and earnestly about the things that are troubling you. But don't forget to thank God in advance and afterwards for His help. Before, by faith knowing we can trust him to deliver and, afterwards for doing this. We should never take Him for granted. As we do this, He gives us His peace - more greater than any peace you could ever find. This helps to guard our hearts and minds.

The heart and the mind can be problematic in situations such as this. We become hurt very easily and can allow this hurt to take over our thinking. We can become angry, depressed or totally deflated. Mind games can begin telling us all sorts of lies and before too long, everything becomes worse.

If you need the peace of God right now, pray these two verses out aloud, personalising them and allow the Holy Spirit to begin His healing work within you. Jesus doesn't want you unhappy and scared; He wants you happy and victorious, even while you are going through the troubles. Remember, He was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego in that very hot oven and they were all fine. He is with you and will carry you through this, unscathed.

Receive the peace of God.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Outrageous Grace

"Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more."                                       Romans 5:20   NKJV

Through Adam's disobedience, sin abounded rendering everyone sinful. When the law was introduced by Moses, this sin became evident and was impossible to conquer. But, where this sin abounded, God's grace abounded much more. I like the New Living Translation of this verse:

'God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant.'

The more we see our own sinfulness, the more we see God's abounding grace forgiving us. It's outrageous! However, this doesn't give us licence to go out and deliberately sin because we know God will forgive us. What it does mean is that when we do fall and commit sin, as we confess this, God, through Jesus Christ, has provided us with a free pardon.

Proverbs 21:3 says: The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just, than when we offer Him sacrifices' (NLT). Therefore, God wants us to do the right thing - to live each day for Him rather than becoming involved in religious sacrifices. Do you realise that Jesus doesn't want you going to every meeting there is, rather than staying home and spending personal time with Him. Church meetings are very important, it is true but, not at the risk of leaving Jesus out because we feel we must go here, there and everywhere. That is religion.

There is so much that God wants to tell you. He wants to spend every moment with you. Yes, we have work commitments etc, but we can involve Him in these. Doing this helps us to focus on Him instead of allowing the things of the world to bring temptation and distraction. His love is outrageous and His grace is outrageous too. People may be hostile to you but show them outrageous grace; people may rip you off, but again show them grace. This may sound outrageous in itself, but God is outrageous to each one of us with His grace., so it is good to be outrageous.

There's too much fear, hostility and hate in our world today, but as much as it depends on you, show people this outrageous grace

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Do you display fruit or leaves?

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."                                John 15:5    NKJV 

If we cut a branch off a tree or large bush, that is the end of it. It has been separated from the main tree - life, and therefore, there is nothing left to hang on to, it is dead, it can do nothing on its own.

It's the same with our Christian lives. If we leave Jesus out of our every day life, we are not going to go very far, successfully. Trying to do things on our own - whatever it is, is a recipe for things to go wrong. The difference between us and the unbeliever is, we have given all we have to Him; we are no longer in charge, Jesus is. Therefore, to say we know best is probably not a good idea because the fact is, we don't, we just think we do.

At times, we are too proud to ask for help and keep trying to do something that we know deep down, we are not qualified for. God may put someone into our thoughts that can help. The thing is, do we ask for this help? To not do so, is pride. We then carry on and make a complete bodge of things and wonder why?

A branch on a large bush can look healthy; it has a nice display of leaves and looks fruitful. However looks can be deceiving, it may look healthy with an abundance of leaves but, that is all it has, leaves and no fruit. This is a branch that needs cutting back. Take a look at Jesus' example in Matthew 21:18-22. He came across a Fig Tree displaying an abundance of leaves but, there was no figs on it; it was a deception.

May I ask, how do you display yourself to people? Do they see an abundance of fruit that speaks to them, encourages them and draws them to you; or do they just see an abundance of leaves, with little or no fruit?

God does not look at the outward appearance but, what is actually there - the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He knows what is fruit and what is leaves. If you want a healthy display of fruit in your spiritual walk, spend more time with Jesus.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Don't wander in the darkness

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."   Isaiah 41:10   NKJV 

This scripture is very similar to what God spoke to Joshua when he took over the helm after Moses had died:

'No man shall be able to stand before you, all the days of your life, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you'  Joshua 1:5.

When God gives us scriptures such as these, we know for a fact that He does not want His children to fear 'For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind'  2 Timothy 1:7,

Notice what He says in our text today and Joshua 1:5 - 'Fear not, for I am with you' and 'as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not leave you nor forsake you.' He is with us, it may not seem like it at times but, He is and whatever we are going through right now, He is beside us.

Our text could almost be interpreted as, 'I'm on your side, I have your back.' And this is so true. If you have a trip to the hospital for test results, He is at your side, supporting you. If you have something to do that you have been dreading, He is also there beside you. Don't be dismayed or discouraged, He is your God. If He can create the world and everything in it, then He is able to help you.

The old song, 'When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don't be afraid of the dark', contains words of encouragement. God says in Isaiah 42:16, 'I will make darkness light before them.' It may seem like darkness has surrounded you and is ready to swallow you up. But, as you talk to Jesus, He turns the darkness into light. This is how you can hold your head up high. Fear is not a part of a Child of God.

In the darkness, it is so easy to trip up and fall into deep trouble. However, be of good cheer, you are a Child of the Light and whatever you are facing today, Jesus will face it with you. So, don't wander in the darkness

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Walk by the Faith God has given you

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seem"     

                                                                                 Hebrews 11:1   NKJV 

Fear is Satan's weapon to paralyse us; faith is God's weapon to mobilise us. Total opposites, in fact, the devil will always endeavour to promote what is opposite to God's Word. This is why RT Kendall says, 'Imagine what the devil would want you to do, then do the opposite.' RT goes on to say that this approach is one of the best ways to know the will of God. For instance, the devil does not want you to pray and read the bible. So, what do you do? Yep, you pray and read your bible. This way you have victory.

We need to develop our faith. It is the proof of what is not seen. To exercise faith is to have confidence about something happening without any visible evidence that it will happen. All the way through the bible you will find men and women just like us, who did extraordinary things by having faith in God. Take for example Peter and John at the Gate Beautiful (Acts 3:1-8). A lame man was begging and Peter said to him, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk' v6. And he did. The man was totally healed. Peter exercised his faith. He was no different to us, in fact, a few weeks earlier he had blatantly denied that he had anything to do with Jesus, to save his own skin. Yet, when he repented and spent time with Jesus later on, he was changed.

You may think, that was in bible times; that would never happen now. But it does, all over the world people are being healed and some, raised from the dead. Probably the difference is, we would never dream of doing this when a beggar approached us in town for some money. And, if we did, think of it, we would probably be too afraid or embarrassed to try it. This is why it doesn't happen.

If we want to see miracles happen, then we must develop and gain the confidence in Jesus that we could do this. 'It may not work', you may say. But it might, if you have the faith to try it. The time in this world is gradually coming to a close. Many believe we are living in the End Times. Therefore, we need to become mobilised with Jesus' weapon of faith. Don't forget that, 'without faith, it is impossible to please Him' (Hebrews 11:6) So, walk by the faith God has given you.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

        

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There's hope, don't give up

"Because of the LORD'S faithful love, we do not perish, for His mercies never end. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."   Lamentations 3:22-23  CSB

As each day closes, another one begins - a new beginning. Yesterday may have been full of woe, bad feeling and disappointment. But, today, given the chance, may be a better day; and God promises to share it with you.

It is so important to store scripture into your memory bank for when you need it. Verse 21 reads, 'Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope.' Thinking back to when God lifted you out of the miry clay, can be helpful. It gives hope, and hope is what you need in desperate times - biblical hope. It will carry you through these rough times.

Spurgeon said, 'If every day brings its trouble, every day also brings its mercy. No one can say that so truly as the person who has known what it is to prove God's great faithfulness in the midst of affliction.'

Bad times come but good times tend to follow. The sun may go down but, it will return, the same way as when the tide goes out, it will rush back in again. Samson was weak when his hair was cut, but when his hair began to grow back, so did his strength. You may cut your grass very short but, in such a short time it will grow back to its original length. In the same way, things may be a little difficult at this time but, joy and peace will return.

You may be walking through a storm right now. Life may have dealt you a bad hand and it hurts. God knows all about this and longs for you to allow Him to bring comfort and restoration once again. As rough seas eventually calm down, rough times do not always remain.

This is where your hope in God comes in. Psalm 42:5 tells us:

'Put your hope in God, for I will still Praise Him'

Notice the word 'Still.' The Psalmist was saying, 'No matter what is happening in my life at this time, I will still praise Him. He is still on the throne.'  (My paraphrase)

He is still on the throne - the throne of your life, if you keep Him there. Just gently praise His name and allow Him to wipe the tears away. There's hope, don't give up.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

        

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

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