Category: #changed

A Life with Faith

All of us have faith but it is not our faith that helps us or saves us but it is the object of our faith. Some people have faith in themselves and some people have faith in others or institutions or even objects. Faith is trust and it is within us to trust something or someone. However, if what we have put our trust or faith in is not trustworthy and faithful then it will produce fear within us.

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

I Corinthians 4:2

Trust is the opposite of fear. Trust gives us security and fear removes security and gives insecurity. If we sat in a chair and did not have trust that it would hold us up then we would be fearful of falling and hurting ourself. If we marry someone but we can’t trust their faithfulness in the marriage then we will feel insecure. Insecurity brings on jealousy and stress that will eventually destroy us. We will also be tempted to do all sorts of things to try to give ourselves the security which we long for but will be impossible to obtain if the person or object of our trust is untrustworthy or unfaithful. True faith allows one to rest in the one he trusts in.

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. Hebrews 6:18

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who is trustworthy for He can not lie. He proved His love by dying on the cross for the world, for you and for me. There is no one beyond His love. He offers forgiveness and eternal life to all. However, we must believe what He said. Faith is an act of the will and we must have faith in His Word. Feelings follow faith. We do not live by feelings but we live according to the decisions that we make with our will by faith.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The only promises that God makes that will help us and save us are the ones that we believe.

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. Hebrews 4:2

The Bible says that the righteous shall live by faith. Trust in the Lord and in His Word is what pleases the Lord God. We try to please God by being “good”, which we can never be good enough. It is trusting in His goodness, His faithfulness and in His Word that pleases Him, The Lord wants us to seek Him, not seek to be “good”, for we will always fail in being “good enough” for God. Our “good” will never be able to outweigh the “bad” which we have done for we have all sinned.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

Eternal salvation is eternal life and is a free gift from God, that can never be earned. It is from God and it is received by faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Eternal life and salvation begins the moment that one puts their faith in the Lord and receives Him as the only Savior and Lord. There is salvation in no one else. Nothing else can be trusted in. Everything will eventually fail us.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Are you in trouble? Are you struggling? Do you want to live forever in God’s love? Do you long for forgiveness? Do you realize that you can never be “good enough” for God and that your “good works” can never outweigh your “bad deeds”? Come to Him.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11: 28, 29

Jesus Christ invites us to come to Him. He longs to show us His love. He longs to wrap His love around us. He longs for give us rest.

Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. Isaiah 30:18

He loves you and came for you and He is asking you to come to Him. He wants you to receive His gift of love, which is present salvation and eternal salvation. His love is a gift and is a decision that is made in faith. You will not be disappointed. This is the promise He makes to you but you must believe and trust in His Word.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:11

The following is a simple explanation of how to receive God’s gift of love and forgiveness in and through Jesus Christ:

A: Acknowledge that you have messed up and can never be “good enough” and that you need a Savior and Lord. “for all have sinned” Romans 3:23

B; Believe in what Jesus Christ did on the cross to save you. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” I Peter 3:18. Believe that He died, was buried and rose again. He is alive today and will become the Savior of those who put their trust in Him the moment they choose to believe in Him to be their personal Lord and Savior.

C: Confess Jesus Christ as Lord of all and Lord of your life. “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9,10

Prayer is talking to God, through Jesus Christ. A simple prayer that can be prayed to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior is:

Dear God, I need you. I have failed in my actions, my thoughts and my life. I can never be perfect. Will you please forgive me of all of my failures and forgive me for never being “good enough” to please you. Thank you for your love in sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for me to forgive me of all of my failure and offering eternal life. By faith, I receive the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ and what He did for me. Thank you for giving me eternal life and for the privilege of becoming your child. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray this prayer, Amen

If you prayed this prayer: The moment you receive Jesus Christ you become God’s child. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” John 1:12. Your sins are forgiven and you have been transferred into God’s kingdom and rescued from Satan’s kingdom. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13,14. You also become the recipient of God’s great love. “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” I John 3:1a. You have eternal life. “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:11-13

If you prayed this prayer of receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then by faith, pray and thank Him for each of these things that He has done for you.

Start reading your Bible and do what He tells you to do so that you will learn to live in His love for you. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” I John 5:3

If you would like a free Bible then please email us at: reply@instructionstoayounglife.com

A Life that Abides in God

If you really want to soar in life then you must learn to abide in the Lord and let His Words abide in you. This is the way of the victorious Christian life. There are no shortcuts and once you learn to abide in Him then you will want nothing else than to live in His presence.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

We can do nothing apart from Him and when we learn to abide in Him then we realize that He is the One who does the work while we rest in His power, faithfulness and love. Our striving to be fruitful is futile apart from abiding in Him.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

This is a very simple truth. Abide means to live in. Your abode is where your home is. When you abide in the Lord then you make your home in His Word and His Words make their home in you. When you talk about His Words it will be as easy as telling someone about the things in your home. Since you see them everyday they are not strange objects to you so, in the same way the Lord’s Word will become as familiar to you as the objects in your home. When you share His Word with others then you will feel right at home and you will forget your fears and shyness. It will become the joy of your heart.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.

You will find that as you abide in the and before the Lord then lovingkindness and truth will preserve you forever.

Psalm 61:7 He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.

You will also see that you have an incredible promise of answered prayers when you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you.

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

You may wonder how do you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you. Begin by putting His Words in your heart and having them live there. At first it may seem hard but it is as simple as eating food. It is a skill that you learn how to do and then you will find yourself doing it often just as you eat food on a regular basis. Memorize the Words of Scripture so that they stay in your heart and then think about and pray over them. This will become almost second nature to you and will bring you much joy and strength as you learn to rely on His Words rather than your own understanding. Then do what His Word says to do. As you learn to follow His instruction through His Word then you will abide in His love.

John 15:9-11 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

As you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you and then you keep His commandments then you will abide in His love and your joy will be made full. Your cup will truly overflow. There is nothing in all this world as sweet as living in His love and it being a reality in your life. Your life will be an abundant life, overflowing and filled with much joy. This is the life that He came to give you.

John 10:10b I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

 

 

A Life with His Thoughts

The Bible says that as “a man thinks within himself so he is”. One of the keys to doing what is right is to have the right thoughts.

Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

The Lord tells us to watch over our heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life. What is in your heart will come out in your words and actions.

Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

The heart is deceitful above all else. If we want to know what is in our hearts then listen to what we talk about for our conversation reflects our heart and attitudes.

Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

The Lord’s thoughts are the only thoughts that are good. Since we have a fallen nature we can not do good apart from God. He is good and we must have His thoughts within us so that we will do good.

Isaiah 55:8,9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

God’s thoughts are expressed in His Words which are in the Bible. When we put His thoughts in our hearts then His Words and thoughts will be expressed through our lives. We will sin less and less and obey more and more as we learn to live according to His Words as they are treasured in our hearts.

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Do you want to see the Lord? Do you want to know Him and walk with Him? Do you want to do good? Learn to put His Word in your heart and you will see your life transformed and others will see Christ in you. Your life will be changed through His thoughts and words.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

You will see that the Lord is truly amazing and that there is none to compare with Him.

 

A Life that Has Light

God is light and He is the source of all light. He is the only One who can shine in our hearts. He literally turns the light on. We are living in darkness until He comes and shines in our hearts.

II Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

He is light and has come into the world to give us light. His life is the light and when He lives within us then we become the light of the world. We have no light within us other than the light and life of Christ. Just as the moon has no light but shines in the darkness because it reflects the light of the sun. We reflect the light of Jesus Christ.

John 1:4,5 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Jesus Christ is the true light. He is the One who enlightens every man. Only those who recognize and receive Him receive the light. The rest of the world is still living in the darkness.

John 1:9-13 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

When we follow Him then we will have the Light of life. We no longer have to walk in darkness. We are no longer dependent on the “experts” who say man evolved or that man controls the climate.

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Jesus Christ was in the beginning and He made the world and all that is in it. He sets the boundaries of the sea and not man. The world was made through Him.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

He made the world by His Word and the world was made out of things that are not visible.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

The Lord has told us to let our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works and glorify the Lord. The Lord is glorified because the good works are what He has planned beforehand that we should walk in them. He has a plan for everyone and works for each person to do. When you follow Him then you will walk in the good works that He has designed just for you.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Are you walking in His good works? You will know when you are doing His will because you will be filled with great joy. Our life on earth is a taste of either heaven or hell. If we know the Lord then we will taste of His goodness and one day we will see Him face to face and our joy will be made full. If we are not a Christian then our life will be filled with frustration, defeat, guilt, aimlessness, emptiness and darkness. He came to give us life and His life is the light of men.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Don’t let the devil steal your happiness, kill your joy and destroy your life. Come to the Lord and receive the life that He came to give you. Receive Jesus Christ into your life and you will have not only light but life.

John 1:12,13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

You receive Jesus Christ into your life by asking Him to come in and make you the person that He designed you to be. He is knocking on the door of your heart.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

 

 

 

A Life that is Changed

Most people want change in their lives and even permanent changes. We can try harder but often that leaves us feeling even more defeated. If we are honest with ourselves then all of us feel a need for there to be some changes in our life. All of us have failed in some way. The Bible affirms that truth that we feel within ourselves.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Sin is basically we have fallen short of what we should be in God’s eye.We have missed the mark of what we should be. If we had perfect parents and a perfect environment we would still mess up.

Genesis 2:7-9 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Adam and Eve had a perfect Father and a perfect environment and yet they still chose to go their own way. Sin is us going our own way and doing our own thing. Sin is not doing what the Lord has commanded for us because…we really want to do something else.

Genesis 2:15-17 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.

We can not change ourselves because of our sin nature. We sin because we are sinners. We were not made that way but we became that way due to our going astray from what we were told to do. We thought that something else was better.

Genesis 3:1-4 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!

Our sin began by doubting and questioning God. Satan is the source of this doubting of God. These doubts may come through your thought life or someone else, such as, “if God were good He would not allow…” or “it really does not mean that” or “God will understand, you have no other choice”. If you do this…”surely you will not die!”. But God says that when we sin we have violated ourselves and something within us is changed. The word violate means “to change”. The more we sin the more we are changed but it is not a good change. It is a change away from the image of God. There is only one hope for us to be changed back into God’s image. God’s image is good, acceptable and perfect. The change does not happen over night but it begins in one instant and that is when Jesus Christ comes to live within our hearts. He begins to change us from the inside out.

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

We literally become a new person on the inside because the Lord gives us a new heart.

Ezekiel 11:19,20 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

The Lord gives you a new start in life and this time He says that He will live through you and change you into His image. He only takes away the bad and makes you into the person that He has created you to be.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Are there changes to be made in your life? Let Him change you and transform your life into the beautiful person He created you to be. When He made you, He said, “It is good.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

We can try to lower the standard but when we fall short of that standard then we feel even more of a failure, whether it is in our personal discipline, relationships, responsibilities, goals or resolutions. We long for acceptance with ourselves, others and God.

A Life that Abides in God

If you really want to soar in life then you must learn to abide in the Lord and let His Words abide in you. This is the way of the victorious Christian life. There are no shortcuts and once you learn to abide in Him then you will want nothing else than to live in His presence.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

We can do nothing apart from Him and when we learn to abide in Him then we realize that He is the One who does the work while we rest in His power, faithfulness and love. Our striving to be fruitful is futile apart from abiding in Him.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

This is a very simple truth. Abide means to live in. Your abode is where your home is. When you abide in the Lord then you make your home in His Word and His Words make their home in you. When you talk about His Words it will be as easy as telling someone about the things in your home. Since you see them everyday they are not strange objects to you so, in the same way the Lord’s Word will become as familiar to you as the objects in your home. When you share His Word with others then you will feel right at home and you will forget your fears and shyness. It will become the joy of your heart.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.

You will find that as you abide in the and before the Lord then lovingkindness and truth will preserve you forever.

Psalm 61:7 He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.

You will also see that you have an incredible promise of answered prayers when you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you.

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

You may wonder how do you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you. Begin by putting His Words in your heart and having them live there. At first it may seem hard but it is as simple as eating food. It is a skill that you learn how to do and then you will find yourself doing it often just as you eat food on a regular basis. Memorize the Words of Scripture so that they stay in your heart and then think about and pray over them. This will become almost second nature to you and will bring you much joy and strength as you learn to rely on His Words rather than your own understanding. Then do what His Word says to do. As you learn to follow His instruction through His Word then you will abide in His love.

John 15:9-11 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

As you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you and then you keep His commandments then you will abide in His love and your joy will be made full. Your cup will truly overflow. There is nothing in all this world as sweet as living in His love and it being a reality in your life. Your life will be an abundant life, overflowing and filled with much joy. This is the life that He came to give you.

John 10:10b I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

 

 

A Life with His Thoughts

The Bible says that as “a man thinks within himself so he is”. One of the keys to doing what is right is to have the right thoughts.

Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

The Lord tells us to watch over our heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life. What is in your heart will come out in your words and actions.

Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

The heart is deceitful above all else. If we want to know what is in our hearts then listen to what we talk about for our conversation reflects our heart and attitudes.

Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

The Lord’s thoughts are the only thoughts that are good. Since we have a fallen nature we can not do good apart from God. He is good and we must have His thoughts within us so that we will do good.

Isaiah 55:8,9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

God’s thoughts are expressed in His Words which are in the Bible. When we put His thoughts in our hearts then His Words and thoughts will be expressed through our lives. We will sin less and less and obey more and more as we learn to live according to His Words as they are treasured in our hearts.

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Do you want to see the Lord? Do you want to know Him and walk with Him? Do you want to do good? Learn to put His Word in your heart and you will see your life transformed and others will see Christ in you. Your life will be changed through His thoughts and words.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

You will see that the Lord is truly amazing and that there is none to compare with Him.

 

A Life that Has Light

God is light and He is the source of all light. He is the only One who can shine in our hearts. He literally turns the light on. We are living in darkness until He comes and shines in our hearts.

II Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

He is light and has come into the world to give us light. His life is the light and when He lives within us then we become the light of the world. We have no light within us other than the light and life of Christ. Just as the moon has no light but shines in the darkness because it reflects the light of the sun. We reflect the light of Jesus Christ.

John 1:4,5 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Jesus Christ is the true light. He is the One who enlightens every man. Only those who recognize and receive Him receive the light. The rest of the world is still living in the darkness.

John 1:9-13 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

When we follow Him then we will have the Light of life. We no longer have to walk in darkness. We are no longer dependent on the “experts” who say man evolved or that man controls the climate.

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Jesus Christ was in the beginning and He made the world and all that is in it. He sets the boundaries of the sea and not man. The world was made through Him.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

He made the world by His Word and the world was made out of things that are not visible.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

The Lord has told us to let our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works and glorify the Lord. The Lord is glorified because the good works are what He has planned beforehand that we should walk in them. He has a plan for everyone and works for each person to do. When you follow Him then you will walk in the good works that He has designed just for you.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Are you walking in His good works? You will know when you are doing His will because you will be filled with great joy. Our life on earth is a taste of either heaven or hell. If we know the Lord then we will taste of His goodness and one day we will see Him face to face and our joy will be made full. If we are not a Christian then our life will be filled with frustration, defeat, guilt, aimlessness, emptiness and darkness. He came to give us life and His life is the light of men.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Don’t let the devil steal your happiness, kill your joy and destroy your life. Come to the Lord and receive the life that He came to give you. Receive Jesus Christ into your life and you will have not only light but life.

John 1:12,13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

You receive Jesus Christ into your life by asking Him to come in and make you the person that He designed you to be. He is knocking on the door of your heart.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

 

 

 

A Life that is Changed

Most people want change in their lives and even permanent changes. We can try harder but often that leaves us feeling even more defeated. If we are honest with ourselves then all of us feel a need for there to be some changes in our life. All of us have failed in some way. The Bible affirms that truth that we feel within ourselves.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Sin is basically we have fallen short of what we should be in God’s eye.We have missed the mark of what we should be. If we had perfect parents and a perfect environment we would still mess up.

Genesis 2:7-9 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Adam and Eve had a perfect Father and a perfect environment and yet they still chose to go their own way. Sin is us going our own way and doing our own thing. Sin is not doing what the Lord has commanded for us because…we really want to do something else.

Genesis 2:15-17 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.

We can not change ourselves because of our sin nature. We sin because we are sinners. We were not made that way but we became that way due to our going astray from what we were told to do. We thought that something else was better.

Genesis 3:1-4 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!

Our sin began by doubting and questioning God. Satan is the source of this doubting of God. These doubts may come through your thought life or someone else, such as, “if God were good He would not allow…” or “it really does not mean that” or “God will understand, you have no other choice”. If you do this…”surely you will not die!”. But God says that when we sin we have violated ourselves and something within us is changed. The word violate means “to change”. The more we sin the more we are changed but it is not a good change. It is a change away from the image of God. There is only one hope for us to be changed back into God’s image. God’s image is good, acceptable and perfect. The change does not happen over night but it begins in one instant and that is when Jesus Christ comes to live within our hearts. He begins to change us from the inside out.

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

We literally become a new person on the inside because the Lord gives us a new heart.

Ezekiel 11:19,20 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

The Lord gives you a new start in life and this time He says that He will live through you and change you into His image. He only takes away the bad and makes you into the person that He has created you to be.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Are there changes to be made in your life? Let Him change you and transform your life into the beautiful person He created you to be. When He made you, He said, “It is good.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

We can try to lower the standard but when we fall short of that standard then we feel even more of a failure, whether it is in our personal discipline, relationships, responsibilities, goals or resolutions. We long for acceptance with ourselves, others and God.

A Life that Abides in God

If you really want to soar in life then you must learn to abide in the Lord and let His Words abide in you. This is the way of the victorious Christian life. There are no shortcuts and once you learn to abide in Him then you will want nothing else than to live in His presence.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

We can do nothing apart from Him and when we learn to abide in Him then we realize that He is the One who does the work while we rest in His power, faithfulness and love. Our striving to be fruitful is futile apart from abiding in Him.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

This is a very simple truth. Abide means to live in. Your abode is where your home is. When you abide in the Lord then you make your home in His Word and His Words make their home in you. When you talk about His Words it will be as easy as telling someone about the things in your home. Since you see them everyday they are not strange objects to you so, in the same way the Lord’s Word will become as familiar to you as the objects in your home. When you share His Word with others then you will feel right at home and you will forget your fears and shyness. It will become the joy of your heart.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.

You will find that as you abide in the and before the Lord then lovingkindness and truth will preserve you forever.

Psalm 61:7 He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.

You will also see that you have an incredible promise of answered prayers when you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you.

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

You may wonder how do you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you. Begin by putting His Words in your heart and having them live there. At first it may seem hard but it is as simple as eating food. It is a skill that you learn how to do and then you will find yourself doing it often just as you eat food on a regular basis. Memorize the Words of Scripture so that they stay in your heart and then think about and pray over them. This will become almost second nature to you and will bring you much joy and strength as you learn to rely on His Words rather than your own understanding. Then do what His Word says to do. As you learn to follow His instruction through His Word then you will abide in His love.

John 15:9-11 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

As you learn to abide in Him and His Words abide in you and then you keep His commandments then you will abide in His love and your joy will be made full. Your cup will truly overflow. There is nothing in all this world as sweet as living in His love and it being a reality in your life. Your life will be an abundant life, overflowing and filled with much joy. This is the life that He came to give you.

John 10:10b I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.