Category: Uncategorized

A Life of a Leader

One who leads in the ways of God will lead others in righteousness and the Bible says that they will shine like the stars in the heavens. This person will be called brilliant because of the insight that the Lord gives to them.

Daniel 12:3 Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

A true leader is a servant and the true model for leadership is a servant leader. This is different than in the world where leaders will lord it over others.

Matthew 23:11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

This kind of leader will be considered great, not only in God’s eyes but also in the eyes of men.

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

This leader will speak forever because they will listen to the truth. Notice it does not say the one who speaks the truth will speak forever but the one who listens to the truth. The Bible says that what you listen to is what you will talk about.

Proverbs 21:28 A false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

The Bible says that what you listen to is what you will talk about. You can tell what a person listens to by what he or she talks about. If you really want to know where a person’s heart is then listen to them talk, not only to you but listen to their conversations when you are in a group with them. Many a young man will become for a moment what you want in order to win your heart but the change will not last if that is not who they really are.

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.

This is one of the reasons why the Lord says to watch over what goes into your heart.

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

The only way that you will know the truth is if you know the One who is the Truth. His words are truth and He wants you to know His words.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The Bible is the only source of truth. To the degree that you know the Bible will be to the degree that you know the truth.

II Samuel 7:28 Now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

Finally, who you are is what those who follow you will become. What you get excited about is what they will get excited about. If you don’t get excited about the things of the Lord then don’t expect anyone else to get excited about them.

Luke 6:40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

A Life as An Ambassador

The Lord wants you to be His spokesman and represent Him to the world.

Jeremiah 15:19-21 Therefore, thus says the Lord,
“If you return, then I will restore you—
Before Me you will stand;
And if you extract the precious from the worthless,
You will become My spokesman.
They for their part may turn to you,
But as for you, you must not turn to them.
“Then I will make you to this people
A fortified wall of bronze;
And though they fight against you,
They will not prevail over you;
For I am with you to save you
And deliver you,” declares the Lord.
“So I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,
And I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.”

When you turn to Him, He will restore you and use you. You will be able to stand before Him. The precious that is extracted in others is the image of God that is restored in all people who receive Him as their Lord and Savior. The Bible says the heart of the wicked is worth little and yet the Lord says that He wants to see them saved.

II Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

The Lord has sent you into the world. He has entrusted the message of salvation to us which is the Good News of the Gospel. He has made you to be His ambassador.

John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

 

The Lord has made it clear to us in His Word that He requires a life of faith and faithfulness of those who belong to Him. He has given each one of general commands and specific commands. We are all commanded to fulfill the Great Commission and to go and share the Gospel and make disciples. How blessed you will be if you are faithful.

Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

.You will have to give an answer to Him who sent you. How blessed you will be if you have the right answers. The only way you will have the right answers is if you know His Word and do what He says in His Word.

Proverbs 22:17-21 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.
So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I have taught you today, even you.
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
To make you know the truth of the words of truth
That you may correctly answer to him who sent you?

If you are faithful to represent Him to a lost and dying world then you will stand before Him when He returns.

Luke 21:36 But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

You will not shrink back in shame if you live by faith and have been found faithful.

Hebrews 10:38,39 And,“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

A Life with Love as a Choice

The Lord gave Adam a job to do, which was to cultivate and keep the garden. Adam was the first gardener and he tended the food source for the animals and humans. There was no death or food chain in the world at this time since all of the animals ate green plants. Man and animals lived in harmony. There were also no weeds in the garden so that Adam’s work was a delight and it was good.

Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. Genesis 2:15

The Lord gave everything to man to enjoy but the Lord set a boundary for man and that was that he could eat from any tree but the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.

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.” Genesis 2:16,17

There can not be love without a choice and the Lord was giving Adam the opportunity to choose Him and to live securely in His love. The Lord only had good plans for Adam and if Adam would choose the Lord and do exactly as the Lord instructed him then Adam would live in harmony with the Lord and everything around him. When God made Adam in His image then He made Adam upright but gave Adam the freedom of choice. Love is a choice. Adam had a choice whether to love God or not to love God. He could choose the Lord and follow His commands and instructions or Adam could go his own way.

Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices. Ecclesiastes 7:29

The Lord still gives people the choice to love Him or not to love Him. All through history men and women have been given that choice. Those who choose to love the Lord will also choose life and those who do not choose the Lord choose death.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; Deuteronomy 30:19,20a

We all must make the choice whether or not we will love the Lord and choose to follow Him or whether we will follow after our own desires and make our own choices.

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

The Lord knows our needs today just as he knew Adam’s needs and desires. The Lord loves you and He wants you love Him and choose Him so that you may live.

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

The Lord loves you. If you want to love the Lord and choose Him then you need to call on Him so that you might have the good life that He intended for you from the beginning of the world.

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. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

Love is a choice. The Lord does not force anyone to love, follow and obey Him.

A Life with Love as The Plan

Love is God’s plan and love was God’s plan from the beginning. God’s design was for Adam and Eve to be in a loving relationship with Him and His plan was for them to live together in a loving, harmonious relationship forever. Forever in love with Him and forever in love with each other. God is love and He made the first humans in His image.

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27

God blessed Adam and Eve. God made them both to rule. They were to be one and rule together in harmony with each other and in submission and fellowship with God.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

The Lord God blessed them and gave them instruction what to do. They were to multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. They were to rule over every living creature. In His goodness the Lord provided food for Adam and Eve and food for all of the animals. All that the Lord did in creation was very good. There was nothing to add to it and nothing to take from it.

God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:28-31

All that God does is good because He is good. His ways are perfect and we can never add to them or take from them to make them better.

I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

God is love and His plan from the beginning was that man would experience and live in His love.

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. I John 4:8

Often people want to know where they came from and what is their purpose in life. Humans are so intricately made that only One of infinite wisdom and power could have created them. God created man and woman to be in a loving relationship with Him. People will find their meaning in life when they fulfill the purpose for which they were created. God loves people and longs to be gracious to them and have compassion on them. How blessed are those people who long for Him.

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

A Life of Peace and Great Peace

There is peace that can be received and there is also great peace that is available to any who desires it. Peace is the opposite of worry and fear. Everyone longs for peace in their lives, homes, marriages, relationships, neighborhoods and nation. Peace must first come to a person in their relationship with God before any lasting peace can come in other areas. The Bible says that everyone believes in God when they are born but it is man’s fallen nature to turn away from God either intentionally or unintentionally wander away from their Creator. A person can not experience lasting peace with others until they are at peace with God.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

Jesus Christ is the only One who can give us peace with God. A person can receive His peace when they put their trust in Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior and believe that He died for their sins and that He was raised from the dead and is alive today. Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God and He intercedes for all who have put their trust in Him. When a person trusts in Jesus Christ then He replaces their worries, troubles and fears with His peace. It is an eternal peace from God that no one can take away nor is it a temporal peace as the world tries to give.

To guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:79b

Not only did Jesus Christ come to give us peace but He also came to guide us in the way of peace with others.

When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7

The Lord teaches His ways, which are so wonderful and different from our ways, that when we live by His ways then not only our families and neighbors but even our enemies will be at peace with us.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7

The Lord is so good to His children and He knows that at times we will start to feel anxious and so in His kindness He has given a provision for anxiety, and that provision is prayer. If a Christian is anxious then they need to take their anxieties and fears to the Lord in prayer with also an expression of thanksgiving, for God is in control of everything. The Lord promises to give His peace to the one who prays to Him about everything. A child of God can go through anything if they have His peace and it is available to all who will call on Him.

Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:165

Just as prayer, communicating with God, gives a person peace, there is also a great peace available for the person who loves God’s Word and loves listening to God communicate to them through His Word. The Lord speaks to His children through His Law, which is His Word.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8,9

Finally…if you are anxious, troubled or fearful then learn to dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good reputation, excellent and is worthy of praise. As you dwell on these things then you will be much less anxious. You must not watch or read what is wicked and evil, scary or fleshly, which only bring about more terrifying thoughts but discipline your mind and heart to focus on Jesus Christ and to abide in His Word. This will help to keep yourself wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. It is the knowledge of God that brings peace and it is the knowledge of evil that brings turmoil with its anxieties and fears.

but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. Romans 16:19b

God is a God pf peace and He wants His children to live in peace, free of worry and fears. Come to Him and let Him teach you His ways so that may learn to live in His love and truth. The outcome will be a life of peace.

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20,21

A Life that Has a Refuge

A refuge is a safe place. We all need a refuge. The Lord has a refuge for the Christian lady where she will always be safe. It is very important for a young lady to understand this truth. The Bible says that the Lord keeps us and the devil can not touch us.

I John 5:18 He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

If a young Christian lady is any danger it is very important that she runs to the Lord. She must speak the name of Jesus Christ in her situation. People have to block out God in order to do evil.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

Pour out your heart to the Lord. He will come to you. Seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

He will be a shield to all who take refuge in Him. Don’t go where you should not go but if you find yourself being attacked in your thought life or by the accusations of others then go to the Lord and call on His name. He will help you and be a shield for you to extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. If you are in physical danger He will be a shield for you. Nothing can touch you unless it first comes through Him.

Psalm 37:40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him.

He is a very present help in trouble.

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

There are many verses in the Bible about the Lord being a refuge for the Christian. However, unless we believe them they do not help us.

Hebrews 4:2 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.

If we take His Word and believe what He says then we will possess His promises. They will become ours and we will have faith, hope and courage.

Hebrews 6:18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

The book of Hebrews was written to the Christians whose homes had been taken from them and they had to flee Rome during the times of the early church. They were able to persevere under very trying circumstances only because they put their hope in Him.

James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

We are not to shrink back in the day of trial but we are to take refuge in Him and persevere so that we shall not be ashamed. It is the little trials that prepare us for the bigger trials. The Lord is a present help in time of trouble but you must call on Him.

Hebrews 10:37-39 For yet in a very little while,
He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
But My righteous one shall live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Faith is taking refuge in Him and believing what He says is true. When our faith is strong then our courage is strong and we are able to persevere. Discouragement means that we have lost our courage. The Lord says to be strong and courageous. He is coming again and His reward is with Him and for all who were faithful.

 

A Life that Understands the Need to Be Wise

Understand the Source of Wisdom

The Bible says that if a person is wise then they will experience the wonderful and sweet fruit of wisdom, which is love, purity, peace, gentleness, mercy, knowledge, honor, riches and life. However, if a person is not wise then they will experience the bitter fruit of not being wise, which is a broken heart, jealousy, envy, much grief, regret, guilt, shame, loneliness, bitterness, ignorance, a hard life, dishonor and death. There is nothing that can compare to wisdom. Wisdom gives life to life and keeps a person from experiencing the snares of death. Wisdom is available to all and whoever finds it loves his own soul. He who does not find wisdom neglects himself and brings grief to himself. Wisdom is more valuable than riches, honor, and power, for without wisdom all of these other things can destroy a person. A person may gain the whole world but without wisdom then he will never be satisfied and will only want more. Wisdom is a gift that comes from God. A person who is not a Christian can read God’s Word, which is the Bible, and receive knowledge but not wisdom. Wisdom is the illumination of knowledge to know what to do for a desired good result. Many people want wisdom without God but wisdom only comes from God. A nonChristian can only have knowledge and knowledge usually makes arrogant. It is when we humble ourselves before God that He will give us wisdom. Wisdom is necessary for true success. The success of the world will ultimately destroy a person if he does not get wisdom. It is only the Lord that gives riches, honor, power, etc. without sorrow.

Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her. Proverbs 3:13-18

Understand that Wisdom Is the Instruction for Life

Wisdom belongs to the Lord, who is the author of life. Wisdom is how to live life right so that you will be successful and experience great joy and gladness. Wisdom is protection from pain and wisdom is instruction on how to gain what is good. Most people ultimately learn wisdom from either experiencing the pain that comes from not doing wisdom or they experience the happiness that comes from doing wisdom. Wisdom is how to do life right. We recognize when life is done right but often we do not know how to do it for ourselves. We can see if someone has a good marriage but often we don’t know what to do to have a good marriage. We can see if another’s children are excelling in life but often we struggle with getting our child to do well. Wisdom is not elusive to the one who seeks God. The one who does not seek the Lord will not ever find wisdom. He may find knowledge but he will not receive wisdom. He will only know the pain in his heart of not doing wisdom. Wisdom belongs to the Lord and He gives it to those who know Him. The knowledge of God is understanding and the one who has understanding will also have wisdom.

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But in the heart of fools it is made known. Proverbs 14:33

If you will only ask the Lord for wisdom then He will give it to you. It is one of the few promises that the Lord gives to all, to whoever will ask Him for wisdom, that He will give it and give it generously. The Lord wants to help you. The Lord loves you. He is waiting for us to come to Him. If you are struggling in an area then go to Him and ask Him for wisdom.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Get wisdom. Humble yourself before the Lord and acknowledge Jesus Christ as the source of true wisdom. You will be glad. Scoffing is turning our back on the Lord and on His ways. When we act according to our understanding or the bad counsel of others then we are the ones who suffer. God does not delight in your pain but He delights in the one who comes to Him, even if it is to avoid pain. Taste and see that the Lord is good. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repent of following our own thoughts and wanting to go our own ways. He loves you and His ways are good and kind.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it. Proverbs 9:12

A Life that is Revived

Sometimes it feels like “life” has been drained from us rather than feeling like our life is overflowing. How can our life be revived? How can we live life to the fullest rather than living a life that is drained and feeling weary emotionally and physically. Depression and anxiety weighs a person down and drains them of the little energy that they feel that they have. When one is depressed then everything in life seems difficult. Anxiety can also paralyze a person and that brings on further depression and stresses. How can a person live life without being “distressed” or “stressed out” or “depressed” or “down in their spirit”? How does a person become revived and strong again on the inside?

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

The first step to living life to the fullest is to know that there is One who cares. There is One who is compassionate and cares about everything that we are going through. There is One who is full of compassion, meaning that He does not merely feel sorry for us, for compassion is mercy in action. Compassion is willing and wanting to relieve a person of their sorrow and troubles and acting on that desire by doing what is necessary. Jesus Christ felt compassion for people because they either did not have a Shepherd or they were living as if they did not have a Shepherd in their lives.

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd and the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. If you want to truly live life to the fullest then you must have Jesus Christ as your Good Shepherd. If you are a Christian already, then the Lord wants you to follow your Good Shepherd. When a person has Jesus Christ as their Good Shepherd, then they will not continually be stressed out, anxious or depressed.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; John 10:27

How does the Good Shepherd revive His sheep? Every person who is a Christian will probably feel a need for revival at some time in their Christian life. How is a person revived?

My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word. Psalm 119:25

Revival comes through hearing God’s Word. This is how the Shepherd speaks to His sheep. His sheep hear His voice through His Words. The person wanting revival must spend time in God’s Word. God’s Word is the Bible. Even the angels obey the voice of His Word so how much more should His sheep, so that they may follow and obey Him.

Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word! Psalm 103:20

Not only will you be revived but you will be comforted through His Word.

This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me. Psalm 119:50

It is the one who comes to Jesus Christ who is revived. When you draw near to God then He will draw near to you. As you spend time in His Word then pray and pour out your heart to Him. He loves it when you pray to Him and He will hear your prayer. The prayer of the humble is His delight. Humility is acknowledging our need for Him.

I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. Psalm 119:107

Do not turn to other things for revival and comfort in your troubles and depression. It is easy to be tempted by other “fixes” but they do not fix your problems but often mask the symptoms and cause the problems and struggles to be ultimately greater. Other “fixes” are vanity, meaning that they are empty and can not permanently help. The Lord is the only One who is greater than your troubles and He can and wants to help the one who will come to Him. Turn your eyes to Him.

Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways. Psalm 119:37

The Lord will revive you according to His promises. Seek the Lord and you will be glad. He will bring you out of your troubles. He will revive you.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; Psalm 138:7a

Ask the Lord to be your Shepherd. The Lord invites all who will come to Him to be one of His sheep. He takes care of His own. He is the Good Shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

A Life with a New Start

There are many people in the world who would give anything to start life all over and do life differently. The older you get the more you realize that many of the decisions you made were not good. We can either learn truth from respecting and acknowledging the truth and benefit from it or we can continue on in our own ways and suffer from our ignorance of the truth. When we learn truth the hard way then it is called pain. We are not the better person because of the pain that we went through but we are a better person when we learn truth. How much better life is when we learn wisdom and truth before we make poor decisions that will ultimately bring us much pain and grief. Whenever we respond to a lie or deception then our response will be wrong every time. Every decision that we make in life is either a response to the truth or a response to a lie. When we respond to a lie or deception then the outcome is pain. How often has someone said, “I was so deceived” or “I should never have made that decision”.

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 16:25

When we respond to truth then the outcome is peace, contentment and much happiness. When we know the truth then we will be able to identify the lies when they come along. The lies that say that if you do this or that then you will be happy. There are many lies that communicate a deception of happiness but the end is death to the soul, which is the heart of your emotions and happiness. It is in your own heart that you will know and feel the pain of any foolish decisions. Foolish decisions bring depression, anxiety and grief to the heart of the person who has made them.

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But in the hearts of fools it is made known. Proverbs 14:33

A person does not have to go through life learning the hard way. There is a way that gives happiness without the pain of death to the soul. There is One who will teach you the truth and guide you into making decisions based on what is good and what is right. There is One who can give you a truly wonderful life, for He is life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

Jesus Christ came to give, whoever will come to Him, an abundant life. He came to take away our pain. He came to give us a new start. He came to save us and teach us His way which leads to a good life. He came to take away the bad and to give us the good. He came to forgive us of all of the bad decisions that we have done. He did not come to judge us but to save us. He came to love us.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16-17

This love and this life is available to any who will come to Jesus Christ and who will call on Him to become their Lord and Savior. He will not turn away anyone who comes to Him. He accepts all, no matter how many bad decisions they have made. He forgives all.

for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

If you have never come to Jesus Christ then there is no better time to come to Him than now. He will forgive your past and give you a new start in life. He will make you a new person. He will forgive all of your sins: past, present and future and you will become His child. You will find rest for your soul and find the peace and contentment that you long for in this life. You will also receive eternal life for in the life to come.

“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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

When you come to Him then ask Him to be your Lord and Savoir and He will receive you into His family. When you receive Him into your life then you will become His child. You will belong to Him forever.

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. John 1:12,13

This is what it means to be born again into the family of God. You will live forever in His love and will want to love Jesus Christ the rest of your life, for you will experience what it means to become a new person in Christ and to have all of your sins wiped away…for now and for all eternity. You will begin to experience life in a new way.

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

Jesus Christ came to give us an abundant life. This gift is available to all people of all nations. God shows no partiality. His love is for all. If you have never experienced God’s love in a personal way then today can be the day of your salvation and the day that you begin to live an eternal and abundant life through knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You will not be disappointed.

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. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:9-11

A Life that is Transformed

As all of us grow older we understand the truth that our outer person is decaying. We may think that we can prolong it but our bodies will one day wear out. However, if our inner person has life, though we may die on the outside, the inside of us will be renewed and become stronger and be refreshed for it will never decay.

II Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man  is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

If we follow the instructions the Lord has given to us then we will soar like an eagle on the inside and we will gain new strength. We will run and not get tired and we will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Our youth will be renewed like the eagle. A Christian is the only one whose youth is renewed though he grows older. It is our endless dissatisfaction in life and seeking after things that will never satisfy that saps us of our strength and makes us feel old before our time. Let the Lord satisfy your years with good things and let Him fulfill you.

Psalm 103:5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

As our inner person is being renewed it is also being transformed, or at least, it should be in the process of being changed. If you are a Christian then His blueprint for you is that you will become conformed to the image of Christ. He made us in His image and that is His design for each of us.

I John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

He conforms us into the image of Christ by transforming us through His Word. His blood washes our conscience clean and then He renews our mind so that we will act in accordance to His will.

Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The Lord wants to transform you through His Word.

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.

However, if you neglect getting in His Word then He will often bring people alongside you who will share His Word with you. This is the Lord trying to speak to you. They are not as gentle as His Spirit but none the less, they are His instruments for your good.

I Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

If, however, you still resist His Spirit then He will discipline you if you are His child. Now, the Lord says that discipline can be painful but it is for your good. It is because you were not obedient earlier to what He had shown you. The purpose of discipline is to bring you back to Him and get you back on track so that you can become like Him and experience His plan for your life.

Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

The Lord has a plan for your life but to fully experience that plan you must stay in His will and continually be transformed into the image of Christ. He speaks to us in three different ways. First of all, He wants to speak to you through His Spirit and His Word. If you do not listen then often He will speak to you through people. If you still do not listen then He will speak to you through circumstances. If you hate unnecessary pain then stay in His Word and when He speaks to you listen. This is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ kept saying when He was on earth, “He who has ears to hear, let Him hear”.

Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”’

Do you need healing? Do you have areas that need changing? Let Him heal you so that you might be whole again. Let Him change you. His changes are lasting and they are not “turning over a new leaf” by trying harder. He makes you like Christ. Beloved, one day you will be like Him. Do not lose heart.