A Morning Of Hope

In Uncertain Times Christ's Death and Resurrection Offer Comfort and Hope

David was called a man after God’s own heart. He knew God and saw amazing miracles in his life. Notice what David did. He set the tone for his whole day by spending time with the Lord in the morning.  

It didn’t matter what was going on in his life, David had his priorities set. Even though he was mistreated by his family, manipulated, made fun of, hunted down by King Saul, and even made some major mistakes of his own, David realised that each morning held the promise of new hope. 

Today, if you’ll make spending time with God a priority in your life, you will see Him move mightily on your behalf. Make it a habit to seek Him first every single day no matter what. Set the tone for your day and set your course for victory! 

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, NIV) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I choose to put You first in everything that I do. Father, I choose to set the tone for my day by starting it with You. God, please draw me close to You, and empower me by Your Spirit to fulfill the dreams and destiny that You have placed within me. Each morning Lord, I live in hope of blessings, miracles and joy, in Christ’ name! Amen. 

A Special Place

Don't put fullstop where God has placed a comma in your life

Do you and God have a special place? A place where you meet with Him and He you. It may or may not be physical. God’s special place for you is where you are most content and fulfilled in Him. It may not be a place where you experience prosperity, good health, good emotions, good relationships, or perfect finances. It could be that place where you run to when things are not right. 

In Scripture we find a good example in the life of Elijah. In 1 Kings 17:3, God told the prophet Elijah, “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.” Elijah went to the place where God directed him so his physical, spiritual and emotional needs could be met. It was quite peaceful and in the presence of God. 

Today, be like Elijah who obeyed God and went to that special place of alone time with God, and all his needs were met. If Elijah had decided not to obey God and do things his own way instead, he may not have been in a place to receive God’s blessings. Today, God is calling you to that quiet place to spend time with Him. You will be blessed when you are convinced that God wants to meet all your needs, and you decide to follow Him. 

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for loving me and for giving me a place where I can meet with You physically, spiritually and emotionally, so that I can be recharged, fulfilled and blessed. God, give me the wisdom and patience to know where to go to find the special quiet place of Your blessing. In Christ’s Name! Amen. 

Christianity Isn’t Just About The Weekends

The Key to Breaking Habitual Sin

On a daily basis, there are things that come against us and distract us, and attempt to pull us away from Christ. That’s why every day we have to make the choice to follow Him. Sometimes it’s easy to think, “well, I go to church regularly,” or “I read my Bible.” The Christian life isn’t about how we live on the weekends, it’s how we live every single day. Are you spending time with God daily? Are you reaching out and putting others first? Are you sowing seeds to help those in need? 

Today, if you know you need to make some adjustments in your daily walk with God, the good news is that you can start right now. Simply turn to Him and make the commitment to follow Him moment by moment. Let Him direct your steps and follow that inner prompting of the Holy Spirit. Make the choice every day to follow God’s will, and watch what He will do on your behalf! 

“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23, NIV) 

Let’s Pray  

Yahweh, thank You for another day to serve and follow You. Father, search my heart and mind right now, and remove anything that would keep me from You. God, make me Your disciple, not just on the weekend but daily. I commit to set my mind on You daily, following Your steps and Your will, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

5 Ways To Stay Faithful In Your Faith

Nowadays, it’s easy to forget about our faith, since our busy lives and the negativity have taken over, with people dying, many wrongdoings, and sin being evident everywhere we look. Plus, it’s hard to tell who are friends are, especially when someone whom we’re supposed to trust doesn’t really feel accountable for anything”¦ or anyone. Even when people make promises, they either don’t keep them, or they forget about them.

As you can tell by now, sin is detrimental to one’s life; and, it stops us from being that God has created us to be. Just because we don’t have faith-based friends or careers, doesn’t mean that we, ourselves, can’t be faith-based. So, here are five basic tips on how to stay faithful in your faith:

1. Remember That God Is Your Friend

“There’s no denying that God is a friend to those who believe in Him,” says Thomas Gettysburg, a lifestyle writer at Next Coursework. “As Christians, it’s important to spend time with God as often as possible, just as you would with your regular friends.”

You can welcome God as your friend by doing the following:

· Attend church each weekend. (This is just one of the things that Jesus has asked of all his disciples.)

· Speak to God, and listen for Him every morning and every night. Offering yourself to God each day and night allows you to be closer to Him.

· Volunteer to help others (e.g. helping out in soup kitchens, offering your services to homeless shelters, etc.). In this way, you’ll not only help others, but also help yourself know and love God more.

· Go to confession at least once a month. Sacramental reconciliation allows you to “begin again,” to restore and strengthen your friendship with God.

· Seek counsel from someone trustworthy (e.g. a good priest or well-informed lay person) that you can talk you whenever needed.

2. Call Up A Friend

In today’s world, most people can’t live without their cell phones for more than .003 seconds away at any given moment of the day. So, why not make some good use with your phone by calling up a friend, and checking in with them.

You may want to have someone you trust on speed dial, so you could have them on the phone within seconds. Just keep in mind: don’t vent to them if you don’t want to; you can always start a conversation about something else, in order to take your mind off the negative. And

ultimately, God knows about your personal woes; so, give up all the negativity for Him to take care of.

3. Keep Your Rosary Handy

There’s nothing wrong with carrying a rosary with your in your pocket (or in your bag or purse). Or, you can wrap your rosary around your wrist; though, don’t make it seem like a fashion accessory, rather than a scared tool. Wear it (or carry it) as a constant reminder of Mary saying “yes” to God even when times are tough. Let your rosary encourage you to say “yes” to God, even when it seems impossible. And finally, don’t be afraid to pray with it, either.

4. Remember Your “Alternatives”

Let’s face it: temptation is where. So, if you’re not with accountable people, have an alternative activity that is your “go to.” Train yourself to avoid sin.

The best way to avoid sin is to use your gifts and talents the right way. For example, if you’re an athlete, you must make it your job to keep training and exercising to stay active. Another example is that if you have an interest or hobby, find an alternative way to do these things, so that you can use your gifts to glorify God, not sin against Him with.

5. Surround Yourself With Inspiration

Looking for inspiration from your faith? Why not have visuals inspire you?

One way to do this is to change the background on your cell phone and computer to show an inspiring Scripture verse, or even a picture of Jesus. Basic? Yes. However, this will remind you of your commitment to Christ each time you might be tempted to use your devices to sin.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the key to staying faithful in your faith is to commit to being faithful, and not straying from the path. As you stay on the path with these 5 simple tips, not only will you grow in holiness, but you’ll also grow with God.

Michael Dehoyos writes for Dissertation writing service and Write my assignment. He also contributes to numerous publications, such as Origin Writings. As a content marketer, he helps companies improve their marketing strategies.

Sleepy-Head!

Jesus Christ as a Project Leader

“How long will you lie there, O sluggard?   When will you rise from your sleep?”   (Proverbs 6:9).   Remember, the same God who “gives to His beloved in sleep” also created the rooster!   It’s time to rise and shine for the Lord!   He has work for you to do!

You city-folks, don’t forget to turn-on and turn-up your “mechanical” and “electronic roosters (i.e. alarm clocks)!   What’s your version of cock-a-doodle-do?

See you bright and early tomorrow morning!   It’s going to be a wonderful day – God wants to speak to us, and listen to us, before we’re on our way!

 

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