Played: 1 | Download | Duration: 00:03:01

Your Mission - Winning The Lost - Part 1

Therefore go and make [THEM MY] disciples …
Matthew 28:19

We each have different gifts, but God has given us all the same mission: "Go make [them My] disciples" That's the great commission, not the great suggestion! And it's not just for pastors and missionaries, it's for you! And it's mandatory, binding and urgent. Listen: "you must warn them so they may live. If you don't they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible" (Ezekiel 3:18 ). 'But I'm not good with words', you say. So what? If you can interview for a job, apply for a loan, or propose to your husband or wife, surely you can say something on behalf of Christ. Can you imagine having a cure for cancer and keeping it to yourself? Sharing the greatest news is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone. One problem long-term Christians have is - they forget how hopeless it felt to be without Christ. Another problem is - they mix so much with church people that they forget how to communicate with non-church people. No matter how contented or successful the people around you appear to be, without Christ they're empty and lost, eternally lost! You are the only Christian somebody knows; there are people that only you can reach because of where you live and what God has made you to be. If just one person is in heaven because of God working through you, your life will have made a difference. So, start looking around at your personal mission field and begin to pray, 'God, who have You put in my life today who needs to know about Jesus?'

Prayer
Father in Heaven, Help me to serve and to share your mercy and compassion with others and when they ask why to always point to and share about you. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Played: 38 | Download | Duration: 00:03:10

You Can't Afford It!

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life"
Luke 18:18

The rich young ruler was educated and respected. He'd already achieved the three Ps of success: power, prosperity and posterity. He was a bottom-line guy who cut to the chase and asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life" Even the way he worded the question suggests that he thought he could get eternal life the way he'd gotten everything else in life, by self-effort. So when Jesus replied, "sell all that you possess - he became very sad; for he was extremely rich" (Luke 18:22-23). He'd mistakenly assumed that heaven was just a payment away. But it's not! Paul says, "What the law was powerless to do, God did by sending His own Son" (Romans 8:3 ). Only a cold-hearted God would sell salvation to those who can afford it! That's a hard concept to grasp, since we've always been rewarded for our performance. But just as you wouldn't impress the space-shuttle crew with your paper airplane, or you wouldn't show your crayon sketches to Picasso, so your character and good works don't qualify you for heaven. Eternal life costs more than you can afford. That's why you need a Redeemer! Money wasn't this man's problem, self-sufficiency was. It wasn't his big income, it was his big ego! And it's not just the wealthy that have difficulty grasping this; so do the educated, the strong, the good-looking, the popular, even the religious. To receive salvation you must first declare that you're spiritually bankrupt; that your cupboard is bare, your reputation worthless, and your options gone. You can't approach God demanding justice - you can only come pleading mercy. So come to Him today!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, with you I bring nothing to the table when it comes to my eternal destiny. I come to your feet asking for Mercy and Compassion because of your Son Jesus the Christ. Please give me that eternity with you I so desire but cannot achieve on my own. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Played: 34 | Download | Duration: 00:03:03

Knowing What's In You

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20

There are words in your Bible that have so much life and power in them that they're stronger than any therapy. God can give you a Word that goes back into your past and heals your yesterday, secures your today, and anchors your tomorrow. That's why Satan clutters your life with so much junk that you don"t have time for God"s Word. He knows it will unmask him and reveal the "God" potential that's lying dormant within you. Before Jeremiah rose to prominence as a prophet God told him: a) "before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5). Your parents didn't get the first look at you, God did. Nothing about you surprises Him. In spite of what you've been through, He hasn't changed His mind about who you are or what you're destined to become. b) "before you were born I set you apart" (Jeremiah 1:5). Stop looking for acceptance in places where you don't belong! You're on a mission from God. That's why the enemy has tried so hard to take you out. Once you understand that, your struggles will begin to make sense. Only as you read God's Word will you begin to sense the awesome, mind-renewing, thirst-quenching, life-changing potential that was deposited within you from before the foundation of the world. Listen: "Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20). So, start tapping into that power today!

Prayer
Father – it is in your Word that I find out about myself and about my maker – you. I know that you had plans for me before I ever saw the first light of day.  Shape, mold and use me today for your plans and purposes.  In Your Precious Name, Amen

Played: 26 | Download | Duration: 00:02:25

What Are You Passionate About?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23

Are you passionate about your relationship with the Lord, your life, your family, your future? I pray that you are. But if your zest for life has been drained, it may now be time to redirect your efforts and recharge your spiritual batteries. And that means refocusing your priorities by putting God first.

Each day is an opportunity to serve God and to do His will. Are you enthused about life, or do you struggle through each day giving barely a thought to God’s blessings? Be assured today that God loves you very much. He sent His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins and to rise again victorious over sin, death and the evil one. He has called you by name to be His and He has blessed you with gifts and abilities to passionately serve Him whether at home, school, work, or church.

Your relationship with Jesus Christ must never be an afterthought; it must be your ultimate priority, your ultimate possession, and your ultimate passion. When you become passionate about your relationship with Jesus Christ, you’ll become passionate about your life, too.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You have called me not to a life of mediocrity, but to a life of passion. Today, help me to be an enthusiastic follower of Jesus Christ. Empower me to be passionate about my relationship with Jesus Christ and bold as I share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen

Played: 32 | Download | Duration: 00:02:53

Courage to be Courageous

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

Every life (including yours) is an unfolding series of events: some wonderful, some not-so-wonderful, and some downright disheartening. When you reach the mountaintops of life, trusting God is easy. But, when the storm clouds form overhead, your faith will be tested, sometimes to the breaking point. As a developing disciple of Jesus Christ, you can take comfort in this fact: Wherever you find yourself, whether at the top of the mountain or the depths of the valley, God is there, and because He cares for you, you can live courageously.

Christians have every reason to be courageous. After all, the ultimate battle has already been fought and won on the cross at Calvary. But, even devoted followers of Christ may find their courage tested by the unavoidable disappointments and tragedies that occur in the lives of believers and non-believers alike.

The next time you find your courage tested to the limit, remember that God is as near as your next breath, and remember that He is your shield and your strength; He is your protector and your deliverer. Call upon Him in your hour of need and then be comforted. Whatever your challenge, whatever your trouble, God can handle it. And He will.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, At times, this world is a fearful place. I fear for myself, my family and friends. Yet You have promised me that You are always with me. With You as my protector, comforter and guide I will not afraid. Today, Lord, empower me to live courageously as I place my trust in You. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen

Played: 41 | Download | Duration: 00:02:58

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 4 of 4

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:18

If your sense of self-worth is based on anything other than God's approval, you won't serve with the right motives. True servants accept jobs that insecure people consider "beneath them'. Remember Jesus washing the feet of His disciples? Could you do that? Insecure people always worry about how they appear. They hide their weaknesses beneath layers of protective pride. The more insecure you are, the more you need people to serve you, and the more you work for their acceptance. Henri Nouwen says, "In order to be of service to others, we have to die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring our meaning and value by the yardstick of others, thus we become free to be compassionate." Your service should not be based on the response of those you're serving, but on obedience to God alone. True servants don't need to cover their walls with plaques or insist on lofty titles. Paul writes, 'You may boast about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval" (2 Corinthians 10:18). If anybody had a chance to "name-drop" it was James the half-brother of Jesus. What credentials, growing up with Jesus as your brother! Yet he simply referred to himself as "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1). Your service to Christ shouldn't be an obligation or a job, it should be a joy. Listen: "Serve the Lord with gladness" (Psalm 100:2). Can you imagine what would happen if even 10 percent of us got serious about our role as true servants?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me focus on you and others and their needs more than on mine. I trust you for my needs; use me to be you to others who are in need. In Your Precious Name, Amen

Played: 45 | Download | Duration: 00:02:59

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 3 of 4

We will not compare ourselves to others.
Galatians 5:26

True servants concentrate on their God-given assignment - not on what somebody else is doing! Competition between God's servants is illogical: we're all on the same team. Our goal is to make God look good, not ourselves. Listen: "we will not compare ourselves as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do. Each of us is an original" (Galatians 5:26). Grow up! Get over your petty jealousy! When you're busy serving, you don't have time to be critical. When Martha criticized Mary, she lost her servant's heart. True servants don't complain of unfairness, don't have pity-parties and don't resent those not serving in the same way. They just trust God and keep serving. It's not your job to evaluate others. Listen: "Who are you to criticize? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful" (Romans 14:4). God determines who's successful, not you! Nor is it your job to defend yourself against criticism. Let God handle it! Nehemiah's response to his critics is a classic: "My work is too important to stop now and visit you" (Nehemiah 6:3). One of the most beautiful acts of love shown to Jesus was criticized by His own disciples. When Mary took the most valuable thing she owned, expensive perfume, and poured it over Jesus, they called it "a waste" (Matthew 26:8). But Jesus called it "significant" (Matthew 26:10). There's only one opinion that matters - His! Your service for Christ is never wasted, regardless of what others say.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to stay the course and keep focused on serving you by seeing you in the eyes of those in need. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Played: 38 | Download | Duration: 00:02:57

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 2 of 4

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2

When you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, God won’t focus only on spiritual and moral issues; He’ll deal with you also about money. Listen: ‘He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back’’ (Luke 19:13). Then we read: ‘‘he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money to find out what they had gained with it’ (Luke 19:15). It’s wise to have financial goals for your life, but God’s greatest goal for mankind is: ‘This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world’ (Matthew 24:14). ‘How will we do that?’ you ask. By doing what Jesus did – reaching out to those who are in need with the Mercy and Compassion of Christ – and proclaiming in whose name we touch them.  We also proclaim the Kingdom of God through the printed page, Christian broadcasting, local churches, prison ministry, humanitarian relief and the supporting of missionaries. Have you checked the price of a round-trip airfare to Haiti or Africa lately? Your prayer, ‘Lord, meet all my needs’ won’t get the job done! Somebody’s going to have to believe God for more than just their own needs, step out in faith, succeed and say, ‘Lord, Your kingdom is my first concern. I’ll sign the check, You fill in the amount. One day I want to be able to see You face to face and declare, ‘I’ve invested every ounce of energy, every talent, every penny You entrusted to me to fulfill Your purposes on the earth.’’

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me to see that all that is in my possession is not mine buy Thine – to be used for your purpose and not mine. Help me remember that I own Nothing – it is all yours. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Played: 54 | Download | Duration: 00:03:18

Willing To Be A Servant - Part 1 of 4

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Matthew 5:41

Service begins in your mind! Listen: ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant’’ (Philippians 2:5-7). Are you into reputation-building or serving others?  You can’t do both. God is always more interested in your attitude than in your achievements. King Amaziah lost God’s favor because ‘He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a true heart’ (2 Chronicles 25:2). True servants have certain attitudes. For the next few days we’ll examine some of them. True servants focus on others, not themselves! Real humility is not thinking less of yourself - but thinking of yourself less. A lot of what we do is just self-serving. We serve to be admired or to achieve our own goals. Some of what we do is manipulation, not ministry; we’re really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are. We even use serving as a bargaining tool: ‘God, I’ll do this for You, if You’ll do that for me’. True servants don’t use God for their purposes; they let God use them for His. Self-forgetfulness is a daily struggle, a lesson we must relearn over and over again. You can measure your servant’s heart by how you respond when others treat you like a servant! How do you react when you feel taken for granted, bossed around or treated as an inferior? Jesus said, ‘If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life’ (Matthew 5:41).

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me focus on you and others and their needs more than on mine. I trust you for my needs; use me to be you to others who are in need. In Your Precious Name, Amen

Played: 34 | Download | Duration: 00:02:34

Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables."
Acts 6:2

As the New Testament church grew, it became impossible for the Apostles to keep all the plates spinning - it was time to delegate. Listen: "Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them" (Acts 6:3). And what was the result of that decision? a) The problem was solved and the needy were cared for b) the Word of God spread and the number of disciples increased rapidly c) key leaders in the city of Jerusalem were won to Christ. Because of their rapid growth, the Apostles quickly found themselves in the food service business. And evidently they weren't good at it. Strife and division threatened the church because Jewish widows were being given preferential treatment over Greek ones. Only when the Apostles delegated this task to others and got back to what they were called to do did things start to go right. John Maxwell says, "You are most valuable where you add the most value. It's vital to your success that you discover that narrow area of responsibility where you add the most value - and stay there." The Apostles wrote, 'It would not be right for us to wait on tables' (Acts 6:2). Take a moment and consider this question. "What would it 'not be right' for me to continue doing, or start doing?" Either eliminate it or delegate it, but whatever you do, start making the main thing the main thing. Okay?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to keep the main thing that you want me to do to be the main thing. Keep me from being distracted into areas that I am not called to and am not good at. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Played: 31 | Download | Duration: 00:02:45

The Words You Speak

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29

Think about the words that come out of your mouth. Do you realize how important those words are? More important than you may ever realize. Your words have echoes that extend beyond time and space. If your words are encouraging; you can lift others up, motivate them and give them hope. If your words are hurtful; you can frustrate, demoralize and hold others back.

Do you seek to be a source of encouragement to others? And, do you seek to be a worthy ambassador of Christ. If so, you must speak words that build up the body of Christ, words that encourage and give individuals hope. In doing so you must avoid angry outbursts, refrain from impulsive outpourings and terminate tantrums. We live in a world where it is so customary to tear down, to find fault and to belittle each other. But we are called by our Heavenly Father to edify (to build up). Today, speak words of encouragement and hope to your family and friends, who, by the way, most certainly need all the hope and encouragement they can find.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,You have warned me that I will be judged by the words I speak. And, You have commanded me to choose my words carefully so that I might be a source of encouragement and hope to all whom I meet. Keep me mindful, Lord, that I have influence on many people…make me an influence for good. Through Your guidance and wisdom may the words that I speak today glorify You and You alone. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen

Played: 47 | Download | Duration: 00:02:09

Expanding Your Comfort Zone

"Do not fear, only believe."
Mark 5:36

Risk is an expected fact of life. From the moment we get up in the morning until the moment we fall asleep at night, we face a wide array of risks, both great and small. Some risks, of course, should be avoided at all costs - these include risky behavior that drives us farther and farther away from God's will for our lives. Yet other risks, - the kinds of risk that we must take in order to expand our horizons and expand our faith - should be accepted as the expected price we must pay to be fully developing followers of Jesus Christ.

Have you planted yourself firmly inside your own comfort zone? If so, it's time to reconsider the direction and scope of your activities. God has big plans for you, but those plans will most likely require you to expand your comfort zone - or leave it altogether.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I do not want to be reckless, but to be totally committed to Your will and to the work You have called me to do. I know this will involve stepping out of my comfort zone and taking risks. Help me to be faithful, obedient and available to Your Holy Spirit when I need to take sensible risks in service to my family and in service to You. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen

Played: 53 | Download | Duration: 00:03:02

Looking For A Purpose!

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17

Jesus said we'd have problems (John 16:33). Nobody gets a free pass. Solve one problem and another's waiting to take its place. They're not all big, but they're all necessary to your spiritual growth! How do you measure the strength of anything? By testing it! Listen: "don't be shocked that you are going through testing - It will prepare you" (1 Peter 4:12-13). The Psalmist wrote: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18). Your most life-changing experiences will often come during your darkest days - when your heart's broken, you feel abandoned, you're out of options, your pain levels are through the roof - and you turn to God. That's when you learn to pray heart-felt, honest-to-God prayers. When you're in pain you don't have the energy for superficial ones. God could have kept Joseph out of jail, Daniel out of the lions' den, Jeremiah out of the slimy pit and Paul from being shipwrecked, but He didn't. And the result? Every one of them was drawn closer to God - and impacted their world! Our problems force us to look to God and depend on Him, instead of ourselves. This is especially hard on super-achievers like Paul. Listen: "We saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, Who alone could save us" (2 Corinthians 1:9). You'll never know that God's all you need until God's all you've got! So today, place all your needs into His capable, loving hands, and watch what happens.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that any hardship that I go through - there is a reason - and with you it is always a way to make me better and prepare me for what is ahead. Help me trust you in this. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Played: 44 | Download | Duration: 00:02:35

Post-Dated!

"Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them - to the Israelites.
Joshua 1:2

Joshua had already tasted the joys of the Promised Land, but now he had to go back and wait. Why? Because his assignment was post-dated. Certain things had to happen first: 1) Moses had to die! Moses represented the old system. It was good for then, but not for now! When you align yourself with what was, instead of what is, you're not ready yet. You're still looking for approval. There are still too many folks you need to impress. You're so tied up with systems and philosophies that, when God says it's time to move, you have to consult somebody else. In order to reach your destiny, God will give you new instructions, new insights and a new plan for your life. The interesting thing is that the children of Israel mourned Moses' passing, yet they didn't see him die. They had to 'reckon' him dead before they could move forward. Are you getting the idea? 2) Every doubter had to be buried. There were lots of voices around Joshua telling him it couldn't be done, and he had to wait until every one of them died in the wilderness. And every voice of doubt that's holding you back has got to die and be buried too; including the voice of your low self-esteem, your childhood fears, your anxieties, yes, even your critics! Gather them up and put them in a box, bury it, stand on top of it and say, 'Ashes to ashes and dust to dust!' Only when you've taken those two steps are you ready to enter your Promised Land. Think about it!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me take the past and "put it to rest" so that I can move into the land and area you have called me to. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Played: 50 | Download | Duration: 00:02:31

Keep The Fire Lit

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 3:15

Picture this: Joshua's soldiers are down in the valley fighting the Amalekites. Above him, on a hilltop, sits Moses with his hands raised towards heaven. So long as he does, the battle goes their way. But if you've ever tried to hold your hands up for long, you'll know that you quickly grow weary and lower them. The moment Moses did that, the battle went against Israel. So Aaron and Hur moved to his side, held up his arms, and the tide turned again in their favor. Notice, it wasn't Joshua's ability to fight, it was Moses' ability to hold up his arms that won the day. Two men kept one man from fainting, so that an entire nation could be saved. If your pastor's arms drop from exhaustion, God will judge you, not him, because you weren't there to strengthen him. Take a moment and let that sink in! If God's given you a pastor who leads you and feeds you - support him! In the Old Testament tabernacle, the candlesticks had to be kept burning day and night because their light represented God's presence amongst His people. If a candle so much as flickered, designated servants moved in immediately to trim it and restore it to its original glow. It's your responsibility to make sure that the light doesn't flicker in your church or the fire go out in your pulpit. So pray for your pastor every day and be sure to encourage him every chance you get! Over one half of those who enter the ministry leave it within 10 years - because of discouragement! What a challenge to the keepers of the flame!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me be a "Hur" to keep the arms up and the fire lit for the Spiritual Leaders you place over me. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Played: 48 | Download | Duration: 00:02:52

Are You Prepared For The Spotlight?

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
Psalm 127:1

In God's kingdom, center stage isn't for people who think they've 'got it all together' and deserve public recognition. Nor is it limited to those in leadership and public ministry. No, it's a call to action to you, whoever and wherever you are today. When you trust God's timing, He grooms you for bigger and better parts. But there are some things you must (and must not) do: (1) Don't try to make it on your own. Because popular wisdom says, 'Fake it till you make it', you'll be tempted to debut in your own strength. Don't do it! If you do, you'll get in the way of a much greater production. Remember, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1). Trust God and when your moment comes, He'll give you your cue. (2) Leave the shadow. Are you ready to transform 'acting' into an authentic performance that reveals the real you? Fear of rejection is powerful. It takes courage to be yourself. But you gain strength from the struggle and power from the pain when you're willing to risk moving from the shadows into the light. (3) Confront your inner critic. We're all subject to that little voice which says, 'You'll never be smart enough, loving enough, pretty enough, good enough to stand in the spotlight.' Confront your inner critic with God's Word! And always remember, when God raises you up, nobody can put you down!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me be the servant leader you wish me to be. Help me to step up with the assurance that it is you who works with, in, through and also in spite of me! Help me to stay focused on you and take the stage! In Jesus' Name, Amen

Played: 38 | Download | Duration: 00:02:35

When Your Moment Comes

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23:12

When the moment comes for you to stride confidently into the spotlight and fulfill your God-given role, try to remember that there’s no room for self-importance and pretence. This moment calls for: (a) stripping away all the lesser roles you’ve acted out and settled for; (b) discovering who you are and what you’re really all about (c) depending totally on God to help you give the most authentic performance of your life. Remember Rosa Parks, the black woman who refused to surrender her seat and move to the back of the bus? There was more at stake than just a ride home from work. By simply being herself, Rosa Parks suddenly moved to centre stage. She wasn’t playing games. She was the real thing, and God shone a light on her soul that day that made history. That’s how it works: when His light shines on your efforts, little becomes much. Now, since God’s the only One who knows when your time will come, you must be prepared. ‘How do I do that’? you ask. Listen: ‘Be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s hand is on you; He’ll promote you at the right time’ (1 Peter 5:6 TM). Allow the Holy Spirit to be your agent and advance-man. Don’t get ahead of Him. Just be faithful, and then when the time’s right, He’ll shine His spotlight on the next stage, and assign you an even bigger role!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, grant me patience as you position me for the next position you want me to fill, according to your heavenly plan.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Played: 32 | Download | Duration: 00:02:20

The Marathon

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Do you desire to know God and live a life that is pleasing to Him? If so, I want you to remember that life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon that calls for commitment, preparation, determination and lots of perseverance. Are you one of those people who doesn’t give up easily, or are you quick to bail out when the going gets tough? If you’ve developed the unfortunate habit of giving up at the first sign of trouble, it’s probably time for you to have a heart-to-heart talk with the person you see every time you look in the mirror.

Jesus finished what He began, and so should you. Despite His suffering, despite the shame of the cross, Jesus was steadfast in His faithfulness to God. You, too, are to remain faithful, obedient and available to the Spirit of God. Do you desire to build a closer relationship with God? Then don’t give up. And if you’re facing a difficult situation, remember this: whatever your problem, God can handle it. Your job is to keep preserving until He does.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, when I want to give up, help me remember how important it is to keep my eyes focused on You. And when I’m worried or upset, help me remember the promises of Your Word. You are my strength and shelter in whom I can trust. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen

Played: 38 | Download | Duration: 00:02:48

Time With God

Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8

God is trying to get His message through ... to you! Are you listening? Perhaps, on occasion, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the press of everyday life. Perhaps you may forget to slow yourself down long enough to talk with God. Instead of turning your thoughts and prayer to Him, you may rely upon your own resources. Instead of asking God for guidance, you may depend only upon your own limited wisdom.  A far better course of action is this: simply stop what you’re doing long enough to open your heart to God; then listen carefully for His directions.

Jesus made it clear to His disciples; they should petition God to meet their needs. So should we. A genuine, heartfelt prayer produces powerful changes in us and in our world. When we lift our hearts to God, we open ourselves to a never-ending source of divine wisdom and infinite love.

Are you in need? Ask God to sustain you. Are you troubled? Take your worries to Him in prayer. Are you weary? Seek God’s strength. In all things great and small, seek God’s wisdom and His grace. He hears your prayers, and He will answer. All you do is ask.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, today I lift my hopes and my dreams, my worries and my fears to You. Empower me by your Holy Spirit to be a worthy example to family and friends, showing them the importance and the power of prayer. Help me to take everything to You in prayer and when I do, help me to trust in Your answers. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen

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Only You!

Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.'
Exodus 33:12

When actors and actresses audition for a part, the director conducts what are known as 'call-backs'. At that point either the performer gets the part or it goes to somebody else. You know you've 'got it made', when the director offers you the part without even auditioning for it. Well, God doesn't need to do auditions and call-backs. That's because He's already designed a role just for you. Nobody else could possibly fill it or meet the requirements. You're a 'designer original' with a PhD in being yourself! Even if others were to study you endlessly, they still couldn't be you. When God says, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with Me', it means He's already chosen you for a particular role. So be careful about responding to any other call except the one that comes from Him, because good ideas aren't necessarily God ideas! Since God designed you with all the built-in qualifications you'll ever need, you don't have to compromise your convictions, pull strings, drop names or do special favors. The part is yours because you were born for it! That also means you need never be jealous of or intimidated by anybody else, no matter how talented, popular or successful they are. In God's eyes there are no other contenders. You're it! You're the only one who can fill the slot, because He created it with you in mind. Isn't that a nice, secure feeling?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for accepting me the way I am - and for having a plan for me without having to audition! In Jesus' Name, Amen