Tag: love

God Is Working In You

Philippians 2:13 NIV, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Knowing that God is working in us to bring His purpose to pass, gives us security and comfort. It reminds us we are not on our own in our efforts to live for Him. We need His power and strength each day. The NLT version puts it like this…

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

The Lord is willing to even give us the desire we need to want to please Him. So during those times where we grow weary and feel like we want to give up, we can call out to Him and ask Him to increase our desire to live for Him. After all, life can be draining, and the world is constantly trying to get us to abandon our love for the Lord.

Photo by: Mimi Moromisato

Our Heavenly Father certainly understands our weaknesses and struggles. He is with us every step of the way and never leaves us alone to figure things out. He is willing to help us with whatever we need to live for Him. He is our ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Do not hesitate to ask the Lord for help, no matter how big or small your need is.

God Is Good!

Psalm 100:5 KJV, “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

“God is good”, that is something we hear often in the Christian community, and it may sometimes seem cliche. However, the truth in that statement will never grow old and it will always stand. God’s goodness to us at times surpasses our understanding. But, He is always working on our behalf to bring about what is good, even when we can not understand the difficult circumstances we face. That alone is reason for thanksgiving and praise!

Photo by: Dennis Magati of Kenya 🇰🇪

Recalling the things God has done gives us strength and hope for the road ahead. Focusing on His goodness reassures us of His everlasting love. For our God is good, His goodness and mercy are following us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6). We can rejoice knowing that we are living in His goodness everyday!

Spirit Lead Mind

Romans 8:6 NLT, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

The mind is a powerful thing, so we must diligently guard it by being mindful of what we allow it to absorb. We have to carefully choose what we allow ourselves to watch, read, and hear. The things we take in will either help or hinder our walk with God. In order to have a Spirit lead life, we have to seek the Lord, and pursue the things that will draw us closer to Him.

Photo by: Jens Mahnke of Germany 🇩🇪

Being in close fellowship with the Lord, will lead us to life and peace. Although we live in a world that rebels against doing life God’s way, through His strength and power working in us, we can stay on that narrow path, and keep our minds anchored in Him.

Find Joy in the Wait

Psalm 27:14 NLT, “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”

Waiting is not very popular nowadays. Many things are expedited, and the general consensus is the sooner the better. However, we know that the Lord’s timetable is usually different from ours. I was encouraged by Cynthia’s post, “Heeding to Heaven’s Timetable or ‘Godspeed’”, reminding us that it is good to wait on the Lord. Learning to wait on the Lord is part of growing in our faith. As we wait, we learn to trust the Lord with our lives. He will never let us down.

Photo by: Quốc Bảo

Although waiting is not always the easiest thing to do, like the psalmist, we can wait expectantly.

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

The Lord hears us and will answer our prayers in the best way and time. Knowing the Lord understands our struggles and needs, is part of the joy we find in the wait.

Who is like our God?

Psalm 113:1-3 ESV, “1 Praise the Lord! Praise, servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! 4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! 5 Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, 6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

Photo by: Shelagh Murphy of Canada 🇨🇦

There is no one like our God! He deserves all of our praise and honor. Although He is high above all, He still chooses to be intimately involved with the details of our lives. We are blessed to be part of His plans. We can rejoice today, knowing that He loves us unconditionally. Shouts of joy and victory come from the tents of the righteous (Psalm 118:15).

As you reflect on God’s faithfulness, may your lips be filled with praise. May His love fill your heart. And may His presence bring you comfort and joy as you go about your daily tasks. Remember, He is with you always (Matthew 28:20).

Partial Obedience Won’t Due

1 Kings 2:3, “Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”

I was recently having a conversation with a friend, and we were discussing the importance of obedience to the Lord. She was telling me how the Holy Spirit was leading her to get a new car battery. So she went and had her battery tested and was told it was still good. (Even though the technician did say, sometimes the battery test can show good one day and bad the next.) However, she decided to accept the “good” test and move on.

Then shortly after that, she heard the Holy Spirit tell her again to go get a new battery. So she said she went to another store to check battery prices, but still didn’t move forward with a purchase. Then a couple of days later, she found herself sitting in a parking lot with a car that would not start because the battery was dead. Oh how she wished she had obeyed the Holy Spirit’s instructions!

How often do we toss aside those instructions from the Lord because of our own doubts, fears, or rationale? Partial obedience (battery test and pricing a battery) won’t due the trick. We have to take action, and follow through with God’s instructions. There are blessings attached to our obedience, but if we don’t follow through we may never experience what it is God has waiting for us.

Let’s pray for a continuous desire and strength to obey the Lord in all we do.

Photo by: Samuel Martins

Lead Like Jesus: Heart, Head, Hands, and Habits

Leading like Jesus involves our heart, head, hands, and habits. First, examining our hearts, gives us the opportunity to ask ourselves if we are serving God and others or just ourselves. In all we do, our motives should remain pure.

Second, we examine our head. We take time to consider our beliefs and how those beliefs impact those around us. The experiences we have had, rather good or bad, shape how we think, and how we treat others.

Mark 10:45 (NIV)says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Photo by: fauxels

Third, the actions of our hands show what is in our heart and head. Loving people means we want to see them be the best they can be. We praise them when they do good, and lovingly correct them when needed and help them to get back on track during difficult times.

Lastly, we establish healthy habits. Jesus exhibited healthy habits by spending time alone in prayer, applying scripture to His life, and by working to build meaningful relationships with those around Him. He always took time out for people. He lived His life in a way that inspired others.

Leading like Jesus in our hearts, heads, hands, and habits will help us to be quality leaders in our homes, workplaces, and communities. The Holy Spirit who lives in us will empower us daily as we work to bring Jesus glory.

Read Previous Lead Like Jesus post: Standing Before the King

Reference: Lead Like Jesus Revisted: Lessons from the greatest leader of all time by Blanchard, Hodges, and Hendry (2016) pp. 35-38