Category: purpose

Giving Good

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I was the recipient of good this week. A friend from church sold me a nice vehicle that was an upgrade from my previous vehicle. I appreciate that I can trust the seller – knowing this family’s faith in God. We can’t always trust people in society today. I am extra thankful when I know someone who is honest.

God gives us a command to do good to everyone. However, God gives an emphasis on those who are a part of God’s family. I am grateful when God’s family does good for me. I want to watch for opportunities to do good to others. It frequently starts with prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing a new to me vehicle through my fellow believer. Please help me to share good with others as opportunities arise. Thank You for blessings through other believers.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Unshakable

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As believers we should know why God is worthy of worship. This verse gives us one reason – God’s kingdom cannot be shaken. Our world is very shaky. I am thankful God gives me a solid foundation.

The rest of the verse tells us to offer God acceptable worship. Worship that has reverence and awe. I think we would show an understanding of the solid foundation God gives if we stopped allowing an “anything goes” philosophy. We need to stop and think about how we choose to worship God whether alone or with others. God is worth the extra thought.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the strength that makes Your kingdom unshakable. Please help us to think through how we worship You. May our worship be acceptable, filled with reverence and awe.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Stand Firm in Love

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These verses are short and simple…to read. Being watchful and standing firm require continued effort. This isn’t a simple one and done. The other challenge is doing everything in love. We can get a mixed up understanding of what love really is. Too often we want love to be happy-go-lucky. Sometimes love is living through pain. Sometimes love seems tough when we have to stand against wrong. That requires lots of being watchful and standing firm.

The one thing I can say, is that if God gives a command, He also gives the strength to obey. God will not fail us.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the instructions we need to live. Please help us to discern through watchfulness, stand firm, and act in love.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

True Freedom

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I enjoy the 4th of July in the United States. I get the day off work, sometimes spending time with friends, and maybe enjoy some fun fireworks. I am thankful to have so much freedom in the country of my birth.

God provides freedom. We are free from the bondage of sin (unless we choose to give in). We have many choices in life that God allows us to make. Unfortunately, we sometimes use our God given freedom selfishly. Our freedom according to this verse is to be used to serve others. Some days that can be difficult. Others are not always fun to serve. However, I have learned that doing what God commands brings intense satisfaction. There is an internal freedom when my selfish wishes are not dictating my life. I’m not saying it is easy, but I know it is worth it.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the freedom You provide. Please help us to use that to serve others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Help To and From Others

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This concept can be a bit of a double edged sword. Sometimes people are too prideful to ask for help. There are times others are too prideful to give help. There are times don’t know what to ask for or what to give. Sounds pretty tough doesn’t it.

This is why I am grateful for prayer. This can help me figure out what help to ask for or give. Praying helps us focus on the neediness of humanity and reminds us of the the glory of God.

So pray about how to live this verse . Helping and being helped is honoring to God.

Dear Heavenly Father, please give us the wisdom to know how to help and be helped. Please guide us as we seek to live this verse.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Ask with Effort

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Today’s verse gives us 3 actions and 3 results. The actions are ask, seek and knock. Asking is fairly easy, but the word seek requires more effort. God doesn’t just give us good gifts. He asks us to work. The beauty of this passage is that God is willing to reward that work. The Bible doesn’t give us all the specifics of what God will do, but I believe we can see God’s hand if we watch.

So take time to ask, seek and knock. The results are from God. What could be better?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the guidelines You have given in Your Word. Please help us to put the effort into asking, seeking and knocking. Thank you for providing the results for us.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

I Give Up!

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Have you ever given up? I have. So many things can pile up and we don’t know what to do. The Bible reminds us that we have a reason to continue. “We will reap if we do not give up.”

I know life is tough, but God is big. He gives us what we need (2 Peter 1:3). We must keep going back to God to ask for help. Don’t forget – God is always there. He is ready and willing to help us continue doing good.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the reminders of why we need to continue doing good. Thank You for being available and giving us help. Please help us to humble ourselves to ask for help often.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Strengthened for Joy

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I don’t know about you, but I often feel weak. Life is filled with challenges (I think I may be sounding like a broken record – if there was sound to writing). Some days those challenges become overwhelming. Have you ever quit? I have.

When we feel weak, joy and thankfulness can be hard to come by. When I find it hard to be joyful or thankful I start with what verses 13-14 tell us. “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” God’s undeserved gift is easy to be thankful for.

Today’s verses talk about being strengthened. We need God’s strength to have endurance to make it through the challenges. God knew there would be many and so he sent the Holy Spirit to help us. Here is another reason to be joyfully thankful.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the strength that You give. Please help us to look to You for the endurance only You can provide. Please help us to be joyfully thankful. We know You give good gifts.

I praise this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.