Good Things Come From God, If I Allow Them

In review of James 1:17 it says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with who there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

Bottom Line:

Good and perfect things come from our heavenly father, who created all things. He is always the same, he does not change.

What this means to me:

Every good and perfect gift I get comes from above, from my Father in heaven who created all things. He is always the same and never changes.

Today I will consider if am I afraid of change? Afraid to let go of what I am firmly grasping and exchange it for what’s in God’s hand?

If I allow my steadfast God to mold me into something spectacular, change can be a wonderful thing. It will bring me blessings as well as lead me closer to my divine destiny.

Afterall, it took one day to get Israel out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel. The Israelites weren’t big fans of change, even though God had wonderful gifts awaiting them, gifts that could be trusted.

If my mantra has become, “No, I was born this way, or it is what it is”... then I might want to start rethinking things. Get out of the rut I have placed myself in. A rut is just a grave with both ends kicked out of it. Change direction and head North! Try something new, even if I do it wrong. Open my heart to heaven’s gifts. Life will get a whole lot more exciting when I let God bring me to a new place.

Confess and Be Shown Mercy

In review of Proverbs 28:13 it says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Bottom Line:

Don’t try to cover up your sins, rather confess and give them up. You will find mercy.

What this means to me:

If I try to conceal or cover up my sins I’ll never succeed. However if I confess and give them them up, God will show me mercy.

Sin is a cancer. I can either get the cancer or the cancer can get me. It is a crimson stain that can only be removed by the blood of the Cross.

It’s human nature for me to hide my sins or overlook my mistakes. But it is hard to learn from a mistake, and what good is a mistake if it doesn’t teach me something? To learn from an error I need to admit it, analyze it, and make adjustments so that it doesn’t happen again. Everybody make mistakes, but only a fool repeats them.

If I want God to be merciful to me, I should come clean before Him. It’s not because He doesn’t already know what I did. He Knows. But what I don’t confess to Him, He will shout from the rooftops. His Word promises that.

God is waiting for me to fall before Him and ask forgiveness. This puts me back in the race toward the prize of my high calling. Sin can no longer stand in the way of my blessing!

Learning to be Fair and Merciful

In review of Micah 6:8 it says, “No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair, just, merciful, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Bottom Line:

Do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

What this means to me:

God has already told me what he wants, it is to be fair, just, merciful and to walk humbly with Him.

Sacrifices and offerings on my part will never substitute for what God really wants from me. God wants my life to be changed. He wants me to be fair, just, merciful, and humble. God wants me to be a living sacrifice, not just doing religious deeds, but living rightly. It is impossible for me to follow God consistently without his transforming love in my heart.

People have tried all kinds of ways to please God, but God has made his requirements clear: Do what is just and right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. In my efforts to please God, examine these areas on a regular basis. Am I fair in my dealings with people? Do I show mercy to those who wrong me? Am I learning humility?

Today's verse re-enforces a dream I had last night where I, in working with a co-worker, upstaged him in his meeting. After doing so, I tried to rectify but he took off before I could fully apologize. While this wasn't real, it served as a good reminder to be fair in my dealings and display humility.

God is calling to act justly, love the unlovable, show mercy to the merciless, and forgive the unforgivable. Would I be able to show mercy to someone who tormented me?

The first outward demonstration of grace on my part is mercy! Simply stated, if I have no mercy, I not His true follower. The Bible says blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. In order to receive mercy, then I’ll have to give it!.

After all Satan could care less how much I sing the songs of praise just as long as I sing them with a snarl on my lips and bitterness in my heart. When Satan takes the mercy out of my conduct, he has effectively killed the Christian spirit within me.

Christianity without mercy is just another cult. It is like a tree that bears no fruit or a well that has run dry. In order to have mercy rain down in my life like a flood, today is the day to start offering it to those who have hurt me the most. I’m told it will surprise me at how this one gesture will completely set me free.

The Lord is Close to the Brokenhearted

In review of Psalm 34:18 it says, “The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins.”

Bottom Line:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirit’s have been crushed.

What this means to me:

The Lord is close to me when my heart is breaking, he will rescue when I am humbly sorry for my sins.

Psalm 34 speaks of how God pays attention to this who call on him. Whether God offers escape from trouble or help in times of trouble, I can be certain that he always hears and acts on my behalf because I love him.

I often wish I could escape troubles, the pain of grief, loss, sorrow, and failure; or even the small daily frustrations that constantly wear on me. God promises to be "close to the brokenhearted," to be my source of power, courage, and wisdom; helping me through my problems. Sometimes he chooses to deliver me, sometimes He doesn’t. Regardless, whenever trouble strikes, I shouldn't get frustrated with God. Instead, I need to learn to admit that I need His help and then thank him for being by my side.

God’s unlimited grace can be applied to any area of my life that needs His healing touch. For He is the type of Friend who sticks closer than any brother. So if my dreams get shattered, He can give me a brand-new dream and supply me with the resources to accomplish every step as He has ordered it. His grace is without end, and available for the asking.

Freedom from the Good News

In review of Galatians 5:1 it says, "So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law."

 

Bottom Line:

Christ is the one who sets us free, don’t get burdened by man made rules.

What this means to me:

Christ has truly set me free, I should make sure I stay that way and not get tied up in slavery to the law or anything else.

If I count on external things or associations to make myself right with God it will never happen. Even keeping all of the laws won’t help if I’ve been cut off by Christ.

Christ died to set me free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. Christ came to set me free, not free to do whatever I want because that would lead me back into slavery to my selfish desires. Rather thanks to Christ, I am now free and able to do what was impossible before, to live unselfishly. If I was to appeal to my freedom so that I can have my own way or indulge in my own desires, I’d be falling back into to sin. Therefore I should stand against those who would enslave me with rules, methods, or special conditions for being saved or growing in Christ.

Today is the day we celebrate our freedom as a country... freedom that men and women have fought for and defended for centuries. These are the ones that made America great, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

There is another freedom for me as a Christian, a kind I can use to forgive others. It comes through the grace of God. This grace not only forgives, but allows me to be set free from the bondage in my own life. No matter how miserably I have failed, God’s grace is greater.

The freedom I can experience through His grace is like no other. It can break the chains that bind me and give me a new vision for tomorrow that is filled with hope. I can forgive others. I can forget my past. And I can learn to love myself, seeing myself as God sees me... as a priceless gem.

Whose Approval Am I Seeking

In review of Galatians 1:10 it says, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”

Bottom Line:

Do not try to please people. Instead please God and be a true servant of His.

What this means to me:

My goal should not be to win the approval of others, but of God. If only pleasing people with sweet talk and flattery were my goal, then I would not be a true servant of Christ.

I often spend part of my life trying to please others (especially when it comes to work, with my client. In Galatians Paul had to speak harshly to the Christians there because they were in serious danger. He did not apologize for his straightforward words, knowing that he could not serve Christ faithfully if he allowed the Galatian Christians to remain on the wrong track.

Today, I will consider whose approval am I seeking; other’s or God’s. I will pray for the courage to seek God’s approval above anyone else's.

What I’m learning is that grace can set me free from the tyranny of others. I should consider if I’m being held hostage by the foolish opinions of others or their unreasonable demands. I should not let someone send me on a guilt trip when I’m following the will of God. Once I get on that ride, it would be hard to get off!

Regardless of what I do, someone is going to blame me for something. I cannot please everyone all the time. That’s just a fact. Every family and every church has people that are “grace killers.” Rather than letting them decide my life, I should consult God. He already has a plan in place for me.

I shouldn’t become a prisoner to the performance trap either. I will never earn the approval of others by what I do. Just give it up! Don’t make people your lord and master. Either be a people pleaser or a Father pleaser. Which do I want to be?

Seems that seeking to please God will make my life a much more peaceful place.

Learning to Serve Others

In review of Mark 10:44 it says, “Whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.”

Bottom Line:

Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

What this means to me:

In God’s Kingdom, I am to set my desires aside and serve others first.

Rulers of this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But Jesus tells me that with me it should be different. He tells me that I want to be a leader, I must first be a servant and I want to be first I must be the slave or servant to everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and give his life as a ransom for many.

True greatness comes in serving others. Businesses, organizations, and institutions measure greatness by personal achievement. In Christ's Kingdom, however, service is the way to get ahead. The desire to be on top will hinder, not help. Rather than seeking to have all of my needs met, I should look for ways that I can minister to the needs of others.

Serving is a very powerful thing. When I have a pure motive and I’m reaching out to help others, there is something very powerful about that action. It sends a message to the world that God is using me for His good.

Perhaps I could be helping someone who can never fully appreciate what I'm going. Perhaps I’m assisting someone who can never in any way repay my kindness. That is the very best kind of servant hood. God sees; so I shouldn’t grow weary in well doing.

After all what I’m learning is that God wants to be a blessing through me, but he also wants to be a blessing for me. When I reach out to those around me in their hour of need, God takes note. When I least expect it, He will use someone to touch my life in a very real way.. When I need it the most. That is when I know the Holy Spirit is working on my behalf.

I should not bother keeping tally of all my good works; just continue to serve those whom God allow to cross my path. Do it as unto the Lord, aware that the greatest among us is servant of all. Man may look on the outside, but God sees my heart.