Ephesians 5:20 (KJV) Says, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"
As instructed by the above verse of scripture we should give thanks to God always, and for all things. We must be grateful for all things that are divinely allowed to enter our lives including difficulties knowing that in the end God will use them for our good. There are blessings given to us by God not only while things are going well for us, but in the midst of, and as a result of the storms we face also. We need to recognize and be thankful for all of them no matter the form in which they come. Far too often God is not given the praise, honor, and glory he so truly deserves for the blessings, miracles, and answered prayers he gives each of us.
If we have been blessed with a loving and supportive family, great friends, good health, a roof over our head, a bed to sleep in, a vehicle to drive, a job, food to eat, a coat in the winter, and other like things we should thank God daily for these blessings. We all have something to be thankful for. It is human nature to get so busy and become so accustomed to having our basic needs met and having wonderful people in our lives that we take it all for granite. Not only do we take our blessings for granite, but we fail to give God the thanks he so greatly deserves for bestowing them upon us.
It is vital that we recognize the fact that all we have comes from God. In some cases failure to give God credit and thanks for all we have comes from a lack of humility. It is a huge mistake to take all the credit and glory ourselves for all that God does for us. For instance, if we get a job promotion, and proclaim that it is solely because we deserve it secondary to our hard work, dedication, and loyalty to a company there is no humility in any of that. When we fail to give glory and thanks to God as we brag on all we've accomplished, then we are more than likely headed for a fall. Psalm 75:5-7 (KJV) Says, "Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." This doesn't solely apply to promotions given at places of employment, but to all aspects of our lives. When we are lifted up in any area of our lives we must remember to thank God, and give him the credit and the glory for it.
With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching more people will be focused on the blessings God has given them in their lives. This is a great thing, but I want to encourage you as Christians to remember to put God first in your life and thank him everyday. Don't wait for a holiday or an emergency to remember where God is. Get up every morning, and thank him for all he has done, is doing, and will do for you. When we actually take the time to consider all that God does for us, being thankful to him should come extremely easy.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, send me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. Happy Thanksgiving, and May God bless you.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Sunday, November 2, 2014
God's Plan For Your Life
Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) Says, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) Says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) Says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
Each of the above verses of scripture tell us that God has a plan for our lives, and that there is a time and purpose for all things. Just as God called Moses to lead the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, and Gideon to deliver the Israelites out of the oppression of the Midianites he has a purpose for your life. God has a plan for each of us, and he had that plan in place before he created us.
In order to know the plan God has for us we must first accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, and in so doing we become one of his disciples. I Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV) Says, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
Another important key to discovering the plan God has for us is reading and studying the Bible. Psalm 119:105 (KJV) Says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." We should also go to him in prayer and ask him to reveal to us the plan he has for us. We should ask him to lead, guide, and direct our path. James 1:5 (KJV) Says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
We should also listen to the Holy Spirit which comes to dwell within us after we are saved by God's grace. John 16:13 (KJV) Says, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." We should also listen to Godly men and women that God has placed in our lives. Proverbs 12:15 (KJV) Says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." Proverbs 15:22 (KJV) Says, "Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established."
If we build a strong personal relationship with God and put our faith and trust in him we will fulfill the plan he has for us. Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) Says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Philippians 1:6 (KJV) Says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
As the above scripture tells us God has a plan for our lives, but beware that Satan has too. When we allow ourselves to become so busy that we don't make time to pray, read and study God's Word, attend worship services, and fellowship with other Christians we are following Satan's plan. He loves to distract us and keep us so busy with the things of the world that we have no time to strengthen our personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves it because when we fail to spend time with God we are not likely to know what his plan is for us, and therefore we will not be able to follow it. Not only will allowing ourselves to become busy with worldly things result in us failing to learn what God's plan is for our lives, but it will leave us no time to witness to others in hopes of leading them to Christ. In short, the truth is, when we allow our schedules to become packed with worldly tasks, we are not likely to have time to serve God in any capacity.
If you have the desire in your heart to serve God and follow the plan he has for your life, then I encourage you to strengthen your personal relationship with him. I encourage you to listen and pay attention as he leads, guides, and directs you. I urge you to put God first in your life, and that means making certain he's number one on your schedule each and every day.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message, and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Each of the above verses of scripture tell us that God has a plan for our lives, and that there is a time and purpose for all things. Just as God called Moses to lead the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, and Gideon to deliver the Israelites out of the oppression of the Midianites he has a purpose for your life. God has a plan for each of us, and he had that plan in place before he created us.
In order to know the plan God has for us we must first accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, and in so doing we become one of his disciples. I Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV) Says, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
Another important key to discovering the plan God has for us is reading and studying the Bible. Psalm 119:105 (KJV) Says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." We should also go to him in prayer and ask him to reveal to us the plan he has for us. We should ask him to lead, guide, and direct our path. James 1:5 (KJV) Says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
We should also listen to the Holy Spirit which comes to dwell within us after we are saved by God's grace. John 16:13 (KJV) Says, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." We should also listen to Godly men and women that God has placed in our lives. Proverbs 12:15 (KJV) Says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." Proverbs 15:22 (KJV) Says, "Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established."
If we build a strong personal relationship with God and put our faith and trust in him we will fulfill the plan he has for us. Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) Says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Philippians 1:6 (KJV) Says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
As the above scripture tells us God has a plan for our lives, but beware that Satan has too. When we allow ourselves to become so busy that we don't make time to pray, read and study God's Word, attend worship services, and fellowship with other Christians we are following Satan's plan. He loves to distract us and keep us so busy with the things of the world that we have no time to strengthen our personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves it because when we fail to spend time with God we are not likely to know what his plan is for us, and therefore we will not be able to follow it. Not only will allowing ourselves to become busy with worldly things result in us failing to learn what God's plan is for our lives, but it will leave us no time to witness to others in hopes of leading them to Christ. In short, the truth is, when we allow our schedules to become packed with worldly tasks, we are not likely to have time to serve God in any capacity.
If you have the desire in your heart to serve God and follow the plan he has for your life, then I encourage you to strengthen your personal relationship with him. I encourage you to listen and pay attention as he leads, guides, and directs you. I urge you to put God first in your life, and that means making certain he's number one on your schedule each and every day.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message, and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
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