Tag: christianity

Which Powers of a New Perspective? Living as Those Made Alive in Christ. Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 3:1-11 The Message

He Is Your Life

3 1-2 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ,  act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

5-8 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

9-11 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to become consumed by the distractions and stresses of the world.

Our focus often shifts from eternal perspectives to temporary, earthly matters.

We become fixated on problems, failures, and the pressure to perform, but all of that can limit our vision and steal our peace. 

The apostle Paul encourages us to set our hearts and minds “on things above, not on earthly things.”

When we do, we gain a new perspective.

We are reminded that our identity is in Christ and that our hope is in the Lord, who rules over all things in heaven and on earth.

The troubles of today become smaller when we shift our gaze upward, realizing that we are citizens of a kingdom that is unshakable.

Set Your Minds Above

Let’s take a closer look at one of my favorite places in the Bible. 

Colossians 3:1–4. Paul writes,

Put On the New Self

3 Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 3 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, [a]appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

A couple of basics right up front.

One, there’s a command Paul gives right at the center of this section of verses.

He says to “set your minds on things that are above.”

This is basic Christianity: a discipline of focus, of perspective, of cultivating a vision for the world to come that’s been promised as the ultimate future for all of God’s people.

Paul’s calling us to a kind of spiritual discipline that meditates on the promises that God has given to us that we have not seen yet and something we have not experienced yet but which is ultimately crucial for our new identity in Christ.

The second thing to notice here is that this command is rooted in who Jesus is to us: “Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth.”

Why? “Because you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Our life before—the old self, the life that died—wanted everything it could get out of this world right here, right now.

It’s all about kingdom building here.

All about squeezing as much goodness, as much status, as much power, as much wealth as we could.

That life is dead now.

Through Jesus we recognize that that life was dead already.

It had no hope, no future, nothing lasting.

And in Christ, we found something far greater.

So, now our life is hidden with him, and he is where we are headed.

The world to come is an experience that we have not had yet, but it involves a person we do know and experience and relate to right now.

We can long for it because we long for and love him so much.

Verse 4: “when Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

That’s the horizon, and Paul’s putting it right at the center of the Christian life.

Probably our other notable observations about this passage is not in these verses but in the verses that come next.

Sometimes there’s a knock on this heavenly-mindedness Paul’s calling for, as if it’s a kind of betrayal of the earth, minimizing how important things are here and now, a distraction from our calling here and now to serve God in this world and this life.

And I’m sure people have been guilty of that in the past, from indifference or inaction with real opportunities and real needs around them.

But Paul just won’t settle for that kind of dichotomy.

Yes, he says set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth, but he doesn’t mean set your mind on heaven and pay no attention at all to the life you and I are living now.

That is not what he means.

Set your mind on what’s coming, not on what you were living for.

That’s what he means—not what this earthly life offers to you as a reward or any source of hope.

Set your mind, he says, on things above precisely so that you live in this world right here, right now in a way that honors God and all that he’s done for you.

Verse 5 through the end of this chapter, it’s one of his most comprehensive, most beautiful, most detailed descriptions of what it means to live right now as a Christian.

All of that flows from a mind that’s set on things above.

He talks about sex, marriage, parenting, and work.

He talks about envy, lying, slander, and gossip.

He talks about forgiveness, patience, humility, and meekness.

All of it flows out of a mind that’s set on things above.

There’s nothing more practical to your life as a Christian and to your growth and holiness than cultivating a heavenly mindedness that helps us to see the things of earth in light of where all this is headed.

One of the most important applications to draw from this text is learning to recognize where in Colossians 3 we are wanting to grow, something you are wanting to put off, as he says to do in verses 5–11, or put on as he says to do in verses 12–17.

And then see how that area connects back to what’s coming in your future because of Jesus.

Maybe you are dealing with revenge, envy, or wrath, or anger management has been an impossible problem to overcome for you.

John 16:29-33 English Standard Version

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Have you thought about how your anger might be connected to not focusing enough on things above and on things to come?

Have you thought about if what you want is to grow in your patience or your meekness towards your children as a parent?

Have you seriously thought about the fact that seeing your future as defined by heaven is directly relevant to your growing in patience right here, right now?

Paul is saying that it is.

Have you seriously thought about how?

I hold what Paul’s given us here is a wonderful tool to start using.

The answers you are going to find are going to depend on your prayers and of careful reading and studying Scripture, diligent observations of earthly events, praying to God asking “is this how God is revealing his answer back to you.”

Proverbs 29:18 The Message

18 If people can’t see what God is doing,
    they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
    they are most blessed.

Discover God’s Chazown For Your Life

Chazown is the Hebrew word for prophetic vision, and it’s what God had in mind for you when you were created.

Discovering your Chazown starts with examining your core values, spiritual gifts, and past experiences.

These three areas will help you identify common themes, bring clarity to your unique passions, lead guide direct move you to the purpose God has just for you.

The best part is you can start planning your next steps toward pursuing God’s vision—His Chazown—for your life today!

The question worth asking is:

“How does my thinking more clearly about where all this is headed, give me more insight, more vison, as I strive for holiness right here and right now?”

Pray to focus on God’s promises and his eternal plan, putting your worries into God’s perspective.

Life becomes less about immediate outcomes and more about fulfilling God’s higher purposes. It is a powerful shift, giving his peace in the midst of chaos.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit ….

Praying …

Psalm 139:1-18 Complete Jewish Bible

139 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:

(1) Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I stand up,
you discern my inclinations from afar,
3 you scrutinize my daily activities.
You are so familiar with all my ways
4 that before I speak even a word, Adonai,
you know all about it already.
5 You have hemmed me in both behind and in front
and laid your hand on me.
6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me,
far too high for me to reach.

7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
if I lie down in Sh’ol, you are there.
9 If I fly away with the wings of the dawn
and land beyond the sea,
10 even there your hand would lead me,
your right hand would hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Let darkness surround me,
let the light around me be night,”
12 even darkness like this
is not too dark for you;
rather, night is as clear as day,
darkness and light are the same.

13 For you fashioned my inmost being,
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank you because I am awesomely made,
wonderfully; your works are wonders —
I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo,
but in your book all my days were already written;
my days had been shaped
before any of them existed.
17 God, how I prize your thoughts!
How many of them there are!
18 If I count them, there are more than grains of sand;
if I finish the count, I am still with you.

23 Examine me, God, and know my heart;
test me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is in me any hurtful way,
and lead me along the eternal way.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Significance of Biblical Mentorship? Like an earring of gold, an ornament of finest gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to listening ear Proverbs 25:12.

Proverbs 25:11-14 Complete Jewish Bible

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
    is a word appropriately spoken.
12 Like a gold earring, like a fine gold necklace
    is a wise reprover to a receptive ear.
13 Like the coldness of snow in the heat of the harvest
    is a faithful messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes his master’s spirit.
14 Like clouds and wind that bring no rain
    is he who boasts of gifts he never gives.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

What is a Christian view of mentorship?

Mentoring is deeply rooted in the Bible, where it is seen as an essential practice for spiritual growth and discipleship.

In both the Old and New Testaments, God calls believers to guide others in their faith, with examples like Moses and Elijah mentoring Joshua and Elisha, and Paul disciplining and instructing Timothy and Titus in their leadership roles.

The Christian view of mentorship is centered on pointing others toward Christ, not as perfect individuals but as people who humbly strive to imitate only Him.

Mentors are called to lead with eagerness in their faith, humility, and a willingness to help others grow in their relationship with God.

Ultimately, mentoring is a responsibility for all believers, encouraging spiritual maturity and about living in a humble, honest community with one another as we grow in Christ-likeness and live with His purpose for the kingdom of God.

From the old testament
  • As God’s laws were given to the nation of Israel, God told the people to not only follow them personally but to also teach them to their children, mentoring them in the ways God wanted the people to follow (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
  • Parents should teach their children the way of faith when they are young so that they may follow it for a lifetime (Proverbs 22:6).
  • Believers should sharpen each other, just as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).
  • The prophet Elijah mentored the younger prophet Elisha, the older teaching the younger to take up the mantra of leadership, to follow God’s ways and to lead the nation of Israel well as a prophet (2 Kings 2:1-15).
From the new testament
  • The Great Commission, Jesus’ last instructions to His disciples, instructs us to go into the world and create more disciples, teaching them to obey His commands, thus mentoring them in the faith (Matthew 28:18-20).
  • Those who mentor us should be imitating Christ, and we, as mentors ourselves, should be imitating Christ. Christ is the highest example of how we live our lives (1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1-2).
  • Those who mentor are not perfect and will never attain perfection in this life and should not be viewed as perfect people who make no mistakes. Mentors should be honest about confronting their sin and striving toward Christ (Philippians 3:12-14).
  • Older men in the faith are to mentor and teach younger men and likewise, with women mentoring women. All the things taught by those older to the younger are done so as a way to glorify God and make the teaching about Him more attractive to others (Titus 2:1-10).
  • Christian mentors should guide those learning from them with eagerness and willingness, sacrifice, avoid burdening those in their charge, but being good examples of following Christ (1 Peter 5:2-3).
Implications for today

Mentoring, as described in the Bible, is an essential aspect of the Christian life, meant to help believers grow closer in their connectional relationship to Christ.

It’s not just about imparting knowledge or giving people a set of rules to follow.

Rather, it is about living alongside others, sharing life experiences, and walking with them as they grow in their faith.

Mentoring relationships point us toward Christ-likeness with humility and in community. Mentors should not be seen as flawless but as people who are, like everyone else, are growing in grace and seeking to follow Christ more closely.

Mentoring is a sacred covenant responsibility of every believer—not just by church leaders or older Christians.

It can take many forms, from formal one-on-one discipleship to informal relationships within the body of Christ.

The focus should always be on pointing others away from sin, towards Christ encouraging them to reflect His character in all areas of life.

As we guide others, we not only strengthen their faith but deepen our own, becoming more like the very Christ we seek to emulate.

Mentoring requires humility as we recognize and admit that we are not yet fully sanctified, and yet we continue to press on toward becoming more disciplined and more motivated to become Christ-like, encourage others to do the same.

Each of us, regardless of age or maturity level, has the opportunity to be both mentored and mentor, creating a culture of growth and mutual encouragement within the body of Christ.

Understand
  • Believers are called to mentor other believers toward closer relationships with Christ.
  • Mentors should point people to Jesus.
  • Mentors should not be viewed as perfect; rather mentors and those being mentored should strive together to imitate Christ, the One we follow.
Reflect
  • How have you been mentored in your own faith, and how have those relationships helped you grow closer to Christ?
  • Why is mentoring, regardless of your age or experience, important in the body of Christ?
  • Are there areas in your life where you are reluctant to be vulnerable or humble as a mentor? How can you overcome those barriers to better guide others?
engagement
  • What are important qualities in a Christian mentor, based on Scripture?
  • How does viewing mentorship as a two-way relationship—where both the mentor and the mentee are growing together—shape our approach to discipleship?
  • What are some practical ways we can help create a culture of mentorship for believers, especially when it comes to encouraging younger or newer believers?

All of us need a little wisdom now and then, and the most trusted source of wisdom is God’s Word.

The beauty of Biblical mentorship is that it points people to the truth of the Scriptures, helping them wisely discern the enemy’s lies and receive spiritual breakthrough.

Here are even more powerful benefits of Biblical mentorship.

It Draws Us Together in Jesus’ Name

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Whenever I meet with someone, by chance, online or in person, I begin our time by assuring them that as we gather in Jesus,’ name, He is with us.

Every issue, every struggle, and every topic is committed to the Lord, knowing He sees and hears.

As Jesus said in John 14:13-14, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (NKJV)

This kind of assurance is key to helping people trust God in all things.

Solid mentorship programs draw people together, fulfilling God’s desire that we seek Him in oneness of heart and mind. 

Psalm 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

As we seek His will and way, and truth the Holy Spirit draws us into greater peace by reminding us of everything Jesus taught. (John 14:26)

Life’s issues become more manageable when brother s and sisters help carry each other’s burdens.

This is the beauty of Biblical mentorship, in Jesus’ holy name.

It Fulfills God’s Order of Things

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

Although it’s tempting to live independently from others, we were never created to do life alone.

Biblical mentorship provides the opportunity to fulfill our God-given calling, sharpening each other’s faith and offering encouragement along the way.

The passage she’s referring to in Titus says, “Older women…are to be reverent in their behavior…teaching what is right and good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and their children tenderly.”

No matter how old (or young) you are, you have a purpose in the Body of Christ.

Biblical mentorship is one of many ways to fulfill God’s call on your life, walking alongside others in a supportive way.

As 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy is a good reminder that God places young and old together for a definite reason. Both have something to offer the other, and this is a beautiful representation of what Biblical mentorship is all about.

It Gives Us Clarity 

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)

Anytime believers open the Word of God, they can expect to find the answers they seek.

The Bible is not just an ordinary book of information, but a living book of transformation.

Biblical mentorship is grounded in God’s Word, making the Scriptures central to everything that takes place.

The advice of a trustworthy mentor will always align with the Bible and point to God’s will above their own.

The person who is seeking wise counsel will also be attuned to what is true, as Proverbs 18:15 says, “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”

Ultimately, the beauty of Biblical mentorship is the truest clarity brought to challenging situations. What might have seemed impossible to the one in need of mentorship becomes possible as God provides wisdom and insight.

As the Psalmist said,

“Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” (Psalm 119:33-36)

If you’ve been considering Biblical mentorship, here are a few things to maybe consider:

•  A good mentor will listen well, allowing space to share what is on your heart without interruption.

•  They will always point to God and His Word, aligning everything with the Scriptures.

•  They won’t claim to have all the answers, but instead, offer sincere prayers, Biblical wisdom, and continued guidance as the Holy Spirit leads.

I highly encourage anyone who needs wisdom for the journey to seek Biblical mentorship.

Many churches offer free programs to help people navigate challenging issues, and I pray you’ll consider this as your next step.

May God bless you as you gather in Jesus’ name, gain clarity for the days ahead, and receive the blessing of Biblical mentorship as God intended from the start.

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Praying …

Psalm 61
Security in God
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Of David.

1 God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.
2 I call to you from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,
3 for you have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower in the face of the enemy.
4 I will dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Who does not need a Godly measure of encouragement for today? Why? Because we all need space to exhale. Isaiah 58:13-14

Isaiah 58:13-14 New American Standard Bible

Keeping the Sabbath

13 “If, because of the Sabbath, you restrain your foot
From doing as you wish on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a pleasure, and the holy day of the Lord honorable,
And honor it, desisting from your own ways,
From seeking your own pleasure
And speaking your own word,
14 Then you will take delight in the Lord,
And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Take some time to read the entirety of Isaiah 58 again.

Stop and pray after you read each verse and ask the Lord to reveal any ways your public worship is being negated by behavior in your private life.

Confess your sin to the Lord.

Consider asking a trusted friend to hold you accountable as you seek God’s change in your life.

What is one action you will change to reflect your commitment to worship God in your daily life?

 LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT 

Hebrews 10:19–25 is such a favorite passage of mine..

Not only does it instruct us about the power of encouragement, but far more importantly, invites us to experience intimacy with Jesus through repentance.

When you are tempted to give up on life and your relationship with the Lord, make this a go-to scripture where you discover not only an invitation to run to Jesus but practical steps for personal and private worship in our everyday lives:

Hebrews 10:19-25 Amplified Bible

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore, [a]believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, 20 by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, 21 since we have a great and  wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, 22 let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled  clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23  Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; 24 let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, 25 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.

In case you have not heard this before, truth is We All Need Space To Exhale.

Isaiah 58:13-14 Complete Jewish Bible

13 “If you hold back your foot on Shabbat
from pursuing your own interests on my holy day;
if you call Shabbat a delight,
Adonai’s holy day, worth honoring;
then honor it by not doing your usual things
or pursuing your interests or speaking about them.
14 If you do, you will find delight in Adonai —
I will make you ride on the heights of the land
and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Ya‘akov,
for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.”

Rest. 

That sounds so good, but it’s really difficult for a soul like mine.

Even when my physical body is at rest, my mind rarely is.

I feel like I’m always juggling bowling balls in my brain.

Other people’s needs.

Home demands.

Work projects.

The to-do lists never stop growing.

Can you relate?

Yet the Bible makes it very clear we are to honor the Sabbath and pursue rest.

Proverbs 4:23-27 Complete Jewish Bible

23 Above everything else, guard your heart;
for it is the source of life’s consequences.
24 Keep crooked speech out of your mouth,
banish deceit from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze on what lies in front of you.
26 Level the path for your feet,
let all your ways be properly prepared;
27 then deviate neither right nor left;
and keep your foot far from evil.

God commands us to hit the pause button on life once a week.

Guard our need to rest.

Guard it fiercely.

Guard it intentionally.

Guard it even if your schedules beg us to do otherwise.

But why?

There are personal reasons we need to observe the Sabbath that are unique for each person.

There are private conversations we need to have with God.

We all need to pause, sit with God, and ask Him to reveal some things to us.

But when I consider today’s key verses, something else also occurs to me.

Sabbath is not just a day for me to give to God.

It’s a day God established for me.

He wants to give me something, if only I’ll slow down enough to receive it:

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD …” (Isaiah 58:13-14).

The Sabbath isn’t merely a time to be observed; it’s a time to be preserved.

It’s a time to rediscover our joy in the Lord.

I need this.

I want to be a preserver of the Sabbath — one who is determined to protect this day and experience the delight of God.

The observer remembers to rest.

The preserver rests to remember that it’s all about God.

The observer pauses on the Sabbath day in order to follow a rule.

The preserver does more than follow a rule.

They follow God’s desire and embraces His purpose in the rest.

They spend one day a week letting the fresh wind of God’s rest blow through, clearing out what’s been taken in during the week, with a purifying soul exhale.

Psalm 139:23-24 Complete Jewish Bible

23 Examine me, God, and know my heart;
test me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is in me any hurtful way,
and lead me along the eternal way.

It’s all about pausing and connecting with God without the distracting chaos of our everyday routines so we can align with His rhythm.

God’s rhythm preserves a space in us to hear His voice, reveals the places where we’re off track, and clears unnecessary clutter.

Quiet rest allows us to see where we are going our own way, the areas where we are more self-pleasing than God-pleasing, idle words that need to be reined in.

During our downtime, we can deal with our mental clutter and focus solely on the ways of God.

The Sabbath makes this possible.

Taking one day for rest gives my soul the freedom it so desperately needs.

Space to breathe.

Inhaling and exhaling in a gentle rhythm set by God.

Sabbath is a holy and sacred gift from God, a time set apart for rest, worship, and reflection.

It reminds us of God’s creative power and his desire for us to experience his peace. In a culture that values productivity and constant activity, observing Sabbath requires our intentional commitment and trust in God’s provision.

When we honor the Sabbath, we accept our dependence on God’s faithfulness.

We cease from our usual work to delight in God’s presence and to prioritize relationships with him and others.

Sabbath rest allows us to recharge physically, emotionally, and spiritually to serve God and others throughout the week. Each Sabbath day is an invitation to enjoy the brevity of God’s rest, to align our hearts with his rhythms of grace.

If you long for spiritual refreshment and deeper intimacy with God, consider embracing the gift of Sabbath rest.

Set aside time to worship, pray, and reflect on God’s goodness. May each Sabbath remind you of God’s peace and too his desire for us to rest in him.


In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …..

Psalm 84 Complete Jewish Bible

84 (0) For the leader. On the gittit. A psalm of the sons of Korach:

2 (1) How deeply loved are your dwelling-places,
Adonai-Tzva’ot!
3 (2) My soul yearns, yes, faints with longing
for the courtyards of Adonai;
my heart and body cry for joy
to the living God.

4 (3) As the sparrow finds herself a home
and the swallow her nest, where she lays her young,
[so my resting-place is] by your altars,
Adonai-Tzva’ot, my king and my God.

5 (4) How happy are those who live in your house;
they never cease to praise you! (Selah)
6 (5) How happy the man whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are [pilgrim] highways.

7 (6) Passing through the [dry] Baka Valley,
they make it a place of springs,
and the early rain clothes it with blessings.
8 (7) They go from strength to strength
and appear before God in Tziyon.

9 (8) Adonai, God of armies, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
10 (9) God, see our shield [the king];
look at the face of your anointed.
11 (10) Better a day in your courtyards
than a thousand [days elsewhere].
Better just standing at the door of my God’s house
than living in the tents of the wicked.

12 (11) For Adonai, God, is a sun and a shield;
Adonai bestows favor and honor;
he will not withhold anything good
from those whose lives are pure.

13 (12) Adonai-Tzva’ot,
how happy is anyone who trusts in you!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Who still waits upon God? gets fresh strength, spreads their wings, soars like eagles, runs, not get tired, walks, doesn’t lag behind? New strength for new challenges, for empty promises? Isaiah 40:27-31

Isaiah 40:27-31 Complete Jewish Bible

27 Why do you complain, Ya‘akov;
why do you say, Isra’el,
“My way is hidden from Adonai,
my rights are ignored by my God”?
28 Haven’t you known, haven’t you heard
that the everlasting God, Adonai,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not grow tired or weary?
His understanding cannot be fathomed.
29 He invigorates the exhausted,
he gives strength to the powerless.
30 Young men may grow tired and weary,
even the fittest may stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength,
they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings;
when they are running they won’t grow weary,
when they are walking they won’t get tired.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

We know what it is like to wait—caught in circumstances often far beyond our control and we may not have a clear sense of what it portends, is next, how it will turn out, how much more work is it, or how exactly the Lord is involved.

Especially in this season, we wait—snow storms and blizzards to abate, snow plows, shovel’s and strong backs to clear driveways and sidewalks, restrictions to ease, school busses to run, for return to work, for life to return to normal.

We sometimes listen to radios, internet to wonder if we’re going to make it.

The promise the Lord makes in Isaiah 40:31 is that those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. What does it mean to “wait for the Lord”, and how can we find new strength from day to day until we see the things for which we long?

The Lord Is the Everlasting God (Isaiah 40:28)

Isaiah tells the people something that he knows that they know.

But they need to let this information sink deeply into their minds and hearts.

The Lord is the everlasting God. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary.

God does not get tired. We get tired.

Every day at some point we get tired.

After a lot of activity or having a long day we are tired.

Not only do we get tired, but we also get weary.

Life can be wearisome.

Studying Ecclesiastes recall how the author speaks about the weariness of life.

Another day comes and another day goes.

A generation comes and a generation goes.

The sun rises and the sun goes down.

The streams run to the sea but the sea is never full. 

“All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:8 ESV).

Life is just exhausting to us. Hardships wear us down.

The monotony and repetition of life wear us down.

The emptiness wears us down.

Bluntly, Isaiah writes, we get tired and we become weary with life.

But the Lord is the everlasting God.

He does not faint and he does not grow weary.

He is not tired.

He is not in need of rest.

God does not need to sleep.

God does not wear down.

God is not weak and he is not tired so that he cannot act.

Isaiah is going to talk more about this in a moment.

But before he does, he wants to underscore a key attribute about God at the end of verse 28.

There is no limit to God’s wisdom and understanding.

No one can grasp his understanding.

His comprehension is unsearchable.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

All of us have limits to our understanding.

We can think that we know a lot.

We can think that we have great wisdom and maybe we do.

But there is a limit.

There is only so much we know.

There is only so much we can understand.

God has revealed much for us to understand so that we can obey him.

But there is more that we cannot understand (Deuteronomy 29:29).

His understanding is infinite and ours is limited.

Therefore, God knows what to do.

God knows what he is doing.

God knows what his people need.

God knows how to respond and when to respond.

We struggle with this.

We too often do not know what to do.

We too often do not know what people need.

Even when we think we know what someone needs we can be wrong.

We too often do not know how to respond and when to respond.

But God does not struggle with these issues.

He knows what we need and when we need it.

God is not tired or weary to do what needs to be done.

The Lord Gives Strength to the Weary (Isaiah 40:29-30)

Notice what Isaiah wants us to understand in verse 29.

The Lord gives strength to the weary.

The Lord strengthens the powerless.

I love that Isaiah does not say that God gives strength to the strong.

I love that Isaiah does not say that God strengthens the powerful.

No, God gives strength to the weary.

God takes the powerless and gives them the strength that they need.

When does God do this?

Isaiah does not answer this yet.

He will answer this question in a moment.

But Isaiah needs to move us another direction first.

Look at verse 30.

In verse 30 we are taught that even the young will get tired and lose strength.

This is the problem of depending on yourself.

No matter how strong you are, you will fail.

No matter how strong you are, you will be disappointed.

No matter how strong you are, you will get weary.

Your strength only goes so far. Your strength can only sustain you for so long.

We need to look at our trials and severity that we experience and understand that God must show us that our strength will break.

We even talk about our trials and suffering in this way.

We will say to each other, “I am at my breaking point.”

This is the point of Isaiah 40:30.

Everyone has a breaking point.

No one is strong enough for life.

Every person will grow faint and become weary.

When we depend on ourselves then we will say such words like, “I am at my breaking point” or “I can’t do this anymore.”

Sometimes we think we are failures because we think we are not strong enough.

But God is confirming that no one is strong enough.

You are not supposed to be strong enough.

God has made life so that each one of us will grow weary and faint.

There is no scripture that tells you to go stand on your own strength.

There is no scripture that you says you need to be strong in yourself and depend on you to get through life.

But there are many scriptures that tell us to find our strength in the Lord and to stand in him because he gives strength to the weary.

When we are commanded to put on the whole armor of God, the picture was not to take the armor to fight for yourself and by yourself.

Rather, the armor of God is how we are strong in the Lord and stand up in the strength of his might.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV)

So our failure to stand on our own is to be expected.

Even the youths will faint, the young men will stumble and fall (Isaiah 40:30).

The point is even the people you would visualize to be the strongest, have the greatest amount of endurance will not and cannot last on their own strength.

So back to the question we asked earlier because now it is about to be answered.

When does God give strength to the weary and strengthen the powerless?

Wait For the Lord (Isaiah 40:31)

Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength.

This is a great image for us.

The people who wait for God will have their strength renewed.

So a contrast is being given to us.

If we are relying on our own strength in this life, eventually you will grow tired and weary, stumble and fall.

But those who are waiting on the Lord will have a different outcome.

Rather than being tired to the point of stumbling and falling, they will have their strength renewed such that they will rise up like an eagle.

It is a really vivid contrast.

It is a contrast of outcomes and a contrast of dependence.

If you depend on yourself, you will be weary and fall.

If you wait and hope for God, you will get your strength renewed and soar over the obstacles.

Now listen to the reversal picture in the rest of verse 31.

Those who wait for the Lord will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

This reminds me of an image that God used for Jeremiah who was struggling with his God-given mission.

God told him that if he was unable to run with people, what would he do when he had to run with horses (Jeremiah 12)?

The picture is that we are all going to have run the race of life.

But those who are looking for God are going to run and not give out.

The writer of Hebrews instructs us that we need to run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).

How can we have the endurance we need?

The endurance does not come from ourselves but in wait for and looking to the Lord.

The apostle Paul also described the course of life as running a race.

He told the Corinthians that you cannot run aimlessly but run in such a way to receive the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-26).

So let’s get to the heart of this instruction.

What does it mean to wait for the Lord?

Some translations read to hope for the Lord.

What we are doing is waiting for God’s answer.

We are waiting for God to turn the event.

We are waiting for God to reverse the circumstances.

We are waiting for God to open a new door.

We are waiting for God to break the light into the darkness.

There are so many examples of the people of faith showing us what it looks like to wait for the Lord and put your hope in him.

One of my favorite examples that we have recently looked at in our study is Joseph, Jacob’s son.

Joseph had to wait 13 years for his life to turn.

How long had Simeon waited?

Luke 2:25-33 Amplified Bible

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout [carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the  [a] Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, [b]to do for Him the custom required by the Law, 28 Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and  praised and thanked God, and said,

29 
“Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace,
According to Your word;
30 
For my eyes have seen Your Salvation,
31 
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 
A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose was previously unknown],
And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And His [legal] father and His mother were amazed at what was said about Him.

Recall everything went wrong in Joseph’s life, none of it was because of actions he had te continued to serve the Lord.

Continuing to walk by faith is how we hope in God and wait for him.

So Joseph kept doing what was right until one day the turn came in his life and God lifted from the pit, to Pharaoh’s royal next in line to the throne hierarchy.

One of the hardest things we must do in trials and in life is to wait for and hope for an indeterminate amount of in God, through those circumstances we face.

But God has expressed to us how we can wait for him.

First, if we trust in ourselves, depend on ourselves we grow faint and stumble.

We have to wait for God because failing to do so leaves us crushed.

Second, we can wait for the Lord because of who he is.

Go back to verse 28.

The Lord is the everlasting God.

He does not grow faint or weary.

There is no limit to his understanding.

Do you remember the point we made there?

God knows what to do and when to do it.

God knows what is needed in the moment.

He knows what we need and when we need it.

God does not struggle with what he needs to do next with our lives.

God knows what the next puzzle piece is in our lives, where it fits, and how to move us aside and move the new pierces into the exact place God has prepared.

New Strength for New Challenges

Isaiah 40:27-31 Amplified Bible

27 
Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”?
28 
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become tired or grow weary;
There is no searching of His understanding.
29 
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who has no might He increases power.
30 
Even youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
Will gain new strength and renew their power;
They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];
They will run and not become weary,
They will walk and not grow tired.

The challenges of life can feel overwhelming at times.

I remember in the initial days following my Open Heart Surgery (July 2023) when I was faced with several difficult decisions requiring more energy and wisdom and patience, physical spiritual strength than I felt I had within me.

I tried to rely on my own strength and resources, but it quickly became apparent that I was running on empty. 

This is where God’s promise of renewal comes in.

It’s not about having strength to do it all on our own; it’s about trusting God, whose strength is limitless.

In the same way an eagle soars with ease, we have the strength to rise above our struggles when we hope in God. I cannot fly. I didn’t have to fight or fly through challenges on nonexistent wings. God equips what we require for the journey. 

As we step into the newness of each day, let’s remember we don’t need to face life’s challenges alone.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Amplified Bible

A Thorn in the Flesh

7 Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; 9 but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, that the vast power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 10 I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].

The Lord’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, and he promises when we place our trust in him, God renews our strength, empower us to face whatever comes our way. 

God exerts his power not in distant and impersonal ways.

Instead, he extends the promise of strength to his people. The Christian faith does not deny the reality of our weariness but offers sure hope to weary souls.

Our need to trust God will never grow old.

God’s strength, God’s faithfulness, God’s promises, remains forever new.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 46 Amplified Bible

God the Refuge of His People.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to soprano voices. A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and well-proved help in trouble.
2 
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
3 
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.

4 
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5 
God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved;
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.

8 
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth.
9 
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Are we familiar with what the Bible Does NOT say about Resting in God? Psalm 116:1-7

Psalm 116:1-7 Revised Standard Version

Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness

116 I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “O Lord, I beseech thee, save my life!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There are many different opinions about what it means to rest.

Is it a waste of time, and should we feel guilty about taking days off?

Does it only refer to sleeping, or taking it easy during an illness?

Is it the emphasis on self-care that we see so often in our culture today?

We do not have to get lost in the confusion of these questions or the endless examples we find online.

Scripture presents us with instruction about rest.

Based on God’s Word, we can understand what resting is and is not.

And we can learn to distinguish between the opinions of others and what the Lord has actually taught.

For rest is woven into creation and reflects the priorities of our Maker.

We would be unwise if we never pause to consider what it means to rest, or to search for the answers in the Book that God has provided. So, let us bring our assumptions and our ideas and hold them up to the perfect light of His Word.

1. Resting Is Not Laziness

Some may think that taking time to cease from normal activity and to recharge is laziness.

To be fair, there is a great deal of teaching in Scripture that denounces the lazy person – the one who refuses to work.

God is correct to warn us of laziness because refusing to work leads to many problems (Proverbs 10:4; 13:4; 20:4).

We should understand, then, why some individuals are wary of resting, because they fear they are engaging in slothfulness.

But to take time off to rest in the Lord and be recharged in soul, body, and mind, is not laziness.

To rest is to obey the Lord who set in place a rhythm of work and rest.

When God created everything in six days, He ceased from His labors on the seventh day and declared it holy (Genesis 2:2-3).

Our Lord rested – and He certainly was not acting in laziness.

After the fall of man, God knew that a sinful human tendency is to keep working to the neglect of our own wellbeing.

Hence, He set in place a command for the Israelites that they should observe the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) and keep it Holy unto God.

This applied to people, both native-born Israelites and foreigners, but also to animals.

Just as slothfulness is an issue individuals can struggle with, so is overworking.

We are not machines designed solely for the purpose of executing tasks.

We are finite humans (Psalm 103:15-16) made in the image of God.

If our Creator rested from His divine labor, and has told us to do the same, then our proper response is obedience and gratitude, give thanks for the gift of rest.

2. Rest Is Not Selfish

Because so much of Western culture is centered on activity, completing tasks, we can feel guilty for slowing down or taking time off.

We may even think that prioritizing rest is a selfish choice.

Instead of ceasing from our labor and engaging in soul-refreshing activities, we assume we should exert all of our available energy to work and be productive.

Masked in this way, we fail to see the refusal to rest is based on the belief that we are in control of our lives, everything falls on our shoulders to accomplish.

Rest forces us to acknowledge and declare that we are dependent on someone other than ourselves.

It is an act that shows we need God.

We see this demonstrated in Israel’s wilderness wanderings.

The Lord instructed them to collect manna each day, but also to gather an extra portion on the sixth day (Exodus 16:23, 26).

They were to rest on the seventh day.

Yet, some of the Israelites did not listen and gathered manna on the Sabbath – they trusted in their ability to provide for themselves instead of trusting in God (Exodus 16:27-30).

The giving of the double portion on the day before the Sabbath was meant to teach the Israelites to depend on the Lord, not themselves.

Resting might feel selfish if we have always listened to what the world tells us.

However, the more we recognize our weakness, need for the Lord’s provision, the more we will prioritize rest.

Our lives do not run on our own effort or striving.

God is the One who is sustaining us (Colossians 1:17).

We lay down our guilt and rest, showing others we depend on the Lord alone.

3. Rest Is Not a Waste of Time

Stopping from our work for blocks of time – whether it is a day or two, or in intervals throughout the day – may appear disadvantageous.

Would we not make more money and get more accomplished if we worked without stopping?

For those who are results-driven or are struggling to make ends meet, there is the temptation to view rest as a waste of time.

We should feel compassion for those near and far who are compelled to work long shifts while still not making enough to live on.

Such conditions are unjust and inhumane.

As a church, we need to work together to break such cycles of enslaving poverty.

However, there are people who refuse to slow down despite having sufficient resources.

Or they convince themselves that they need to check off one more task before they can permit themselves sufficient rest.

In their mind, rest is a privilege instead of a need.

Throughout Scripture, we find God’s call for us to come to Him.

We are invited to cease our striving, be still, and know that the Lord is God (Psalm 46:10).

To get away with Him to rest (Mark 6:31).

Instead of trying to please God with our endless activities, Jesus beckons us to,

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

He provides our ultimate rest through salvation.

Stopping from our normal work and endless to-do lists allows us to refuel.

An empty cup does not have much to give.

We must first be filled before we can give of ourselves in service to the Lord.

And how He will fill us! As David said, “my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).

4. Rest Is Not a Legalistic Rule

During New Testament times, the Jewish people followed a strict observance of the Sabbath.

Many of them believed adherence to this rule bought them favor with God.

So, when Rabbi Jesus began healing people on the Sabbath, lots of Pharisees and scribes objected.

As the synagogue ruler said after Jesus healed a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years:

“There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath” (Luke 13:14).

But Jesus rebuked them, pointing out their hypocrisy.

They led their livestock to water on the Sabbath, which could be categorized as “work.”

Yet this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who had suffered because of the work of Satan, was even more valuable. Should she not “be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (Luke 13:16).

The Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus, said it was lawful to do right on the day of rest (Matthew 12:12).

As Jesus taught, the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28).

God set it in place to benefit humankind.

Since the Pharisees and others had changed the day of rest into a legalistic rule and burden, they utterly missed the purpose and blessing of God’s command.

We, too, can misunderstand the principle of rest.

Jesus fulfilled the Law, including the Sabbath (see Romans 10:4).

As a result, believers are no longer under the Law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).

However, the principle of rest for the flourishing of humankind still applies.

Rest is a gift from the Lord, not something we should make as a rule to earn salvation.

5. Rest Is Not Unspiritual

Taking a vacation.

Allowing ourselves to enjoy an afternoon with family and friends.

Appreciating time spent doing a hobby or engaging in an enjoyable activity.

These are all good things, but we may be inclined to think that they have nothing to do with our faith.

We may even believe that such activities are unspiritual or do not affect our walk with Christ.

The opposite, though, is true.

When we mark off time to rest, we are declaring our trust in the Lord.

We acknowledge our weakness and limitations – that we are humans who have spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.

In many ways, rest is an act of faith.

For choosing to step away from schedules and work obligations requires that we entrust our needs, problems, and plans to God.

Many of us fret and toil thinking that we are reliant on ourselves, forgetting that it is from God that we receive the ability to work and provide for ourselves (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

As Psalm 127:2 says,

“It is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living. God takes care of his own, even while they sleep.”

We do not have to anxiously work as if everything depended on us.

Likewise, we can engage in rest trusting God will continue to meet our needs.

He is the source of our life and salvation, not ourselves.

As we rest in faithfulness, we look forward to the ultimate rest that awaits us in eternity (Hebrews 4:9-11).

This is the final rest that is the culmination of our faith – living forever with the Lord in His Kingdom, and on the New Earth.

Until then, continue to follow Jesus, obeying Him in our working and resting.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit

Praying …..

Psalm 121 Revised Standard Version

Assurance of God’s Protection

A Song of Ascents.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From whence does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved,
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade
    on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and for evermore.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

A New Identity in Christ? My ego is no longer central? Christ’s life will show me how and enable me to do it. Galatians 2:20-21

Galatians 2:20-21 Revised Standard Version

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification[a] were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Some biblical verses reach so deeply into the heart of the gospel that they change the way you see everything. 

Galatians 2:20 stands among the most powerful declarations in Scripture.

Paul describes a life reshaped, redefined, and reborn through union with Christ.

He invites you to see that the Christian life is not powered by our efforts but by Crucified Savior Christ living in you.

This is not a theory.

It is reality.

A new identity, a new power, and a new way of envisioning being in the world.

Paul’s words remind us that the old ways of life built on striving, fear, and self-righteousness has come to an end.

A new life, empowered by the Son of God who loves you and gave Himself for you, has begun.

When this truth settles into your heart, it changes not only what you believe but how you live.

Today, we step into the beauty of a life shaped by Christ within.

Big Idea 1: Your Old Life Has Ended Through the Cross

Paul begins with a powerful truth.

You have been crucified with Christ.

This does not mean you lose your personality or your humanity.

It means the old system of earning righteousness, carrying guilt, and chasing identity has been put to death.

The cross is not only an event that saved you.

It is the place where your old self was laid down and a new self was raised.

Many believers struggle because they try to live the Christian life with the old mindset.

They fear failure.

Believers often try to earn what God freely gives.

They cling to old labels, old wounds, and old patterns.

Paul reminds you that the person who lived under the weight of sin is no longer there.

In Christ, the old is dead, and the new has come.

Seeing yourself through the lens of the cross changes the way you approach everything.

You are not fighting for victory, you are fighting from victory.

You are not earning acceptance; you are living from acceptance.

Freedom grows when you believe what Christ has done in you.

Big Idea 2: The Life You Live Today Is Christ Living in You

Paul says, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

This is the heart of Christian transformation.

The Christian life is not self-improvement.

It is Christ-empowered living. Jesus does not simply inspire you.

He indwells you.

He strengthens you, guides you, convicts you, and equips you.

This means change is possible because Christ is present.

Holiness is achievable because Christ is your power.

Obedience becomes joyful because Christ is your strength.

Your life does not depend on your willpower but on His presence.

When we pick up our bible’s, study scripture, pray Proverbs 3:5-10 to understand this transforming truth, spiritual growth becomes less and less about striving and more and more about what it means to authentically surrender self to God.

Proverbs 3:5-10 Revised Standard Version

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh[a]
    and refreshment[b] to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your substance
    and with the first fruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

The life you now live, you live by faith.

Faith keeps you connected to Christ.

It invites His power into your weakness.

Faith reminds you that you are not walking alone.

Christ in you is the hope of glory and the source of your transformation.

Big Idea 3: Grace Becomes the Foundation of Your Identity and Confidence

Paul ends this passage with a warning and a promise.

He will not nullify the grace of God.

If righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

This truth guards your heart against replacing grace with effort.

Grace secures your identity, anchors your confidence, and reminds you that Christ’s sacrifice was complete and all-sufficient.

Grace does not make you passive.

It makes you grateful.

Grace frees you to obey out of love rather than fear.

It removes the pressure to perform, replaces it with the joy of living in Christ.

When grace becomes your foundation, prayer life deepens, hope strengthens, and your confidence rests no longer in yourself but in the One who loved you and gave Himself for you (Philippians 2:5-11).

Philippians 2:5-11 Revised Standard Version

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,[a] being born in the likeness of men.  8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You and I live in the freedom of a love which cannot be earned, won at any high stakes poker game or with a spin from a roulette wheel, will not be withdrawn.

Christ’s death declares your worth.

His life within you declares your purpose.

When I reflect on my life and who and where I once was, it’s easy to see how I’ve tried to define myself by my past, my mistakes, and the roles I’ve played.

There were times when I thought my whole identity was tied to my job, my achievements, or even how others saw me.

I struggled as I compared myself with others, thinking that who I was could only be measured by external success or someone else’s approval. 

But then I found freedom in Christ. 

Galatians 2:20 became a truth that I can hold on to—I no longer have to define myself by my past or even by what I’ve done.

I am now defined by the life Christ lives in me.

In him, my identity is secure.

No more striving to earn a sense of worth; no more living under the weight of expectations that I cannot hope to meet.

In Christ, I am a new creation. 

This new identity in Christ does not mean I don’t/I won’t still struggle with old habits or old thoughts.

But it does mean I have a foundation that is not built on shifting sand. 

Matthew 7:24-29 Revised Standard Version

Hearers and Doers

24 “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

I can live with peace because the indelible truth is that I belong to Savior Jesus.

My identity is wrapped up in his love, his grace, the work he has done for me.

Galatians 2:20-21 pulls you into the center of the gospel and your identity.

You are crucified with Christ.

You are raised with Christ. Christ lives in you.

His grace sustains you, his love defines you, and his presence empowers you.

This is more than belief.

It is reality.

It shapes your decisions, your relationships, your purpose, and your confidence.

As you walk with God today, let this truth settle deeply into your heart.

John 14:22-27 Revised Standard Version

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Christ died for you, He was resurrected for you, Christ lives in you, those truths changes everything.

“In the name of God, the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”

Praying ….

Psalm 91Revised Standard Version
Assurance of God’s Protection

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand;
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,[a]
    the Most High your habitation,
10 no evil shall befall you,
    no scourge come near your tent.

11 For he will give his angels charge of you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder,
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
    and show him my salvation.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? Walking, Living and Loving in Newness of Life. Romans 6:1-7

Romans 6:1-7 New American Standard Bible

Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 [a] Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become [b]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [c]in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old [d]self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be [e] done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is [f]freed from sin.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Romans 6:1–14 explores how Christians should think about and respond to sin now that we are in Christ and our sins are forgiven.

In explaining this, Paul reveals new information about what happened when we put our faith in Christ. In a spiritual sense, we died with Him, and to our sin.

What does it mean to let sin reign in your body?

Sin remains in the body and if it is not kept in check, it will reign in the body.

Sin is not dead, but the Christian must be diligent to remain dead to sin.

The Christian is encouraged to yield the body as a slave to righteousness and holiness and not allow sin to reign, for God provides a way out.

What does Paul mean when he says we are dead to sin?

Being “dead to sin” means we renounce it once and for all.

This is called “repentance,” or changing your mind toward sin.

It means you were once the lord of your own life.

However, from this point forward, you are going to do a 180 degree about-face, follow Jesus as the Lord of your life. Repentance is the essence of conversion.

What does Romans 6 verse 4 mean?

Paul means to communicate a real spiritual transaction took place when we were saved.

On a spiritual level, we experienced death and burial with Christ.

Then God gloriously raised us from that spiritual death just as He raised Christ from physical death.

I. A Whole New You

What do you think of when you hear the phrase, “a whole new you”.

What if we were to type that phrase into an online search engine?

What kinds of sites do you think we would be directed to by that phrase?

Well, I did just that the other day and I bet you can guess the kinds of subjects, the kinds of services, that were being promoted with that very phrase.

There were sites, of course, about health and fitness and dietary wellness.

There were sites about all manner of cosmetic surgeries.

There were sites recommended having to do with continuing education, and time-management, fashion, an idea called “the power of conscious breathing”.

But why…why are people interested in discovering “a whole new you”?

And will any of those things I just mentioned from those search results, will anything of those things really, authentically, produce “a whole new you”?

Let’s bring these very questions to God’s word this morning.

Turn with me back to Romans 6.

II. The Passage: “Walk in Newness of Life” (6:1-7)

Romans 6:1-7 Christian Standard Bible

The New Life in Christ

6 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness[a] of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be[b] in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self[c] was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin[d] might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed[e] from sin.

One of the most powerful truths of the Christian faith is that we don’t have to stay the same.

Through Jesus, we have been given the gift of new life—right here, right now.

We are not just slightly improved versions of our old selves.

We have been made new from the inside out. 

Paul’s words in Romans 6 remind us just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we too are invited into resurrection living.

That means the habits, thought patterns, and shame that once held us back no longer have to define us. The past no longer has the final word.

Grace does. 

Of course, walking in newness doesn’t always feel instant.

Often it means taking one small step of faith at a time.

But every step forward in obedience is a declaration that you belong to the risen Savior Christ and that your life is a living testimony to his transforming power.

Have you ever felt “undone” in the presence of God?  

If so, what happened or what came as a result?

Is there a space for you that feels holy?

Where and what is it about that space?

HEART
How can we live a life which is more sensitive to the holy that is all around us?

Why do you hold the site of true Godly holiness may cause a fear response in us?

When we feel undone, unworthy before the almighty, how should we respond?

HANDS
If love and holiness are tied together, how may you be able to seek to be more loving like Jesus is loving (turning the other cheek, praying for those who will persecute you/your enemies, forgiving, involvement ministry and mission?  

Matthew 10:1-8 New American Standard Bible

The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

10 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; and [a]James the son of Zebedee, and his brother [b]John; 3 Philip and [c]Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; [d] James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the [e]Zealot, and too Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road [f]to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, [g]preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

The 1981 movie The Blues Brothers, small-time criminals Jake and Elwood Blues receive a vision in church to reunite their band in order to save their former orphanage. To convince some of the band members to join them, they have only one message to convey: “We’re on a mission from God.”

In a sense, Jesus was doing the same with his disciples. He gathered them together and told them they were on a mission from God.

What was the mission?

They were invited to change lives in the name of Jesus.

Jesus empowered those twelve disciples to do amazing things in his name..

They were authorized to drive demons away and heal people from all kinds of sicknesses.

Jesus was not interested in making a name for himself, or building up his poll numbers.

He was announcing that the kingdom of God was on the move.

It was time for God’s agenda to be known in the life and actions of the Savior.

He gave his followers a mission from God, and the world will never be the same because of it.

That includes you and me too.

We have been sent into our neighborhoods to share the story of forgiveness in the name of Jesus. We have been sent into the places of trouble and despair to model the life-affirming witness of the Savior. We are on a mission from God!

Who in your life needs a gesture of God’s love this week to strangely warm their souls, how will you participate in helping God communicate HIs love for them? 

You are not who you used to be.

By God’s grace, you are becoming more of the person he has called you to be.

“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”

Praying ….

Psalm 15 New American Standard Bible

Description of a Citizen of Zion.

A Psalm of David.

15 Lord, who may reside in Your tent?
Who may settle on Your holy hill?
2 One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander [a]with his tongue,
Nor do evil to his neighbor,
Nor bring shame on his friend;
4 A despicable person is despised in his eyes,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change;
5 He does not [b]lend his money [c]at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things will never be shaken.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Recalling, Reflecting the enduring promise of God’s unfailing love in Every new day. Psalm 118:21-25

Psalm 118:21-25 Revised Standard Version

21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me
    and hast become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the head of the corner.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech thee, O Lord!
    O Lord, we beseech thee, give us success!

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Good morning this is the day the Lord has made!

Depending on how your day or week is going, you may not be too excited for me to give you this awesome welcome to a new day.

Still, as the scriptures do proclaim His truth; today is the day the Lord has made.

We all have days which rain down mixed blessings and Psalm 118 is all about finding the blessing in the midst of trials that bring those feelings of anxiety.

So let’s rejoice in the promises of God’s blessings and still remain glad in them.

How can our struggling countenance rejoice and be glad in our days when your life feels full of unlimited measures of both chaos, frustration and sadness?

What does it mean in Psalm 118:24 that this is the day that the Lord has made?

Psalm 118 is a very important Messianic psalm points directly to God whose goodness and grace lasts forever, and it identifies Jesus as Israel’s coming Messiah who has become their strength and stay.

And Jesus is our Redeemer as well. This is a psalm that rejoices over our great salvation and points directly to the Lord Jesus as our mighty Deliverer. 

This is a song that is attached to the very core of God’s own heart, for it is referring to the scheduled day when the Lord Jesus Christ will sit upon His heavenly-ordained throne as David’s rightful heir in the holy city of Jerusalem.

THIS is the day the Lord has made.

THIS is the day of Christ.

THIS is the day of Israel’s redemption when His people cry out to the Lord Jesus: “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna!”

THIS is the day when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our GOD and of His Christ.

This is the song of rejoicing and praise which Israel will sing on that thrilling morning when their long-awaited Messiah rides into Jerusalem in power and great glory at His second advent.

Then He will set up His eternal kingdom in the midst of His people Israel, as King of kings, Lord of lords, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of ALL.

What a day that will be.

When the psalmist says, “This is the day that the LORD has made,” it’s not just about sunny skies and good vibes. It’s a declaration that no matter what the day holds, it is still God’s.

It means that God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness are already waiting for you in this day. Even when life feels unpredictable, God’s love doesn’t waver or stop. 

Rejoicing doesn’t mean pretending that everything is fine. It means choosing to trust the One who made the day—and who holds you in it.

Each morning brings a new opportunity to rest in God’s love, to find joy not in perfection but in God’s presence. 

You don’t have to carry yesterday’s weight into today. God’s love is new each morning—and it will meet you again tomorrow.

What rejoicing will flood the earth for this is the great day towards which the Lord’s plan of redemption has been steadily moving for millennia.

This is the day when God’s favor towards mankind will reach its fulfilment.

This is the day when there will be a resounding chorus of great joy, as all God’s people unite together with one great chorus of praise, as we sing in unison:

“This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever.”

At His first coming Jesus came to His own people, but they rejected Him; and yet He was the royal Son of David, the Anointed of God.

He was the Stone which the builders rejected, yet He is the One who became the chief Cornerstone.

The man who falls on the Stone will be broken to pieces (saved by grace through faith) BUT on whosoever that Stone falls (unbeliever) will be scattered like dust.

At His first advent, they disapproved of His birth.

They criticized Jesus because He was from Galilee.

They disapproved of His lack of formal education and were highly critical when He exposed their hypocrisy, religiosity and man-made traditions.

They condemned Him for being a friend of tax collectors, lepers, crippled, and of talking, drinking water with a Samaritan woman and eating with prostitutes.

They closed their ears to His teaching, their eyes to His miracles and their heart to His Truth, .

At His first coming, a Roman spear pierced His side, from which poured out redemption’s blood-red stream over the sinful race of fallen man – as a dying, sin-cursed earth, groaned beneath the weight of sin, waiting in fervent hope for this special day of redemption.

And the sharp, double-edged sword which proceeds forth from His mouth at His second coming will destroy the wicked in the day of wrath, and the earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

What does it mean this is the day that the Lord has made?

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24.

Each day is an unmistakably rich and precious gift from God, with new grace and new opportunities.

Jesus says that we have only this one day, and we must not be anxious for the day tomorrow.

This will be a day of great rejoicing and much joy; a day of blessing and grace; of health and happiness; of righteousness, justice; prosperity; peace and pardon.

This is the day when crowds will gather at the glorious second advent of Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, all nations will join in the joyous celebrations to honor the Lord most high.

This is the day of Christ’s glorious exaltation, which began with His rejection and humiliation at Calvary’s cross, but will climax on His great coronation day.

How we look forward to that day, when together we will sing: “This is the day that the Lord has made. We WILL rejoice and be glad in it!”

How can I apply Psalm 118:24 today?

Psalm 118:24 infuses meaning into today to know that God has made the day and has a purpose for it. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. The God who made us made everything that’s around us on this day that we have to experience. He’s made this day, so let us all rejoice.

In the name of God, the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 103 Revised Standard Version

Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness

A Psalm of David.

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live[a]
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works vindication
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor requite us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
    so the Lord pities those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
    upon those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    hearkening to the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers that do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Meanwhile, living in such a way that the Gospel Message being witnessed to reflects, mirrors, His glory alone. Philippians 1:27-30.

Philippians 1:27-30 Amplified Bible

27 Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one [a]mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.  28 And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God. 29 For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 [and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which [b]you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Here, Apostle Paul focuses on how we represent the gospel in our lives. This is a personal challenge on how we reflect and defend the faith of the Gospel (v28).

While Paul is chained to a Roman soldier, he saw this as our primary purpose as God’s believers here and now. This idea builds up to Philippians 2:15 writing:

‘that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked, and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world’

In this 21st century technology dependent age, we need to raise our awareness level and realize that as believers, we are on full satellite display to the world.

How we reflect the gospel is important.

Is our ‘conduct’… ‘worthy of the gospel of Christ’? (1:27).

I like this poem:

You are writing a Gospel,

A chapter each day,

By the deeds that you do

And the words that you say.

Men read what you write,

Whether faithful or true:

Just what is the Gospel

According to you?

(source unknown)

The best Christian witnessing material, whether tracts or YouTube links are no substitute for your own Biblically correct witness, by the way you live your life.

In a number of places Apostle Paul continually reminded the church:

‘walk worthy of the Lord’ (Col 1:10)

‘walk worthy of your calling’ (Eph 4:1)

This representation can also be carried into Christian unity.

Paul writes our public behaviors must stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, (Philippians 1:27)

Our unity (one faith, one Gospel, one God, one mind) should be wrapped up in our purpose (The faith of the gospel).

Jesus final prayer for the church before His betrayal solidifies this lesson.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

Is this what we are actually, authentically, genuinely ‘striving together’ towards?

The way we dress, the way we smile or scowl, the way we carry ourselves, the tone and content of our speech… Every day, we are always making statements to all of those around us about what really matters and what life truly consists of.

For Christians, such statements should be in harmony with the gospel.

So Paul called the Philippians to close the gap between their beliefs and their behavior—between the creed they professed and the conduct they displayed.

Christ’s call to us today is no different. Even so, however mature we are in our faith and however much we close the gap, there always remains more to do.

Paul’s phrase “let your manner of life” comes from the Greek verb politeuesthe, which the NIV translates as “conduct yourselves.”

The root of this word comes from polis, which means “city,” and gives us other words like police and politics.

In a very real sense, Paul is concerned with Christian citizenship and conduct.

As we understand ourselves to be members of the city of God, we learn what it means to live as strangers and ambassadors in that other city, the city of man.

When we close the gap between belief and behavior and actions, others will get a foretaste of heaven through their interactions with us.

So what kind of statement should our actions make?

Simply this: the gospel of Christ is a gospel of love.

We see this in the words of John: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11).

In other words, just as God loves us, so we should love God and those around us—even those whom we, or others, tend to see as unlovely or unlovable—should do it with hope and joy! This message of love is the challenge that Paul gives us.

Not merely in the words you say,
Not only in the deeds confessed,
But in the most unconscious way
Is Christ expressed.[1]

1 Attributed to Beatrice Cleland, “Indwelt,” in, for instance, Our Aim: A Monthly Record of the Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia 68, no. 7 (17 March, 1955), p 1.

Isaiah 64:6-7 The Message
Can We Be Saved?

64 1-7 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
    make the mountains shudder at your presence—
As when a forest catches fire,
    as when fire makes a pot to boil—
To shock your enemies into facing you,
    make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
    descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
Since before time began
    no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
    who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
    who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you’ve been with us!
    We’ve sinned and kept at it so long!
    Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
    Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
We dry up like autumn leaves—
    sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind.
No one prays to you
    or makes the effort to reach out to you
Because you’ve turned away from us,
    left us to stew in our sins.

Pray, about how you will dress today, when you will smile, when you will scowl, how you will carry yourself today, the tone and content of your speech today.

What kind of statements are you making to the world?

Let them be ones that are worthy of the gospel of love.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …..

Praying ….

Psalm 16 New American Standard Bible

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.

A [a]Mikhtam of David.

16 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord;
I have nothing good besides You.”
3 As for the [d]saints who are on the earth,
[e]They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
4 [f]The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

7 I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
Indeed, my [g]mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to [h]Sheol;
You will not [i]allow Your [j]Holy One to [k]undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

We were all reportedly taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old selves which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitudes of our minds. Ephesians 4:17-24

Ephesians 4:17-24 New American Standard Bible

The Christian’s Walk

17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the [a]Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, [b]excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior [c]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old [d]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new [e]self, which [f]in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There comes a time when carrying the luggage of our old life just weighs too much. 

I remember more than just a few seasons where I kept rehearsing past failures, clinging to shame like a heavy coat in summer. I knew God was calling me to move forward, but it felt safer to stay in the familiar—even if it was painful. 

Ephesians 4:22-24 hits a grand slam here. Paul reminds us that the old self—the habits, thought patterns, and lies we’ve believed—must be put off.

Like clothing that doesn’t fit anymore, or has a multitude of holes in the back and front, we are meant to take it off so we can live in the freedom God offers. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 New American Standard Bible

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [a]divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

Letting go is not always a dramatic or hallelujah moment. Sometimes it’s just quiet and deliberate. It includes choosing not to respond the way we used to.

It means surrendering a mindset that has held us captive.

It involves refusing to let guilt define us when grace is freely offered.

We can’t fully embrace the new if we are still clinging to the old. 

What is God inviting you to release today? Whatever it is, trust that his grace is enough to carry you forward. 

As a believer in Christ we are to kiss our old selves good bye and say hello to a new life. It is important to see that the structure of these verses goes like this:

Say goodbye to the old self, RENEWAL IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MINDS, then put on the new self.

The new self is covered and full of God, which also includes living out His righteousness and holiness.

However, it is important that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior so that we can have a renewal of our minds in order for the new self to be lived.

Paul said that to walk as the Gentiles walk is to walk after the old ways of the flesh (self) instead of the new way of the spirit.

It’s living in response to the natural world (what we see, hear, and touch). The futility of their mind ruled them. (Futility (mataiotes) means vain, empty, and devoid of truth.) It is a disillusioned and disconnected way of thinking and living.

The natural life is devoid of the truth of God.

The natural mind can only process what is in the natural world- feelings, experiences, self-will, etc.

It is like trying to make a meal in a dark room; the utensils, food, and oven are there, but all you have are instincts and self-will, but no direction because of the darkness.

You drop the knife on the floor, but it slipped under a cabinet; the oven is gas and requires a match but you don’t know where the matches are stored.

While you search for the matches, you realize the room is beginning to have a sick-sweet smell.

The gas had been left on too long, and the room was a ticking bomb; one light of the match and all would be lost.

This is what it is like to live in the futility and darkness of the mind.

When one lives based on feelings and self-will, all they have is their own smarts to get them by.

Some may do better than others based on intelligence and family background, but “self” will always deceive them.

Paul said to live in the futility of the mind is to be excluded from the life of God.

Excluded in the original word (apallotrioo) means to be “shut out from fellowship and intimacy” or a “non-participant.”

To be included in Christ is like trying to make a meal with all lights turned on.

Not only is the room brightly lit, but it is even better than that.

Grace is like Jesus coming into the kitchen, telling you to sit down while He makes the meal for you and cleans up!

People are fumbling around in the dark because they don’t know the kitchen is wired for light- they are ignorant of reality.

All can experience the light, but they have to be aware of the truth and receive it.

Stubborn unbelief keeps people in the dark; they either have never heard that there is some good news (the kitchen has been wired for light), or they all just want to keep fumbling around doing it their way.

The old way is destined for failure.

Paul said, “Lay aside the old self.”

When someone has received Christ, their old self was crucified with Christ. So why are we exhorted to lay the old self aside?

It is because many Christians, unaware that they died with Christ, are trying to reform their old selves.

It’s a lost cause.

Our flesh cannot be improved. What we need and what Christ offers is a brand new life-His life.

The supernatural and abundant life we’re called to live can only be received by faith and experienced by walking in the spirit.

We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual.

Everyone born again is born of the spirit.

Since we are already in the spirit, let us walk after the spirit.

“and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” Ephesians 4:23

To be renewed means that we are completely changed.

We go from making choices based on “self” to making choices based on what the Spirit spoke to us.

We start making wise decisions, and our lives go from hard to restful.

This doesn’t happen just by chance.

We have some work to do; this “work” is to change how we think.

On the day you were born again, a lot of things changed, but your way of thinking probably did not change.

If you liked vanilla cake and drove recklessly before you were saved, then you probably liked vanilla cake and drove recklessly after you were saved.

This is why the scriptures exhort us to put off the old and put on the new and be renewed in the spirit of our minds.

What you do follows what you think, what you think follows what you believe.

Renew your thinking so that your thoughts align with what God says about you.

You are what you believe.

“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24

You are righteous and holy, so act like it.

See yourself as God sees you.

Be who you truly are.

To put on the new man is choosing to walk in the new way of the spirit instead of the old ways of the flesh.

We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual.

You are Created in righteousness.

You have been made into a new person, as righteous and holy as Jesus.

You are not being made righteous or righteous by your behavior- that is what is called man-made religion.

Manmade religion defines righteousness as morally good behavior or holy and right living according to God’s standard.

These are poor definitions for they suggest we can become righteous through proper performance.

Provided we live according to God’s standard or laws, God will judge us righteous.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Righteousness in the new covenant is the state of being right with God.

It is being able to say, “In Christ, I am holy, just, and right with God. I am loved by God, and God is for me.”

Jesus was made to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor 5:21).

Jesus was not made sin because he was a sinner, and you were not made righteous because you acted righteously.

God did it all.

You were stamped righteous for all eternity when you put your faith in Jesus.

At one time, you were unrighteous, but you were washed, sanctified, and declared righteous in the name of the Lord.

To be made righteous means you have had a complete renovation.

Righteousness means you are no longer the crooked person you used to be. While in Adam, you had inclinations that led you towards sin, no matter how hard you tried to avoid it.

In Christ, you are inclined to walk straight and true.

You desire to please the Lord.

It’s not that you are incapable of sinning.

It is just that sinning no longer appeals.

When you sin, it bothers you—“I wish I hadn’t done that”—testifying that this behavior is contrary to your new nature.

God wants us to discard our old lifestyles as we begin a new life with Him.

Every day, we get fresh mercy from above that gives us the chance to do better.

As long as we live, we’ll struggle with our sinful nature.

The Lord knows our trials and tribulations and gives us the Holy Spirit to help us renew our minds, put on the new self with true righteousness and holiness.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Praying …..

Psalm 93 New American Standard Bible

The Majesty of the Lord.

93 The Lord [a]reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength.
Indeed, the world is firmly established; it will not be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
You are from eternity.

3 The floods have lifted up, Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
4 More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.
5 Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness is pleasing to Your house,
Lord, [b]forevermore.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/