If You Are Tempted

If you are tempted, remember temptation is deception. The appeal of temptation is to our selfish nature. Temptation deceives us through vision, imagination, and pleasant feelings. It is enticing, baiting our pleasure. Its deception must be recognized. Don't be deceived.

God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

You may ask, "What is the way of escape from temptation?" Jesus said, I am the way (John 14:6). He is the way to the Father, who is faithful to those who are tempted. He provides the way of escape. Jesus understands temptation. He was tempted, yet without sin. Jesus overcame the deception of temptation through the truth of Scripture.

Don't flirt with temptation. It promises much, only as bait to deceive. Overcome temptation with the truth of God. Temptation's deception is broken with a truth encounter. Jesus said, If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32). Temptation is deception. It is defeated when you know the truth. If you are tempted, don't be deceived.

Faith That's Firm

Your faith will be tried and tested in this world. It will be mocked by the scoffer. It will be threatened by life situations. Nevertheless, faith's firm foundation will not change with the times, break under pressure, nor crumble into doubt and unbelief. Faith is a gift of God upon a constant, firm foundation. Faith stands firm upon the truth of God. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

The most important part of a house is not what the eyes can see. By far, the most important part of any house is a firm foundation. Otherwise, the house is subject to many hazards. So it is with your faith. There must be a firm foundation or it will not stand the test of time. Consider the foundation of your faith.

The firm foundation for the people of God is Holy Scripture. The Bible is built upon the testimony of the apostles and the prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. You have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15).

The Bible is a firm foundation. All Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is Holy Scripture because of the Holy Spirit. Your faith stands upon a firm foundation. Faith based upon anything else cannot survive the test. But the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

Your Weak Point

Consider your weak point in life. You may think of it as an embarrassment or a temptation. You may try to hide it. You certainly wouldn't want others to know about it. Give your weakness to God. Let God use your weakness to reveal His strength.

Where you are weak God says, My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). God's grace glories in revealing strength through your weakness. Ask God to get glory out of your weakness. Submit your weak point to God in prayer.

Notice in the Bible, God most often chose people with weakness and personal flaws of inability to serve Him. He always gets the glory to use those who are weak in the eyes of the world. Don't think God cannot use you because you are weak. Find strength for weakness. Depend completely upon God's grace with your weak point.

Those who think God uses them because they are strong and smart are subject to arrogance and pride. Where you are weak, there you can cast yourself upon God's grace and strength. Then you can say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Consider your weak point, and ask God for grace and strength.

It's Who You Know

It's not what you know, but who you know that counts. Maybe you have heard those words. The implication is clear. Success in life is not how much you know, but who you know. If you know the right people, then you have it made in life. Yet, it's true, if you know the Lord.

Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal relationship? Talk to Him and walk with Him. Be sure that He is real to you everyday and always. Jesus said, And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20, TLB). 

If you don't know Jesus, invite Him into your life. The Spirit of Christ is everywhere. Only faith recognizes His presence. The Spirit of Christ lives in the hearts of all who trust Him. We know His love and find His help day after day. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (Romans 8:9, NKJV).

The Spirit of Christ is the same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for all your sins. Believe that Jesus is risen from the dead. Confess Him as your Lord. Then you can know Him today and everyday.

As a believer, confess even now, Jesus is Lord. He will make Himself real to you. And no one is able to say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3 NLT). It's who you know, if you know the Lord.

God's Will for You

Understand God's will for your life. God's revealed will for you is recorded in the Bible. You may not know all you want to know, but you certainly know all you need to know in the Bible, to live a life pleasing to God.

Therefore be not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17). The wisdom of God is found in the word of God. Read it in your Bible. Know that the word of God is the revealed will of God for your life.

Don't worry about what you don't know concerning God's will. Focus on what you do know. When you are obeying the word of God, you are doing the will of God. He will enable you and provide opportunities for you to do his will.

God does have a plan for your life. It is revealed in the Bible. The same Holy Spirit, who inspired the Bible, works in you to know and do God's good will. He guides you into all truth that you may know God's revealed will.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2, NIV). That's how you know God's will for you revealed in the Bible.

Difficult Situations

Difficult situations in your life can become a heavy burden. Sooner or later, it becomes too much for you. Your strength is depleted. You give up in a helpless situation. When you labor under a burden of worry and anxious care, there is help which comes from God. The LORD is there for you. He shall sustain you through your difficult situations of life. Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain you (Psalm 55:22). 

Cast your burden upon the LORD in prayer. God is the LORD. That's God's covenant name. In the LORD's covenant word, He promises to help the believer trusting in Him. In both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, the LORD promises to be the Helper. Believe the promise of God with sure confidence. He is there for you.

The burdens of life will come. You know what to do with them. Take your burden to the LORD. If you trust the sure covenant promise of the LORD, He shall sustain you. Take your burden to the LORD through the prayer of faith. Base your faith on the covenant promise of God.

What's your situation today? If you are going through a difficult situation, cast your burden upon the LORD. He is sure to perform His word of promise in your life as a believer. Now, you can say, The LORD is my helper (Psalm 118:6). God is your helper through difficult situations.

Doubt and Unbelief

Faith is confident to defeat doubt and unbelief. The reason is clear. Faith is confidence in God. Faith is assurance based upon the truth found in God's inspired word, the Bible. You see, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith gives you assurance, because you take God at His word.

Doubt can never be confident. No matter what doubt hears, there is never any certain assurance. Not only that, but doubt thinks no one else can really know that God is real. Doubt says, "Maybe God is real and maybe He's not. There are times I've thought He is, then again I think He's not." Doubt thinks those who say they believe in God are really just playing a religious game.

Unbelief is dogmatic. Unbelief says, "There is no God. It is ignorant and uneducated people who say they believe in God. How stupid. Show me the evidence. If there is a God, I would know it and understand." Unbelief lifts himself up in pride, looking down on others who believe.

Faith is confident in God, and you can be sure that God is at work in you. Faith is confidence with God our Father, and Jesus our Lord and Savior. Faith is confident in love, because God is love (1 John 4:8). Faith makes you confident with love, joy, and peace. Faith is confident through the Holy Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (Galatians 5:22).

Know the Truth

Know the truth that can change your life. Truth overcomes confusion and misunderstanding. The bright light of truth quickly conquers the darkness of the lie. The Bible teaches that everyone lives under the power of the truth or the lie. Sometime the lie disguises as the truth. The lie is deceptive. 

The lie binds the lives of people. Prisoners of the lie do not even understand that they are bound. Only when the light of truth permeates their minds and hearts can they be made free. Jesus said, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32). 

God is the source of eternal truth. God brings the truth into our lives, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The Bible is God's word of truth. The Son of God said, I am the truth (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is known as the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). Then you're free from the lie.

Ask God to show you the truth. He will. The Holy Spirit brings the truth to you through the Bible. He confirms the truth in your heart, that you may know the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the truth. When you know Christ, you know the truth. The power of truth sets you free from the lie.

God's Grace to You

God's grace to you gives rain with fruitful seasons. Every provision is God's grace to you. God saves you from the law of sin and death by grace through faith in Christ. God works in and through you to do His will by grace. You are sustained through the hard times by God's grace. All of life is God's grace to you.

Your testimony as a believer echoes the words of the apostle Paul. But by the grace of God I am what I am,  and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (First Corinthians 15:10). That's God's grace to you.

Grace to you is unmerited favor. There is no way you can merit nor earn the favor of God. It comes to you only as a gift to be freely received. Faith in Jesus Christ receives the grace of God. Don't fall for the idea that you can somehow be good enough to merit God's favor. Grace is not for good people. Grace is for sinners, and that includes all of us.

The only way that you can have a personal relationship with God is by grace through faith. He must reveal himself to you and in you. That has been appropriately called amazing grace. It's not what you do for God. It's what God has done for you in Christ. All you are, or ever hope to be, is by God's grace to you.

When You Need Help

When you need help, don't forget that you have a helper who is available. Call upon the Lord. Trust him. God is the faithful and dependable helper who is with you. He will comfort you and strengthen your faith. God is your helper.

That is why we can say with confidence, The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Hebrews 13:6, NLT). 

God will encourage you with his word of promise. He will give you peace that you may rest in him. God is your helper in circumstances that seem impossible. As a believer, you are never without the helper.

We all go through difficult times when we need help. Without God's help, we may be defeated and depressed. The good news is that God is the help of the helpless. In times of difficulty, you can know he will help you, according to the promise of his word.

The circumstances of life can change fast to show you irrefutably that you are helpless without the Lord. But, don't forget the good news that God is your helper. When you need help, then you can testify, The Lord is my helper.

Free from All Guilt

Do you ever feel unworthy before God because of guilt? There's good news. You can be free from all guilt before God. He has provided the way for you to be cleansed from all sin. Grace is greater than all your sin at the cross of Jesus. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20).

God has provided the way for you to be cleansed from all sin at the cross of Jesus. Admit to God that you have done wrong and trust Jesus Christ to take away all of your sins. By faith in Christ you receive cleansing from all guilt and shame. 

Maybe there is a particular sin from the past that robs you of peace and joy. As a believer in Jesus Christ, you can confess that sin to God, knowing the promise of His word. He is faithful to forgive you. Simply take God at His word of promise. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Don't choose to doubt God's promise by saying, "I would like to believe God would forgive all my sins. I'm just not sure." Trust God's word of promise to you and say, "I believe God. He is faithful to forgive all my sins." Then, you can say, The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Grace abounds for you to be free from all guilt.

Hope for You Now

You don't have to be hopeless. Hope waits for you now. Many are afraid to trust hope for a better day. Unbelief defies hope, saying, "It will never get better. This is the way it has to be." You need hope now that does not give up. Hope comes to your heart burdened with a heavy load of anxiety. 

Hope brings you good news now. God cares about you. He welcomes your call for help. Hope encourages and comforts you now. Now hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5). Hope in God cannot fail, for with God all things are possible.

Hope comes now, but not alone to those who are hopeless. Hope brings faith. It is faith that teaches those who are hopeless to trust God, even when you don't understand. Faith and hope introduce one who is the greatest. He is love. God is love (1 John 4:8). Love cares about you. Love brings the comfort and encouragement that you need now.

Hope comes now by faith to discover love, even God's love. And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). When hope comes, faith arises and love is found. Faith, hope, and love come now to abide. Of these, the greatest is love, because God is love.  His love is hope for you now.

When Trouble Comes

Trouble is a part of this life. What do you do when trouble comes? Yet, there is a more important question. Will God help you? Unbelief says, "I have no reason to believe God will help me." Doubt says, "No one can be sure." Faith says, "I believe God can help me and I believe He will." What do you say?

God has all power in heaven and earth. There is no question that He can help you. Here is the question. Will God help you? Go to the Bible for your answer. God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1, NLT). Ask yourself this question. Do I believe the promise of God? Only by faith in the promise of God can you say, "Yes, God is ready to help me in times of trouble."

Would you help a friend or loved one in trouble? Surely you would. Then, would you think anything less of God? If your view of God is based upon His promise, you can trust God to help you. Would you promise to help someone and not keep your promise? Know for sure, God can and will keep His promise.

When trouble comes, pray the promise of God. Believe God to help you. Make God your refuge or safe place. Receive strength from God. Faith receives the promise of God's help. His promise is for every believer. It honors God when anyone stands firm upon His promise. It brings glory to God to help you in times of trouble.

Praise God Anyway

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name (Hebrews 13:15, ESV). When everything goes wrong, praise God anyway. That's the sacrifice of praise. God rules over all. Offer praise to God through the hard times, as well as the good. Praise God through it all. Praise God anyway!

Share your problems with God in prayer. More than that, praise God in the midst of the problems. Even if God chooses not to change your circumstances, it will change your attitude and thoughts. Look above your problems and praise God anyway.

Praise is the language of heaven. The praise of God never stops there. The song of heaven knows no end. Your prayers and songs of praise to God connects with heaven. Praise changes our hearts and our focus. We are no longer focused upon the problems but the one who is the solution.

God can change any situation in your life anytime he pleases. In a word, he is sovereign over heaven and earth. As you praise God, he may choose to bring amazing changes. However, if he chooses not to change your outward circumstances, praise God anyway. He will sustain you with grace on the way to victory over those circumstances.

Trust God's Purpose

God's purpose works for your good. That doesn't mean that you are exempt from suffering and trials. It does mean that God is working through all of it for your good. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28, NLT). Those who are called includes you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If bad things happen to you, trust God's purpose to work for your good. That's because God is always good. He is good to all, especially to those who know Him as Father. So, you can praise God on the bad days, trusting that God's purpose is working for your good.

Bad things may happen to you, but never doubt God's goodness. That means you never blame Him for evil, though the forces of evil in this world are real. One day God will completely destroy evil. Until then, God has a purpose to fulfill in you and the lives of all His children. Rest assured, that purpose is for your good.

Walking through the dark days can cause you to grow weary. Yet, hope says to you, God works for your good. Look for the morning star. You will see a new day, when God's purpose prevails in your life. Trust that God is working for your good, according to his purpose.

How to Be Patient

Most of us know that we need to be patient, but we may not understand how. Patience has to do with our relationship with God. Trying to be patient is a struggle sure to fail based only on will power. We may desire to be patient without understanding how.

Patience is a fruit of God's Spirit, never from sheer will power. Patience is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in us. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience (Galatians 5:22). We cannot be patient without yielding to the Holy Spirit. He will do through us, what we cannot do without Him. Our relationship with God's Spirit produces good fruit, including patience.

God's love produces patience within us. Love is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4). To be patient means we are filled with God's love. Patience is a characteristic of love. Ask God to fill you with the love of His Spirit. Patience will be a result. Impatience is a sure sign that we are not yielded to God's love.

God is love (1 John 4:8). As a result, God is patient and kind to us. Likewise, He wants us to be patient and kind to others. When we are not, it is a warning that we are not yielded to God's Spirit. We yield to Him to do in us what we cannot do ourselves. Submitting to the Holy Spirit is living in love and patience. God's love is patient and kind.

God Will Forgive You

God will forgive you, yet some people are not willing to receive forgiveness. If God will forgive us for our sins, why would anyone not be willing to receive forgiveness? Some people feel a need to punish themselves. Still others may be called "perfectionists." 

Self-punishment never works. Such a person may constantly put himself down for something he did wrong many years ago. Self-punishment disagrees with God's mercy. God knows our sinful nature. The Bible declares that all have sinned. God sent his Son to take the punishment for our sins. In essence, self-punishment rejects the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins.

Perfectionists can't believe that they would do something so wrong and so bad. The essence of this way of thinking is pride. They don't seem to understand that pride itself is a sin. A perfectionist is really thinking that he can be good enough to earn his way with God. His standard is high, too high. He has set himself up for certain failure.

God has provided the way for people to receive forgiveness. His name is JESUS. He is the complete and perfect sacrifice for sinners. He died to take away all of our sins. His punishment for us at the cross is sufficient for all our sins. He took our sins in his body at the cross. Those who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ receive total forgiveness. The blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin (1 John 1:7, NLT). 

Problems in Life

Do you have problems in your life that need to be resolved? Are you in situations that need to be changed? Ask the Lord what you should do about it. Read the Bible to apply it to your life. God can change your situation, or give you help to get through it.

The Bible is God's word to you that can change your circumstances. Read the word of God. Believe the word and do the word. Reading the Bible for information is not enough. Do the word, and see what God does in your life. Suppose a medical doctor gave you a prescription to heal some illness. It would only work if you filled the prescription and took the medicine as prescribed. So it is with the word of God.

How can the Bible change your life? It will be life changing for you only if you do the word. Many are willing to hear the word of God taught, but they do nothing about it. Only hearing the word will never change your life, but be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22). 

Hear the word taught. Read the word for yourself, but don't stop there. Do something about it to change your life. Read the Bible for more than history of the ancient past. Hear the word for more than a good sermon about God. Determine to do the word, and see what God will do in your life.

If Bad Things Happen

If bad things happen to you as a child of God, always trust God to bring good out of it. That's because God is always good. He is good to all, especially to those who know Him as Father. So, you can praise God on the bad days, as well as the good days, knowing that God will bring good out of it.

If bad things happen to you as a child of God, never doubt God's goodness. That means you never blame God for evil, though the forces of evil in this world are real. One day God will completely destroy evil. Until then, God has a purpose to fulfill in you and the lives of all His children. Rest assured, that purpose is good.

In your dark night of the soul, believe that the sun still shines, and that it shall break through your darkness with victory. Walking through the darkness can cause you to grow weary, but hope says to you, a new day is coming. Look for the morning star. You shall see a new day, when God's purpose prevails in your life. Know that God is working all things together for your good, according to His purpose.

God works in your life for good. That doesn't mean that you are exempt from suffering and trials. It does mean that God is working through all of it for your good. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28, NLT). Those who are called includes you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Fear Controls

Fear wants to control you. Fear wants to make your every decision. Fear has a plan for your life and there is nothing good about it. Fear will walk with you every day, until you say, no more. I will live by fear no more. Fear is a choice, even your choice.

Fear has many suggestions for you to think. What if this happened? All of the things fear introduces to your mind are not good. Fear will threaten you and intimidate you. Fear is a big bully, robbing you of peace and contentment. Fear will not go away until you say, no more. Resolve to fear no more with a better companion.

As a believer in the Lord, you have a Shepherd who is your constant companion. No better guide for life could you have. He will always lead you in the right path. He knows where to lead you and how to lead you. All you have to do is follow Him. When you choose His way, fear no more. The choice is yours. 

When fear controls your mind and decisions, the results are predictable. None of them are good. But, if you choose to walk with the Shepherd, the results will certainly be good, because He is always good. Then you can say to the Shepherd, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4, NLT).