Changing your mind

Our thoughts are incredibly powerful; they shape our relationships, our actions, and even our words. In Romans 12:2, Paul declares "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." To change your life, you must start by changing your mind. Replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. Think on the word of God and the wonderful things that God has promised and already done.

Make the choice

God has given us free will; He loves us enough to give us the chance to choose His will over our own. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20, the Lord declares "this day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him." We have the ability to choose to blessed or cursed, have life or death. Today, choose life and blessings, not just for yourself, but for the generations after you.

He's with you

When we we find ourselves in the low places in our lives, at times, it feels like everyone has deserted us. Thankfully, that is not so. In Isaiah 42:2, the Lord declares "when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. " When we face the most trying times in our lives, even when the ones who are closest to us desert us, God promised that He would be with us.

My hiding place

When children are afraid, their first reaction is to hide, oftentimes close to their parents. The same is true for believers; we have a hiding place close to our heavenly Father. In Psalm 27:5, David declares "for in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me." The nature of our trouble is not as important as the assurance in knowing that we have a hiding place, safe and secure, close to our Father.

I will trust you

When we trust someone, it is often because they have proven themselves to be trustworthy; we trust them because they have been faithful in keeping our trust, consistently doing what they have promised. In Psalm 9:10, David declares "those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. " When you know the Lord, there is no doubt that you will trust Him, as he has been faithful, and shows us consistent love as He gives us new mercies each day.

Struggle within

As believers, we have a strong desire to serve and please God. The Spirit that lives in us is constantly drawing us closer to God, but even the strongest Christian still has a struggle with their flesh. In Romans 7:19-20, Paul laments" For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me." As many of us, Paul struggled with his flesh; just as Paul, we can strengthen our spirit daily, strive to get closer to God, and serve God with the mind that He has given us to serve Him, in spite of our struggle within.

Quality assurance

Each company is responsible for ensuring that their product is safe and worthy to bear the company name, so the Quality Assurance Inspector pushes the product through a series of tests before the product goes out to the market. God uses our trials in much of the same manner. In James 1: 2-3, the Apostle says"count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." When, not if, we experience trials, we should consider those trials as tests of our faith, and go through them with joy. God is only testing our faith as He prepares to send us out into the world bearing His name.

Nothing like the real thing

Bank tellers become familiar with the different textures of both new and older printed money, so when they encounter a counterfeit bill, they can easily identify it. In Galatians 1:7-8, Paul warns his Galatians against those who preach a false gospel; he warns "evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned." As believers, we should be able to differentiate between the true gospel and counterfeit because we are intimately familiar with the truth.

Who is Jesus?

Although Christ can be all things to all people, our descriptions of who He is may vary. Some will say that He is their provider, protector, healer, elder brother, and of course, savior. In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked his disciples "Who do people say the son of man is?" The disciples replied ,"some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then He asked a pointed, personal question of "who do you say that I am?" Only Peter answered; in verse 16, he says "you are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Consider your answer; who is Jesus to you today?

God's kind of love

As we celebrate this season of love, we should remember those who are outside of our romantic relationships; show our love to our friends, family members, and church members. In 1 John 4:10, the apostle declares "this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." In verse 12, he says "no one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." When we show our love, we have a perfect example of our greatest lover; the one who loved us so much that He sacrificed his Son for our sakes.

All we need is love

The words "I love you" have become commonplace among our families, friends, and church members. When we say that we love each other, how are we loving one another? In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, Paul says"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." In Verse 13, he says "these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Of all the gifts that we have, the greatest gift is love; consider how we are loving one another when we profess love for one another.

God's canvas

During this winter season, it's easy to get discouraged as we look at the sheet of snow and ice outside of our windows. The cold temperatures, snow, and ice challenge us with slick roads and sidewalks and high heating costs. In Isaiah 6:3, the angels called to one another "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." Before you complain, take a good look outside of your window; marvel at the beauty of God's creation. Take a minute to admire the snow and ice glistening on the trees, and the peaceful stillness of the snow-covered landscape. Even in the midst of snow and ice, God is still the master painter.

Showing Love

For many, we see members of our church families more often than we see our natural families; between Sunday church services, Sunday school, Bible study, and special events, we see each other several times a week. Since we spend so much time together, it only makes sense that we show love for one another. In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, the Apostle says "we ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. " When we show love towards one another, we do more than just make ourselves feel loved; we demonstrate to others the love of Christ.

A Promise Deferred

In our generation, we want everything instantly. It's part of our culture; foods that used to take hours to cook and prepare now take just minutes, we have access to information from all over the world in almost every language at our fingertips. But God is not bound by our culture. When God makes a promise, He is certain to keep it, in His own time. In 2Peter 3:9, the Bible declares "the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness." When God delays fulfilling a promise, it is for your benefit; He fulfills the promise when we are ready to manage it, not just when we want it.

Stay Planted

Trees are one of God's most fascinating creations. They absorb dangerous chemicals in the air, then give the environment oxygen in return. Regardless of how a tree looks above the surface, its roots are planted deep in the ground, the tree's source of life. In Psalm 1:3, the Bible declares "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. "Just as the tree brings forth its fruit in its season, so will we, as long as we stay connected to the source of our life, Jesus Christ.

Setting your mind

An old saying says "you are what you think you are." The Apostle Paul would likely agree with that statement. In Colossians 1:1-2, he says "since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. " Although we have to live in this world, we should set our minds on the things of God, and focus on building God's kingdom.

Lover's Serenade

One of the most romantic gestures that a one can give for their lover is a beautiful serenade. In Psalm 59:16, David poured out his love for the Lord, the love of his life. He says "I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. " Regardless of his circumstances, David was resolved to worship God; he made a decision to worship God just because of his great love.

Predictions, Predictions

Every year, on Groundhog Day, the famous Punxsutawney Phil is placed on top of Gobbler's Knob, as many people believe that he is able to predict the number of weeks we have left in the Winter. In Isaiah 64:4, the prophet declared "since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he has prepared for him that waits for him." The famous groundhog may, or may not, be able to predict the number for weeks left in the Winter, but no one is able to predict the great things that God has in store for those who wait on Him.

Our help

At times, it seems as though we are all alone. When we find ourselves in troublesome situations, it seems like there is no one available or willing to help us. In Psalm 22:11, David prays to the Lord,"Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help." When David felt helpless, he prayed to the source of all help, his Lord. When you feel helpless, remember that you can always call on the Lord for help and strength to conquer any situation that you may face.