Crazy Beautiful Life

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

“Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this book of the law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.” Joshua 1:7-8

God told Joshua that in order to succeed, he needed to study the Word and do what it says. Success starts by making the Bible the main focus of your life. Wake up with the Word and go to bed with the Word. Meditate on it day and night. Listen to it in your car or on your phone.

So many people today are living with a “just get by” mentality. You don’t have to live like a worm undeserving of anything good. The Bible never says we are not supposed to hope and believe in anything great for our lives. God is the God of more than enough, so stop living in fear.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3

The word, "father", to some brings a sense of security, but to others it may stir up feelings of hate or even fear, perhaps because of some kind of abuse they had endured in the past. When my earthly father remarried after the death of my mother, I longed for his love and attention. You know God sees our deepest pain and hurt. He whispered to me, I am your true father. You have no father but Me." Oh, it was like pouring cold water on my wounded soul. I have since not longed for my dad's love like I used to. I truly embraced Jesus as my Father, and have depended on Him for every need of mine, whether spiritual, physical or emotional. He's never failed me, He's been with me in trouble, He's delivered me, He's provided for all my needs, He's given me peace and joy in the midst of storms. 

Dear friend, if you haven't trusted God as your father, I urge you to do so today.  

Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

Consider Jesus Christ.  His was the greatest life that was lived on the earth. Everyone who has ever been called great pales by comparison to the greatness of Jesus. Greatness in God’s eyes has nothing to do with pomp or being famous in the world’s eyes or having a lot of money.  Being great in God’s sight is to do what God called you to do.  The only greatness in life is what is done for Christ, even in the midst of humble circumstances.

The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Apostle Paul wrote: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside” (Romans 3:10-12). That is why Jesus came. We would never seek Him, but He came seeking us. Jesus said, “I have come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:8

In the midst of all that is shifting and changing God assures us that His Word “stands forever!”

Anything outside of God’s Word will wither and fade away.

God’s word is the final authority. God's Word is powerful; it can take an unsaved, uninterested, hard-hearted human being and absolutely turn his life around! And it can transform you, too—give you wisdom, bring you joy, dispel the darkness in your life. It shows the way to eternal life through Jesus Christ. It gives life meaning and purpose. 

by Chris Oyakhilome

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen (Romans 15:33).

In the Old Testament, God was often called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, in the New Testament, particularly in the epistles, God is known, more than anything else, as the God of peace. He’s called the God of peace more than He’s called the God of love or the God of righteousness. We see this referenced in Philippians 4:9: “…the God of peace shall be with you,” and in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly….”

The word “peace” is from the Greek “Eirene”, which is akin to “Shalom” in Hebrew; it’s peace with prosperity. This is God’s desire for all men. No wonder the angels declared in Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Think about it! He brought peace between us and Him: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

The chaos experienced in some parts of the world today didn’t happen by chance. They were inspired by demons of chaos who thrive in chaos. They use chaos as a tool for perpetrating their nefarious schemes through their human hosts and keep at it until people bow to their wishes. But God wants peace and tells us to proclaim peace to the nations.

In the prayer He tells us to pray for all men, His intent is that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life (1 Timothy 2:1-2). That’s what He wants us to have. He’s always about peace. Even now, command peace for your city and your country. Declare in the mighty Name of the Lord Jesus that godly peace that brings liberty, grace, strength, health, and prosperity will hold sway in your nation.

PRAYER

Righteous Father, you’re the God of peace, and I proclaim your peace upon my nation. Your peace, which passes all understanding and brings liberty, grace, strength, health, and prosperity holds sway in all nations, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

God’s Greatest Gift

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” — Luke 2v10-11

Do you have a special childhood Christmas memory? I have many, but some of my favorite memories were the sleepless, adrenaline-filled nights: wrestling with my weariness, watching the clock, and allowing my imagination to present a perpetual carousel of awaiting gifts. Expectation captivated my mind and body until the early morning sunrise stirred my shallow sleep. Without prompting, and with unyielding anticipation, I huddled around the colorful, carefully wrapped packages, wondering what gifts were for me.

For centuries, prophets, priests, and kings foretold of the promised Messiah. Year after year, they prayerfully anticipated His arrival. On that first Christmas night, an angel announced the Messiah’s arrival and the world changed forever. During this Christmas season, don’t allow busyness, consumerism, or even familiarity to distract you from anticipating and celebrating God’s greatest gift – clothed in humility and fragile flesh – Jesus, our Messiah.

Have you forgotten the spectacular splendor of this gracious gift? Reflect on the lyrics of the song “How Many Kings”:

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me….

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” - Romans 8:26

As children of God we have been born from above and have a new human spirit – our new life in Christ. Before we were born again we had a spirit that was dead in trespasses and sins but when we accepted Christ as our Saviour we were given a new life in Christ - a new, free human spirit, which is able to commune with His Holy Spirit - Who is enabled to guide us into all truth. This is why as children of God we should live our life in spirit and in truth so that we may enjoy ‘Spirit to spirit’ fellowship with the Lord, day by day.

A life that is lived in spirit and truth is a life that is led by the Holy Spirit of God, Who came to indwell our hearts and guide our lives the moment we were born from above –and He speaks to us quietly through our enlivened human spirit. The Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of our heart and the deep yearnings within our soul and He reaches out to us through our spirit. He longs to lead and guide us into all truth and He is grieved if we choose to live our life according to our old fleshly nature, which was severed at the cross – for when we live our life in spirit and truth He takes the deep cravings of our heart – cravings that we ourselves do not understand and He intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Sometimes the deepest desires of our hearts are hidden within our being. Sometimes we ourselves do not even understand what our secret hopes, and hidden hurts are - but they become a thirst in our soul – a thirst that we cannot quench ourselves. But the Spirit joins with us to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, and so He Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.

He takes the deepest prayers within our hearts and beautifies them and perfects them and answers them in the way that is best – this is why our hearts should be always open to say – Thy will not mine be done.

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