joseph4inspiration

(Matthew 6: 33)

I remember reading this verse (which was easy) and quoting this verse (which is easy) but the problem came which God was telling me to apply this verse to my life (which is not so easy). I found this verse to be extremely difficult to apply because I was seeking the things that were to be added instead of Him who was doing the adding.

Seeking God requires a mind that is at peace and content. God doesn't want us to wait until He blesses us to be happy, He wants us to be happy with Him regardless of our present situation. But our desires and the anticipation of God's blessings mixed with human emotions can prevent us from having a heart that is restful enough to be at peace and content with the present.

(Revelation 2:4-5)

As children of God we should always make sure we're giving God quality time. If we're not mindful of how important spending time with God is, we can find ourselves farther from God than we've realized. The issue our Lord had with the Church of Ephesus was they'd become so caught in ministry that they themselves forgot the One [Jesus Christ] they were ministering for. I've noticed in my own life, I can get so caught up with the activities of daily life that my time with God isn't what it used to be. Slowly but surely, things started to pull me away from my first love. That's why it's so important for ALL Christians to read the letters to the seven Churches in the book of Revelation because, as followers of Christ, we fall into one of those letters.

(1st Corinthians 13:3-5)

When God talks about us having love, He's not talking about something we say we have but rather something we show we have.

But not just by showing others but also by showing God - the one who knows our true motives.

In this verse God said we can give everything we have including our lives, but if it was all done without love then it profits nothing.

God is always looking to fill our hearts with more love and compassion throughout our Christian journey.

The more love we have in our hearts the less room there will be for jealousy, envy, evil thinking, and backbiting.

But our love isn't just supposed to be shown towards others and towards ourselves, our love must also be shown towards God. God loves us freely and He wants us to love Him freely. Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commands." He didn't say if you were afraid of going to hell or if you didn't want to miss your blessings, He said if you love Me.

Also, love doesn't mean acceptance of sin! The enemy is going around deceiving people by saying if you don't accept what God already said is wrong, then you are not walking in love - the devil is a liar! Jesus Himself said the greatest commandment above all is, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37), and we acknowledge this

by obeying Him first, not people.

(Romans 12:2)

I remember when I used to ask myself what was greater, the things God has in store for me or the things I can't let go off? Obviously I would always say the things of God were greater (because they are). But then, I was always left with another question that was just as important: if the things of God are greater, why then is it so hard for me to let go of the things I need to let go of?

I learned the answer to that question after many, many failures. Loaded down with guilt, I had to realize that the flesh doesn't die just because you want it to; it dies as you continue to renew your mind.

When we begin to renew our minds we go beyond "just wanting to change", we begin to transform ourselves.

The word transform means to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of something.

Not only do we begin to move away from certain behaviors and ways, we begin to change the way we think and the way we feel about them also.

This process cannot be done just through self will! It's important to remember that! It's a process we must be committed to daily and it involves studying and applying the word of God to our lives, praying for strength and wisdom and most of all being filled with the Holy Spirit!

(Philippians 1:6)

Have you ever felt like you were at your breaking point, looking for a way out of your current situation but was unable to find one?

You love God but the pressures of your situation continually push your faith to the back of your mind as your confessions changes from I know God is gonna move for me to I wonder if God is gonna move at all.

But not being able to find a way of your own is actually a blessing. God has started something good in your life and He's determined for it to come to completion.

You may feel like throwing in the towel, but God knows exactly what you'll miss out on and He's not about to let that happen. He started a plan in you that will lead you to His best and He's personally determined to get you there. So yes, He will close doors that you wanna open, flood paths you wanna take and stop the hands of others all to keep you from making a mistake.

Does it seem like the only path available to you is the one God set you on? If so, let Him bring you to the end of it!

(Mark 9:23)

The word "if" is a word that does not belong in any declaration of faith. It's a word we often ignore because we use it so much. But if we're not careful that word can keep us from truly putting our faith in God for what He promised or what we've been praying for. When I wanted God to do something in my life I would pray and believe Him for it. But as I started thinking - leaning on my own understanding, I would pray again and say if it's your will. After thinking some more I would say if it's your will confirm it in a dream for me. If I didn't get that dream I would say then it must not be God's will and stop believing. To my own understanding I saw nothing wrong with asking for that confirmation, after all I was asking if it was His will or not. But God wanted me to stop trying to "know His will" and instead believe Him for something. For me, the word "if" meant: I will believe You God on condition that I know I am right and therefore didn't have to believe. God saw me using my logic instead of my faith.