Showing posts with label eliminating doubt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eliminating doubt. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Learn Something
I remember the day well. It was the end of May in 1991, and my mother was sending me off to Wyoming for the summer as a missionary with the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas. Despite the adorable denim jumper with a colorful sailor collar I had on, I was down. And scared.
I'd never been away from my mother for more than a couple of weeks and even then, I could drive 55 miles home to see her if I really needed to do so. And here I was leaving her and going some 1,200 miles away for eleven weeks. Eleven weeks. What in the world was I thinking?
The first couple of weeks proved to be difficult at best. My tear-stained cheeks certainly put a damper on my partner's spirit. She wanted to fix me and make it better, but we both knew that I just needed some time. Time to grow up and learn to rely on God.
And I did.
We had a tremendous summer where we learned more than we thought was possible. Spending that much time on an Indian Reservation will do that. Spending that much time anywhere will do that...if we'll let it.
You're in a place in your life. You don't know what the future holds. You don't know what plans are ahead for you. You don't have any idea what lay on the horizon.
Neither do I. But we know Who does.
Wherever you are in your life, learn. Learn something from it. As the old adage goes...Grow where you're planted. I am confident that God will meet you where you are.
Scripture Of The Day: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Christianity Is Christ Alone
By Dr. Jack Graham
Jesus is not the best way to heaven… he's the only way to heaven.
Now, I know this is a very exclusive statement to make in the day of tolerance and inclusion. But there is an exclusive nature to the Gospel even though many call this a narrow perspective.
The Scripture is clear on this matter. Christianity exists only because of the deity and sacrifice of Christ. Without Christ, there is no Christianity! That's what the Scripture says and what you and I think will never change that fact.
You see, I can't choose what I believe is right and you choose what you believe is right and we all somehow magically end up in heaven. But that's the mentality of the world, isn't it? And it's dead wrong.
If you believe Christ who said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," then it follows that you would also believe in the exclusivity of the Gospel.
But listen, while Christianity is exclusive, Jesus died for all!
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Jesus died for you… and he died for all. Christianity is Christ and Christ alone!
Scripture Of The Day: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6
Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic congregations. The author of numerous books, Dr. Graham is the founder of PowerPoint® Ministries, a radio and television broadcast ministry. For more information about Dr. Graham, log onto http://www.powerpoint.org. …
Jesus is not the best way to heaven… he's the only way to heaven.
Now, I know this is a very exclusive statement to make in the day of tolerance and inclusion. But there is an exclusive nature to the Gospel even though many call this a narrow perspective.
The Scripture is clear on this matter. Christianity exists only because of the deity and sacrifice of Christ. Without Christ, there is no Christianity! That's what the Scripture says and what you and I think will never change that fact.
You see, I can't choose what I believe is right and you choose what you believe is right and we all somehow magically end up in heaven. But that's the mentality of the world, isn't it? And it's dead wrong.
If you believe Christ who said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," then it follows that you would also believe in the exclusivity of the Gospel.
But listen, while Christianity is exclusive, Jesus died for all!
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Jesus died for you… and he died for all. Christianity is Christ and Christ alone!
Scripture Of The Day: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6
Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic congregations. The author of numerous books, Dr. Graham is the founder of PowerPoint® Ministries, a radio and television broadcast ministry. For more information about Dr. Graham, log onto http://www.powerpoint.org. …
Friday, February 4, 2011
Starve Your Doubts
By Dr. Sherry Gaither
It was unbelief not giants that kept the Israelites from entering into their promise land. God never intended for the children of Israel to quit or settle. Their wavering faith caused an entire generation to die in the wilderness when God had promised to take them safely through.
A doubting mentality will always cause you to give up, surrender, and forsake the dreams and visions that God has birthed in your heart. How you comprehend and view your situation in the midst of challenges will determine your destiny. On two separate occasions the Bible declares that the children of Israel were willing to resign themselves to a life of slavery because they doubted God’s Word.
Our story begins when the Israelites were about to cross over the Red Sea. Reluctantly Pharaoh had agreed to let God’s people go. When the Israelites saw their enemy approaching, they reacted in fear. Satan’s goal is to cause you to doubt the power of God.
“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.”
Yes they were trapped; their backs were against the wall, the enemy was coming against them, and what they were seeing in the natural caused them to get amnesia in the spirit. Why is it when the storms, crisis and disappointments of life come, we forget what God’s already done to deliver us?
When God commanded Moses to send twelve spies into Canaan, it was a doubter’s mentality that caused the Israelites to renounce the promises of God a second time.
“But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.’” (Num 13:31 NKJ)
Once the Israelites saw the giants, they became discouraged. Satan will use discouragement to cause you to doubt the plan God has for your life. The enemy uses doubt and discouragement to “neutralize” and stop your actions. Discouragement is a tool the devil uses to “cut short” your vision. The devil wants to keep you from moving forward. When Satan desires to paralyze you, he uses doubt to cause you to “conform” to your present situation.
Did you know that how you view yourself in relation to your problems could change your whole future?
Remember that faith is confidence in the integrity of God. Today, I challenge you to feed your faith and starve your doubts.
Scripture Of The Day: “And Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today'" - Exodus 14:13
Dr. Sherry Gaither is a pastor, educator, motivational speaker and author. Her experience has reached thousands nationally and internationally through her life-changing workshops, seminars and television talk show Empowering Your Life. Visit Dr. Gaither at http://www.strongholdcc.net and http://www.empoweringyourlife.org…
It was unbelief not giants that kept the Israelites from entering into their promise land. God never intended for the children of Israel to quit or settle. Their wavering faith caused an entire generation to die in the wilderness when God had promised to take them safely through.
A doubting mentality will always cause you to give up, surrender, and forsake the dreams and visions that God has birthed in your heart. How you comprehend and view your situation in the midst of challenges will determine your destiny. On two separate occasions the Bible declares that the children of Israel were willing to resign themselves to a life of slavery because they doubted God’s Word.
Our story begins when the Israelites were about to cross over the Red Sea. Reluctantly Pharaoh had agreed to let God’s people go. When the Israelites saw their enemy approaching, they reacted in fear. Satan’s goal is to cause you to doubt the power of God.
“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.”
Yes they were trapped; their backs were against the wall, the enemy was coming against them, and what they were seeing in the natural caused them to get amnesia in the spirit. Why is it when the storms, crisis and disappointments of life come, we forget what God’s already done to deliver us?
When God commanded Moses to send twelve spies into Canaan, it was a doubter’s mentality that caused the Israelites to renounce the promises of God a second time.
“But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.’” (Num 13:31 NKJ)
Once the Israelites saw the giants, they became discouraged. Satan will use discouragement to cause you to doubt the plan God has for your life. The enemy uses doubt and discouragement to “neutralize” and stop your actions. Discouragement is a tool the devil uses to “cut short” your vision. The devil wants to keep you from moving forward. When Satan desires to paralyze you, he uses doubt to cause you to “conform” to your present situation.
Did you know that how you view yourself in relation to your problems could change your whole future?
Remember that faith is confidence in the integrity of God. Today, I challenge you to feed your faith and starve your doubts.
Scripture Of The Day: “And Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today'" - Exodus 14:13
Dr. Sherry Gaither is a pastor, educator, motivational speaker and author. Her experience has reached thousands nationally and internationally through her life-changing workshops, seminars and television talk show Empowering Your Life. Visit Dr. Gaither at http://www.strongholdcc.net and http://www.empoweringyourlife.org…
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Life’s Greatest Spiritual Secret
By Jack Zavada
Have you ever struggled and fretted because your life wasn't going the way you wanted? Do you feel that way right now?
You have legitimate needs and desires. You know what would make you happy and you pray for it with all your might, asking God to help you get it. But if it doesn't come to pass, you may feel frustrated, disappointed, even bitter.
Sometimes you do get what you want, only to discover that it doesn't make you happy after all, just disillusioned.
Many Christians repeat this cycle their entire life, wondering what they're doing wrong. I should know. I was one of them.
A spiritual secret exists that can free you from this cycle: Trusting God. Trusting in the Lord.
"What?" you're asking. "That's no secret. I've read that dozens of times in the Bible and heard lots of sermons on it. What does he mean, secret?"
The secret lies in putting this truth into practice, by making it such a powerful theme in your life that you view every event, every sorrow, every prayer with the unshakable conviction that God is totally, spotlessly trustworthy.
That's where we mess up. We want to trust in anything rather than the Lord. We'll trust in our own abilities, in our boss's judgment of us, in our money, our doctor, even in an airline pilot. But the Lord? Well…
It's easy to trust in things we can see. Sure, we believe in God, but to allow him to run our life? That's asking a little too much, we think. The bottom line is that our wants may not agree with God's wants for us. After all, it's our life, isn't it? Shouldn't we have the say over it? Shouldn't we be the one who calls the shots? God gave us free will, didn't he?
Advertising and peer pressure tell us what's important: a high-paying career, a head-turning car, a drop-dead-gorgeous home, and a spouse or significant other who will make everyone else green with envy.
If we fall for the world's idea of what matters, we get trapped in what I call "The Loop of Next Time." The new car, relationship, promotion or whatever didn't bring you the happiness you expected, so you keep searching, thinking "Maybe next time." But it's a loop that's always the same, because you were created for something better, and deep down you know it.
When you finally reach the place where your head agrees with your heart, you're still hesitant. It's scary. Trusting in the Lord can require that you abandon everything you've ever believed about what brings happiness and fulfillment. It requires that you accept the truth that God knows what's best for you. But how do you make that leap from knowing to doing? How do you trust in the Lord instead of the world or yourself?
The secret lives within you: the Holy Spirit. Not only will he convict you of the rightness of trusting in the Lord, he'll help you do it. It's just too tough to do on your own.
Because the Holy Spirit knows you better than you know yourself, he'll give you exactly what you need to make this change. He's infinitely patient, so he'll let you test this secret—trusting in the Lord—in little baby steps. He'll catch you if you stumble. He'll rejoice with you when you succeed.
As someone who has gone through cancer, the deaths of loved ones, broken relationships, and job layoffs, I can tell you that trusting in the Lord is a lifelong challenge. You never finally "arrive." Each new crisis calls for recommitment. The good news is that the more often you see God's loving hand working in your life, the easier this trusting becomes.
When you trust in the Lord, you'll feel as if the weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders. The pressure's off you now and on God, and he can handle it perfectly.
God will make something beautiful of your life, but he needs your trust in him to do it. Are you ready? The time to start is today, right now.
Scripture Of The Day: "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." - Psalm 118:8 (ESV)
Jack Zavada is the author of Single & Sure, a new ebook aimed at single Christians. A cancer survivor, Jack is a contributing author for a number of online publications, and shares his experiences as a single Christian on his website, Inspiration-For-Singles.com.
Have you ever struggled and fretted because your life wasn't going the way you wanted? Do you feel that way right now?
You have legitimate needs and desires. You know what would make you happy and you pray for it with all your might, asking God to help you get it. But if it doesn't come to pass, you may feel frustrated, disappointed, even bitter.
Sometimes you do get what you want, only to discover that it doesn't make you happy after all, just disillusioned.
Many Christians repeat this cycle their entire life, wondering what they're doing wrong. I should know. I was one of them.
A spiritual secret exists that can free you from this cycle: Trusting God. Trusting in the Lord.
"What?" you're asking. "That's no secret. I've read that dozens of times in the Bible and heard lots of sermons on it. What does he mean, secret?"
The secret lies in putting this truth into practice, by making it such a powerful theme in your life that you view every event, every sorrow, every prayer with the unshakable conviction that God is totally, spotlessly trustworthy.
That's where we mess up. We want to trust in anything rather than the Lord. We'll trust in our own abilities, in our boss's judgment of us, in our money, our doctor, even in an airline pilot. But the Lord? Well…
It's easy to trust in things we can see. Sure, we believe in God, but to allow him to run our life? That's asking a little too much, we think. The bottom line is that our wants may not agree with God's wants for us. After all, it's our life, isn't it? Shouldn't we have the say over it? Shouldn't we be the one who calls the shots? God gave us free will, didn't he?
Advertising and peer pressure tell us what's important: a high-paying career, a head-turning car, a drop-dead-gorgeous home, and a spouse or significant other who will make everyone else green with envy.
If we fall for the world's idea of what matters, we get trapped in what I call "The Loop of Next Time." The new car, relationship, promotion or whatever didn't bring you the happiness you expected, so you keep searching, thinking "Maybe next time." But it's a loop that's always the same, because you were created for something better, and deep down you know it.
When you finally reach the place where your head agrees with your heart, you're still hesitant. It's scary. Trusting in the Lord can require that you abandon everything you've ever believed about what brings happiness and fulfillment. It requires that you accept the truth that God knows what's best for you. But how do you make that leap from knowing to doing? How do you trust in the Lord instead of the world or yourself?
The secret lives within you: the Holy Spirit. Not only will he convict you of the rightness of trusting in the Lord, he'll help you do it. It's just too tough to do on your own.
Because the Holy Spirit knows you better than you know yourself, he'll give you exactly what you need to make this change. He's infinitely patient, so he'll let you test this secret—trusting in the Lord—in little baby steps. He'll catch you if you stumble. He'll rejoice with you when you succeed.
As someone who has gone through cancer, the deaths of loved ones, broken relationships, and job layoffs, I can tell you that trusting in the Lord is a lifelong challenge. You never finally "arrive." Each new crisis calls for recommitment. The good news is that the more often you see God's loving hand working in your life, the easier this trusting becomes.
When you trust in the Lord, you'll feel as if the weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders. The pressure's off you now and on God, and he can handle it perfectly.
God will make something beautiful of your life, but he needs your trust in him to do it. Are you ready? The time to start is today, right now.
Scripture Of The Day: "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." - Psalm 118:8 (ESV)
Jack Zavada is the author of Single & Sure, a new ebook aimed at single Christians. A cancer survivor, Jack is a contributing author for a number of online publications, and shares his experiences as a single Christian on his website, Inspiration-For-Singles.com.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Whom Shall I Fear?
By Skip Heitzig
Franklin Graham tells the story about a little girl he saw in Rwanda, after that country's civil war a few years ago. She was a refugee who had just witnessed the murder of her entire family, and she was sitting in the back of a truck, clutching a blanket and singing. He asked one of the soldiers what she was saying, and the soldier translated it: "Jesus loves me, this I know..." She had just lost everyone and everything that she knew, and she was singing praise to God!
Not many of us face such horrific circumstances in our lives, and that's by the mercy of God. But we all face battles where we are tempted to doubt the goodness or the power of God. This is part of spiritual warfare. Paul puts it this way: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
The faithful Christian understands that there is an intense battle going on at all times. There are enemies all around, and hell doesn't give you a standing ovation when you commit your life to Christ. Jesus Himself knew warfare—His earthly ministry began with forty days of warfare with Satan in the wilderness, and it ended in Gethsemane, with Jesus sweating great drops of blood, before the last great battle on the cross.
As Christians, we are not exempt from suffering. It may come in the form of sickness or loss of a job, or through the terrible events like the little Rwandan girl experienced. Suffering intensifies spiritual warfare and the fear that may make us doubt the grace and the mercy of God.
Yet, we should not fear. Psalm 27 is a song of confidence in the Lord. It was written during the time when David was on the run from Saul, who was trying to kill him. Listen to what David says: "Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident... For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock" (v. 3, 5).
I encourage you to spend some time with this Psalm. Read it. Meditate on the truths it expresses. God knows and understands the battles you face. He knows, and He cares. Even if you are forsaken by everyone and everything else, the Lord will take care of you (see v. 10).
Whatever the challenges, whatever the battles, we can all say, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (v. 1).
Scripture Of The Day: "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock." - Psalm 27:5
Skip Heitzig is the founder and senior pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque in New Mexico. His teachings are heard across the country and around the world on The Connection. For more information on Skip, visit http://www.connectionradio.org.
Franklin Graham tells the story about a little girl he saw in Rwanda, after that country's civil war a few years ago. She was a refugee who had just witnessed the murder of her entire family, and she was sitting in the back of a truck, clutching a blanket and singing. He asked one of the soldiers what she was saying, and the soldier translated it: "Jesus loves me, this I know..." She had just lost everyone and everything that she knew, and she was singing praise to God!
Not many of us face such horrific circumstances in our lives, and that's by the mercy of God. But we all face battles where we are tempted to doubt the goodness or the power of God. This is part of spiritual warfare. Paul puts it this way: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
The faithful Christian understands that there is an intense battle going on at all times. There are enemies all around, and hell doesn't give you a standing ovation when you commit your life to Christ. Jesus Himself knew warfare—His earthly ministry began with forty days of warfare with Satan in the wilderness, and it ended in Gethsemane, with Jesus sweating great drops of blood, before the last great battle on the cross.
As Christians, we are not exempt from suffering. It may come in the form of sickness or loss of a job, or through the terrible events like the little Rwandan girl experienced. Suffering intensifies spiritual warfare and the fear that may make us doubt the grace and the mercy of God.
Yet, we should not fear. Psalm 27 is a song of confidence in the Lord. It was written during the time when David was on the run from Saul, who was trying to kill him. Listen to what David says: "Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident... For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock" (v. 3, 5).
I encourage you to spend some time with this Psalm. Read it. Meditate on the truths it expresses. God knows and understands the battles you face. He knows, and He cares. Even if you are forsaken by everyone and everything else, the Lord will take care of you (see v. 10).
Whatever the challenges, whatever the battles, we can all say, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (v. 1).
Scripture Of The Day: "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock." - Psalm 27:5
Skip Heitzig is the founder and senior pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque in New Mexico. His teachings are heard across the country and around the world on The Connection. For more information on Skip, visit http://www.connectionradio.org.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Living By Faith
By Dr. Charles F. Stanley
Read Matthew 21:18-22
In Mark 9:17-26, we read about a father whose son was possessed by a demon. The man came to Jesus, asking Him to heal the boy, if it was possible. The Lord lovingly shared that He could accomplish anything if the man had faith. The dad responded, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
What a revealing statement. Even Christians will experience some doubt with regard to God’s ways, truth, or ability. Thankfully, He is gracious and meets His children where they are.
But the Bible is clear that doubt causes difficulty. First, it affects the believer’s fellowship with God. Second, disbelief thwarts one’s prayer life, as the Lord does not answer a doubting heart. Third, uncertainty can lead to dependence upon the flesh and, therefore, inhibits fruitful service. All of these can lead to discouragement.
Let’s explore how to overcome a lack of assurance. Prayerfully consider what causes you to question. For example, were you taught something untrue such as an “all law, no grace” understanding of God? Or perhaps there is not enough of His Word hidden in your heart. Now, recall a time when you trusted the Lord and He responded; remember how it felt to rely totally upon Him. And, most importantly, meditate upon Scripture.
God wants you to walk in the freedom of faith-full confidence in Him. This eliminates anxiety because the almighty, all-knowing, loving Father is able to guide, strengthen, and lead His children to victory. If you haven’t been living with belief, start today. Don’t miss out on His best!
Scripture Of The Day: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6
Dr. Charles Stanley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, is a New York Times best-selling author who has written more than 35 books. In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley can be heard worldwide via radio and television broadcasts and at http://www.InTouch.org
Read Matthew 21:18-22
In Mark 9:17-26, we read about a father whose son was possessed by a demon. The man came to Jesus, asking Him to heal the boy, if it was possible. The Lord lovingly shared that He could accomplish anything if the man had faith. The dad responded, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
What a revealing statement. Even Christians will experience some doubt with regard to God’s ways, truth, or ability. Thankfully, He is gracious and meets His children where they are.
But the Bible is clear that doubt causes difficulty. First, it affects the believer’s fellowship with God. Second, disbelief thwarts one’s prayer life, as the Lord does not answer a doubting heart. Third, uncertainty can lead to dependence upon the flesh and, therefore, inhibits fruitful service. All of these can lead to discouragement.
Let’s explore how to overcome a lack of assurance. Prayerfully consider what causes you to question. For example, were you taught something untrue such as an “all law, no grace” understanding of God? Or perhaps there is not enough of His Word hidden in your heart. Now, recall a time when you trusted the Lord and He responded; remember how it felt to rely totally upon Him. And, most importantly, meditate upon Scripture.
God wants you to walk in the freedom of faith-full confidence in Him. This eliminates anxiety because the almighty, all-knowing, loving Father is able to guide, strengthen, and lead His children to victory. If you haven’t been living with belief, start today. Don’t miss out on His best!
Scripture Of The Day: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6
Dr. Charles Stanley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, is a New York Times best-selling author who has written more than 35 books. In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley can be heard worldwide via radio and television broadcasts and at http://www.InTouch.org
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