Bible is full of hidden treasures

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I went to the Goodwill the other day and bought a pair of long walking pants.

As I tried them on I noticed that there was this cool hidden pocket in the pants. I thought this hidden pocket would be a great place to hide my keys while I walk in the cool weather.

These pants reminded me of reading the Bible and how there are sometimes really cool hidden truths in God’s word for our lives. As we take a closer look at Gods word and get involved in reading the Bible we can find truths to help us everyday.

Today I encourage you to take a deeper look at Gods word as you read it. Don’t just take a surface glance but dig into it. You’ll find awesome truths that can change your life!

Dear Lord, we pray that our eyes would be open to the hidden truths that are in Your Word. Help us be diligent as we study Your Word. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Dodge ball and Bible study

Hebrews 4:12  (ESV)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

I remember as a teenager, there was nothing more fun that taking a dodgeball and hurling it with all your might toward another player on the opposing team. Follow that up with the awesome feeling you get when that dodgeball produces that satisfying smack as it hits your target’s body. Playing dodgeball can be a lot of fun, but did you know that you can learn a lot about reading your Bible by playing dodgeball?

In Dodgeball, you have a focus and a goal. You are determined as you play to hit as many of the other team’s players with a ball before they hit you and you’re out. We should approach reading the Bible that same way, with a focus and a goal. Reading the Bible shouldn’t be a boring aimless task, but it should have a purpose. For example, you could read the Bible with the idea in mind that you want know what God says about your future and the plans He has for your life. You then could search for verses in the Bible on that topic. Having a goal and a focus when reading the Bible helps it from becoming dull and boring.

Another thing that can be learned from dodgeball games is that the players leave the game changed. When they start the game, they smell good and their clothes are nice and clean. Usually by the end of the game, the players are sweaty, and they definitely don’t smell good. They are changed. Playing the game of dodgeball changes them. That is how we should be after reading the Bible. There is great power available to you in Bible. It has the power to change your life. The words in the Bible can encourage you when you’re having a bad day. The Bible can also challenge you to be more than you ever imagined you could be. Reading the Bible will change you because the Bible has power to change your life!

The Bible has power in it to change your life! Get into the habit of reading the Bible with a purpose and getting to know God though His word. If you do, it will change your life!

Dear Lord, we thank you for your word. We thank you that it is alive and full of power. We thank you that we can get to know you though your word. Help us to purpose to make reading the Bible a priority in our life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

New shoes and genuine faith

2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

If you were asked to choose between wearing a brand new pair of Nike shoes or wearing some shoes from the bargain store, which would you choose? If you’re like most people you’d chose the brand new Nike shoes.  That’s because for most people, the ‘off brand’ or ‘generic brand’ just doesn’t cut it. They want the real thing. They want something authentic or genuine.

In the same way, your faith should be something that is genuine and authentic in your life. Paul gives Timothy a pat on the back for his genuine faith in our verse today.

Let’s take a look at a few things genuine faith looks like:

Genuine faith is sold out to God

Genuine faith is fresh and active

Genuine faith doesn’t blend in – it lets God change the way you live.

Genuine faith isn’t boring or outdated

Genuine faith believes that the things God says in the Bible aren’t suggestions, they’re a way of life.

Genuine faith doesn’t compromise

Genuine faith causes action

Genuine faith isn’t based on feelings

Genuine faith looks different than off-brand or generic Christianity. It acts differently than off-brand Christianity. So, how does your faith rate? Is it generic or authentic?

Dear Lord, help us to work toward having authentic faith. Give us the strength to be the people that You want us to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Focus on your story

Acts 4:13 (ESV)

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

It can be a scary thing to share your faith in Jesus with people. There can be lots of reasons why you might be afraid to share your faith with others. You might think, if I share Jesus people might laugh at me, or think I’m weird. Or perhaps you might think, I’d share my faith, but I don’t know what I would say. Maybe you think that you just don’t know enough about the Bible to share your faith.

So, with that in mind, here are some tips for sharing your faith with others.

Be bold in what you believe.  People at will actually respect you more if you stand up for what you believe.  If you are confident in what you believe, even if people don’t understand why you believe the way you do, they will respect you for having the courage to stand up for your beliefs.

What you know is enough – You don’t have to be a pastor or a Bible scholar to share your beliefs with others.  Peter and John didn’t have 17 years of Bible school under their belts when they shared with others.  They had just been with Jesus and relied on God’s help when sharing with others. When sharing your faith with others, know that what you know is enough.

Focus on your story – What has God done for you?  Share those experiences.  Your story of what God has done for you is powerful.  Never doubt the power of simply sharing who God is to you.  You can really encourage and influence others by simply sharing what you know.

Sharing your faith with others can be a little scary sometimes.  Always know that you can rely on the power of the Holy Ghost when sharing with others.  The Holy Spirit on the inside of you can give you the words to say and help you when you get stuck.  Rely on His help when sharing your faith with others.  You can make a difference in your world.  God really wants to use you to do great things for Him.  Start by sharing what he has done in your life with others!

Dear Lord, we pray for the courage to share Your love with those that come into our life. Help us to share our story with others. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Facing a bad day

James 1:17 (ESV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Bad days happen to all of us. Unfortunately, life isn’t perfect and sometimes it just doesn’t go as you wanted it to. With that in mind, let’s look at a  checklist to help you beat the bad day blues.

Don’t blame God – Bad things are bound to happen to you. This doesn’t mean that God is trying to teach you a lesson or is punishing you. So when hard times come, don’t place the blame on God. God is a good God and He wants the best for your life.

You Are in Control of Your Attitude – You might not be able to control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude in tough times. You can choose to stay positive and have a good attitude when a bad day happens.

Do something for yourself – Sometimes when having a bad day, it helps to do something special for yourself. It might be something simple like buying yourself a candy bar or taking a long walk. Whatever it is, find something that you can do for yourself to help you unwind.

Recognize that tomorrow is coming – Your day might be bad today, but tomorrow is on its way. Sometimes, things seem better in a day or two. Time really does help in lots of different situations.

Unfortunately, bad days happen to everyone. When you’re having a bad day choose to put things into perspective and realize that your life isn’t over. You may have had a bad day, but the good news is that you’ve got God on your side. God will help see you through when you’re having a bad day.

Dear Lord, when bad days come help us to look to You knowing that You want the very best for each of us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Peace

John 14:27 (ESV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your mind is worried and you’re trying to figure everything out? It feels like all your peace has left and all you feel is stress.

Jesus gave us a promise and command . “Peace I leave with you. My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid- stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.” 

We must realize that peace is very strong- it’s not an absence of conflict, it’s a presence of God’s presence and power in our spirit. It belongs to us through Jesus. It’s the same peace that allowed Jesus to reach out and heal the soldier’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane when his life was threatened. It’s the same peace that spoke to a storm to be still. It wasn’t the absence of trouble in Jesus’ life- but the presence of the power of peace that enabled Jesus to live free from stress.

Jesus left you that very same peace. Then he gave us a condition for that peace to reign every day of our lives. He said guard it- he said don’t allow yourself to get disturbed or fearful- don’t permit  those feelings to make you forget the peace power you have. The doorway to your peace being robbed is your mind. When thoughts of doubt and fear hit you, hit them with God’s Word of truth by speaking them out loud.

For example, someone speaks badly about you. Your mind can dwell on it or you can close that door and say “if God be for me who can be against me?” and then forgive and rest in His peace.

If worry tries to upset you, find scriptures that combat that worry. “My God shall supply all my need” “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”

When you guard your peace, it’s like shutting the door on your house and locking it. No robber can enter. You are secure. But when you allow your mind to worry and fear, then you have unlocked and open the door and enemies of your peace can come to steal it from you.

Dear Lord, thank You for giving us Your peace. Help us to not allow situations and people to disturb us or make us afraid. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

God’s guidance system

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

 in our lives is often as simple as a peace in your heart. When you are praying about a certain decision your facing, ask God to help show you which choice is the one He wants you to do.

He often will show you the right decision by giving you peace about it. Sometimes the other choices seem better but it’s best to go with the peace in your heart. The Bible says in Proverbs to not lean unto your own understanding. That’s how peace often works. It might not even completely makes sense going in the direction that you feel peace however, you just know that it’s the right decision.

You’ll always want to balance out your decisions with first and foremost the Bible. God will never lead you in a direction through peace that does not line up with other principles He’s clearly already spoken on in the Bible.

Today if you are facing a tough decision, is there a particular outcome that you just have more peace on the inside about? This can often be a good indicator that God is helping to lead you towards that.

Dear Lord, help us to look for the peace from You. When we need to make a decision we thank You that You will give us a peace about what You want us to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.