Tag: work

Are You Feeling Lost?

Are You Feeling Lost?

What’s going on in your life?  Is everything good and running peacefully?  Praise the Lord!

Or are you feeling lost, alone, or hurt?  Do you feel like you’re wandering in a desert without a map?  Do you have problems at work, money troubles, or is there distress and anxiety in your life for other reasons?

LOST can mean:  beaten down; defeated; forlorn; vulnerable; alone; disoriented; off course.

As the Scriptures reveal, God is very aware of those who are lost or hurting or sick; and He is waiting to help you.  Just turn to Him and let Him know what you need.

“My people have become lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray . . .  (Jer 50:6 NASB)

All too often, our ‘shepherds’—our pastors or advisors, the people who were supposed to be watching over us and protecting us—have steered us in the wrong direction or into the wrong decision.  And we have been immeasurably injured as a result.  That was never God’s plan for you.

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  (Mt 18:11 NKJV)

Jesus has come to save everyone who is lost, as well as everything that has been lost.  He can restore all lost sheep and all seemingly hopeless situations. He will restore “lost” opportunities and provide better ones, praise God!

But Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a physician, but sick people do.” (Lk 5:31 ISV)

For I am the Lord who heals you.  (Exod 15:26 NKJV)

People with health problems and serious medical diagnoses need God, their Healer.  They need His wisdom, guidance, and healing power.  And Jesus loves to answer prayers and to heal the sick and the hurting.

The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.  (Lk 19:10 CEV)

Jesus is actively looking for all who are “lost” so that He may save, heal, help, and bless you.  Seek out a trustworthy and reliable Pastor or a minister of the Gospel who can help you in seeking the Lord.  God bless you!

Contend for Your Faith

Contend for Your Faith

CONTEND means to maintain, keep up, or to sustain something.  We are reflecting upon the Bible’s exhortation to us to contend for our faith in the Savior and Messiah.

We need to work diligently on holding tightly to our faith because life’s circumstances and the work of the enemy will try to separate us permanently from our faith.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (Jude 1:3 KJV)

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  (1 Tim 6:12 NKJV)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  (2 Tim 4:7 ESV)

The only thing that matters is that you continue to live as good citizens in a manner worthy of the gospel of the Messiah. then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I may hear all about you—that you are standing firm in one spirit, struggling with one mind for the faith of the gospel . . .  (Phil 1:27 ISV)

So how do we ‘fight the good fight of faith’?  There are a number of healthy, spiritual habits that we should form in order to stay connected to our faith and to the Word of God.  Here are some ideas:

  • Flee from sin:  literally, fly away from sin!  God will show you a way out of it.  (1 Cor 10:13)
  • Pursue righteousness. (Mt 5:6)
  • Get to know God and lead a godly life. (2 Pet 3:11)
  • Put your confidence [trust] in God and in His Word. (2 Cor 5:7)
  • Operate in love.  (1 Cor 13:13; Mt 22:39)
  • Be humble and gentle.  (Eph 4:2)

We must make choices every day of our lives to pursue God’s will, to obey Him, and to live by faith.  This requires perseverance and steadfastness.  God’s grace will supply us with His ability to hold fast to our course.  God bless you.

Be Watchful

Be Watchful

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.  (2 Tim 4:5)

. . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—  (Eph 6:18)

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.  (1 Pet 4:7)

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  (1 Cor 16:13)

Often the Bible urges us to watch as well as to pray.  (Mk 13:33; 14:38; Lk 21:36; Eph 6:18)  It’s important that these two actions go hand in hand. 

Watch means to stay awake; to be sleepless.  We need to take this command literally as well as spiritually.  We are meant to be vigilant, on guard, alert, and intently aware.  Spiritual watching combined with prayer will give us the strength we need to resist temptation and to overcome difficult situations in life.

Staying awake is connected with righteousness.  (1 Cor 15:34)  If ever there has been a time to stay alert and focused, it is NOW.  Many scholars believe that we are living in what is called the “end times.”  We must focus on strengthening our relationship with Jesus Christ and living a holy life, by the grace which He imparts to us.

Believers must be prepared for the return of Jesus Christ; we must guard against temptation; and we should pray without ceasing.  We should prepare for the completion (conclusion) of our salvation!

“Vigilant watchfulness is a manifestation of genuine spiritual life.” ~ Billy Graham

Are You Under Attack?

Are You Under Attack?

Are you aware that you’re under a spiritual attack of some sort?  It may not look like it’s a spiritual battleground at first glance—but make no mistake, it IS a spiritual battleground!

Is a neighbor causing trouble for someone in your family?  Are things happening at work that just aren’t right?  Have financial stresses come out of nowhere?  Have you received a sudden, serious medical diagnosis?  Or maybe it’s an unexpected hostility between two of your adult children . . .

If any of these things sound familiar to you, realize that the origin of most negative scenarios like these is the evil one.  (Joh 10:10)  The Good News is that Jesus, our Lord and Savior is our solution in each and every circumstance!

“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the Lord who has compassion on you.  (Isa 54:10 NASB)

God says that His lovingkindness hasn’t been removed from you nor has His covenant of peace with you been shaken.  Hallelujah!

“If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.  Whoever assails you will fall because of you.”  (Isa 54:15 NASB)

This reassures us that evil attacks upon us, regardless of their nature, never come from God.  But He guarantees us that the attack and attacker will fall and be absolutely defeated.

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him.  For the temple of God is holy, which temple YOU ARE.  (1 Cor 3:17, emphasis added)

In this verse from the Bible, God says plainly that He will destroy the one who attacks His temple; we are His temple.

Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, and the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; for I will contend with the one who contends with you, and I will save your sons.  (Isa 49:25 NASB, emphasis added)

Lastly, the Scripture above declares that God will oppose the one who dares to oppose YOU.  All glory to God!  Put your hope, faith, and trust in Jesus; and rest in His love and His mighty power.