2 Corinthians 4:16

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

We are not to lose heart as we journey through our lives.  God renews our spirits daily as we feed on His word.  God can build us up in the low places and remind us of the good when the world wants us only to see the bad.  Don’t give up and don’t get weary in pressing into to the word of God.  Our lives here are short compared to eternity with the God in heaven, and we are rewarded if we keep the Faith.

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

We all have days when we just fall short of Gods’ best in our lives.  The best thing to do in those situations is to confess our faults and repent quickly.  Don’t ponder whatever it is and don’t stay entangled with it and become in bondage.  Christ made us free from sin and death and to do His work on earth we to remain free.  If we are in bondage to sin we won’t feel like talking to someone about being saved. 

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

There are days when the devil will use confusion to try and get us off track.  If he can throw in some doubt and fear to make the matter worse, he will.  God reminds us that He is not the author of the confusion and if confusion comes question its source.  When these times come, turn to the word of God and see what it says in the scripture.  The word should be the final authority on our lives on this earth. 

1 John 2:15-17

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

We are to live in this world but not be of this world.  Practice daily turning away from and tuning out the influences of this world.  The Bible should be our best guidance daily, not the news or the opinion of the world.  If the Bible isn’t we can get discouraged and overcome with fear quickly.  The other problem is we can go down a path we were never meant to go down.  The things of this world will pass away, but the will of God abides forever.   

Psalms 103:17-18

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His covenant, and to those who remember to do his commandments.

The fear of the Lord is the open door to releasing the benefits of the covenant, and our children’s children benefit when we choose to follow Jesus.  When we remember His commandments and remember His instruction, He shows us His mercy.  Without God’s mercy and direction, our lives would have no purpose and no reward.  So, a little fear for the God that did so much for us is nothing. 

Ephesians 3:17-19

That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all fulness of God.   

When we try to understand what a successful life in Christ Jesus looks like, we just need to read Ephesians.  Step 1 have Christ in your heart by faith.  Step 2 be rooted and grounded in love. Step 3 be able to comprehend the breadth, length, and height.   Step 4 to know the love of Christ. Step 5 be filled with all the fulness of God. These are the keys to overcoming in this life.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

We need to remember that we are a work in progress.  When we spend time in the word to learn more about Jesus, we grow, and the Lord will “make you increase and abound in love toward one another.”  Love is a key to us overcoming in this world.  We are striving to establish our hearts to holiness and to succeed in Gods’ plan for our life.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Our God will give us comfort on the days when we need it.  He hears our call and guides us through the times of trouble.  Reach for the word of God in those times and search for the reassurance you need in His word.  God sent the comforter, the Holy Spirit, to help us in our time of need. We are not alone, and we should not fear because He is right beside us.

Isaiah 9:6  

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas. Today, we celebrate the birth of a child, a savior born in a lowly manger.  We celebrate the greatest Love ever sent to earth in the form of man. My Christmas prayer for you is that you are prospering and in health even as your soul prospers.  That you would know the love of God that passes knowledge.  I wish you, Joy, Peace, and Love this Christmas and every Christmas to come.  

2 Timothy 3:15-16

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, and reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 

Without the word, there would be no wisdom to be saved in Christ Jesus.  The word can build hope when we have none and faith into things we do not see.  Everything that we are and want to is written in the word of God.  If we want health or prosperity, it is in the word.  Our lives have meaning because of the word.  The Bible isn’t just a book, but gold in the palm of our hands.