God’s Grace

02/20/201702/19/2017Leave a comment

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Timothy 1:9

Grace. It has become one of the words we sing about. We use the phrase as a part of our “Christianese.” But has it become just a word that we casually and haphazardly use without grasping its immensity or the depths of its richness in our lives? Welcome to this new week of Freedom Fighters. I am thankful today that you are part of our family. God’s family. A family blessed by and with the grace of God.

I recently read this powerful devotional that hones in on some of the richness of this word grace:

Salvation: You are saved by grace. The forgiveness of your sins, your justification before God, your redemption from the slavery of sin, your deliverance from evil, and your future home in heaven are yours today because of grace.

Sufficiency: Grace enables you to do all God calls you to do today. Success is not based today upon what you can accomplish, but upon what He will do through you. Grace is not about your strength, but about His mighty power working in you, even in the time of your greatest weakness.

Edification: Grace builds you up, lifts you up, and keeps you standing. Grace is heard in the sound of God’s voice speaking over and over into your ear, “I am for you today. I am with you today. I am the source of everything good, everything lovely, everything holy, and everything mighty.”

Hope: Grace assures you of a glorious future and an overwhelming inheritance that is yours in Jesus Christ. Grace leads you on, cheers you on, and moves you on into all that is in God’s heart for you.

Victory: Grace brings to you all that is yours in Christ. You are victorious today because Jesus is the triumphant One. You are more than a conqueror because He has conquered all. You are above all things because all things are under His feet. You reign in life because He reigns—King of kings and Lord of lords.

Abundance: Where sin once abounded, grace abounds even more. Where darkness ruled, grace overruled. Where death held you in cruel bondage, grace brought you into a glorious new freedom. Grace is never poured out to you like raindrops, but like a cascading waterfall.

Purity: Grace is the doorway into the beauty of God’s holiness. Grace is never a license to sin, a freedom to sin, or a cloak for sin. Grace brings us into a life that is greater than what sin could ever offer us. Grace extends the hand that lifts us out of the miry clay, throws the rope that pulls us from the deepest pit, and lights the flame that brings us out of the darkest cave.

Gifting: Gifts that come to you from God are grace gifts. His grace gifts to you will be different than the grace gifts He gives to others. Grace does not play favorites. The gifts that have been given to you from God are the perfect gifts that are needed for you to fulfill His will and His calling in your life. From Today is Your Best Day – Roy Lessin

This ought to leave us speechless! It should cause your heart to soar. It should bring tears to your eyes, and maybe make you fall to your knees in praise and adoration. God’s amazing grace! I trust that this reminder encouraged you today. Don’t take for granted the amazing grace of God.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Written by Dr. Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: He has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 10 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Gen 24-27 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: God enables you to do all that God calls you to do today. – Roy Lessin

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. Psalm 71:23

Are You In the Midst of a Struggle

01/23/201701/23/20172 Comments

Good morning and welcome to this new week of Freedom Fighter blogs. We are so thankful that you partner with us and trust each day you are encouraged in your walk with God.

I have talked to so many people recently who have shared that they are in the midst of some intense struggles. We are in the midst of some challenges at America’s Keswick.

This week I was reading a blog from Sermon Central and a pastor shared this powerful prayer that they have been reading together as a church. It was one of those things too good to not pass on.

So if you are finding yourself in the heat of the battle, I would encourage you to pray this prayer. It’s a little long, but I believe it is worth your time this morning.

BELIEVER’S WARFARE PRAYER

(To be read aloud)

Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before You. I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as my protection. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life to You. I take a stand against all the workings of Satan that would hinder me in my prayer life. I address myself only to the True and Living God and refuse any involvement of Satan in my prayer.

(I command Satan, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave my presence with all of his demons. I bring the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ between Satan and myself.)

Heavenly Father, I worship You and give You praise. I recognize that You are worthy to receive all glory and honor and praise. I renew my allegiance to You and pray that the Blessed Holy Spirit would enable me in this time of prayer. I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that You have loved me from past eternity and that You sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die as my substitute. I am thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ came as my representative and that through Him You have completely forgiven me. You have adopted me into Your family; You have assumed all responsibility for me; You have given me eternal life; You have given me the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ so I am now justified. I am thankful that in Him You have made me complete, and that You have offered Yourself to me to be my daily help and strength.

Heavenly Father, open my eyes that I might see how great You are and how complete Your provision is for this day. I am thankful that the victory the Lord Jesus Christ won for me on the Cross and in His Resurrection has been given to me and that I am seated with the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenlies. I take my place with Him in the heavenlies and recognize by faith that all wicked spirits and Satan himself are under my feet. I declare, therefore, that Satan and his wicked spirits are subject to me in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for the Armor You have provided. I put on the Girdle of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Sandals of Peace, and the Helmet of Salvation. I lift up the Shield of Faith against all the fiery darts of the enemy; and take in my hand the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I choose to use Your Word against all the forces of evil in my life. I put on this Armor and live and pray in complete dependence upon You, Blessed Holy Spirit.

I am grateful, Heavenly Father, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoiled all principalities and powers and made a show of them openly and triumphed over them in Himself. I claim all that victory for my life today. I reject all the insinuations, and accusations, and the temptations of Satan. I affirm that the Word of God is true and I choose to live today in the light of God’s Word. I choose, Heavenly Father, to live in obedience to You and in fellowship with Yourself. Open my eyes and show me the areas of my life that do not please You. Work in me to cleanse me from all ground that would give Satan a foothold against me. I do in every way stand into all that it means to be Your adopted child and I welcome all the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

By faith and in dependence upon You I put off the old man and stand into all the victory of the Crucifixion where the Lord Jesus Christ provided cleansing from the old nature. I put on the new man and stand into all the victory of the Resurrection and the provision He has made for me to live above sin.

Therefore, today I put off the old nature with its selfishness and I put on the new nature with its love. I put off the old nature with its fear and I put on the new nature with its courage. I put off the old nature with its weakness and I put on the new nature with its strength. I put off the old nature with all its deceitful lusts and I put on the new nature with its righteousness, purity, and honesty.

In every way I stand into the victory of the ascension and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby all the principalities and powers were made subject to Him. I claim my place in Christ as victorious with Him over all the enemies of my soul. Blessed Holy Spirit, I pray that You would fill me. Come into my life, break down every idol and cast out every foe.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, for the expression of Your will for my daily life as You have shown me in Your Word. I therefore, claim all the will of God for today. I am thankful that You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I am thankful that You have begotten me unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I am thankful that You have made a provision so that today I can live filled with the Spirit of God with love and joy and peace, with longsuffering, gentleness and goodness, with meekness, faithfulness, and self-control in my life. I recognize that this is Your will for me and I therefore reject and resist all the endeavors of Satan and his wicked spirits to rob me of the will of God. I refuse in this day to believe my feelings and I hold up the shield of faith against all the accusations and distortion and insinuations that Satan would put into my mind. I claim the fullness of the will of God for my life today.

In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I completely surrender myself to You, Heavenly Father, as a living sacrifice. I choose not to be conformed to this world. I choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, and I pray that You would show me Your will and enable me to walk in all the fullness of Your will today.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, to the casting down of imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, in my own life today I tear down the strongholds of Satan and smash the plans of Satan that have been formed against me. I tear down the strongholds of Satan against my mind, and I surrender my mind to You, Blessed Holy Spirit. I affirm, Heavenly Father, that You have not given me the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I break and smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my emotions today and I give my emotions to You. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my will today, I give my will to You, and choose to make the right decisions of faith. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my body today, I give my body to You recognizing that I am Your temple. I rejoice in Your mercy and goodness.

Heavenly Father, I pray that now and through this day You would strengthen and enlighten me, show me the way Satan is hindering and tempting and lying and distorting the truth in my life. Enable me to be the kind of person that would please You. Enable me to be aggressive in prayer and faith.

Enable me to be aggressive mentally, to think about and practice Your Word, and to give You Your rightful place in my life.

Again, I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that You, Blessed Holy Spirit, would bring all the work of the Crucifixion, all the work of the Resurrection, all the work of the Glorification, and all the work of Pentecost into my life today. I surrender myself to You. I refuse to be discouraged. You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead, and I claim in every way this victory over all Satanic forces in my life. I pray in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving. Amen.

© Victor Matthews, Emeritus Professor of Theology at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary.

I will be praying for you, too.

The Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 8-11 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: Do not work so hard for Christ that you have no strength to pray, for prayer requires strength. ~J. Hudson Taylor

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. Psalm 28:7

‘Twas the Day After Christmas

12/26/201612/25/2016Leave a comment

‘Twas the day after Christmas and all through the town

The ones who weren’t Christians were feeling let down

The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney anymore,

And boxes and wrapping covered the floor.

The kitchen was covered from floor to ceiling

With enough dirty dishes to set Mother reeling

The children were whining over what they didn’t get

And rather than sharing, they were throwing a fit!

The malls were bustling with post-Christmas shoppers

Searching for bargains on racks and in hoppers.

The salesmen looked haggard, the shoppers looked worse

As credit cards flew out of wallet and purse.

There were no joyful sounds of carolers singing,

And the only bells heard, were registers ringing.

The scene was altogether too grim,

For all the people who didn’t know Him.

If only this unhappy crowd could know

That the Spirit of Christmas isn’t tied with a bow

And stacked in piles underneath the tree,

He lives forever in you and in me.

He didn’t start in presents piled up in a sleigh,

He started with Christ being born in the hay.

The perfect gift from our Father above

Sent to us sinners to show us His love.

He came without wrapping or boxes or strings,

No glitter or glamour or other vain things.

He came with a promise of hope for all men,

That even in death, we’d have life again.

The next face you encounter covered with strife,

Introduce them to Jesus and change their whole life.

Teach them that Christmas is a daily thing,

That comes from intimately knowing the King.

Someone sent this poem to me years ago and I thought you’d enjoy it. I trust you had a great Christmas.

If you haven’t already done so, I’d like to invite you to download a copy of our 2017 Bible Reading Plan. Pastor Chris Thompson shared this plan with me when he was here this summer and I loved it. Here is the link: 2017 America’s Keswick Bible Reading Plan. If you’d like a hard copy sent, send me your email address.

I look forward to you joining us for a new year of Freedom Fighter blogs in 2017. On behalf of our writing team, God bless you.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 56; Proverbs 26

Daily Quote: The early Christians did not say in dismay, ‘Look at what the world has come to,’ but in delight, ‘Look what has come to the world.’ Carl F. Henry

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities. Psalm 31:7

25 Promises for Hard Times

12/12/201612/12/2016Leave a comment

Christmas is supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year.” But for many, this is a tough time. Over 65 of our friends lost loved ones this year. Many of them are struggling with overwhelming grief.

My adopted Mom found a copy of this Freedom Fighter that I did a number of years ago and suggested I use it again. Great reminders.

1. God promises to care for me. Matt: 6:28-29

2. God promises to provide for me. Matt. 6:31-33

3. God promises to help me deal with what happens that day! Matt. 6:34

4. God promises to give me rest! Matt. 11:28

5. God promises to lift me up! 1 Pet. 5:6-7

6. God promises to give me peace! John 14:27

7. God promises to give me real treasure. Matt. 6:19-21

8. God promises to increase my faith. James 1:24

9. God promises to give me strength whatever the financial situation. Phil 4:12-13

10. God promises to meet all my needs! Phil. 4:19

11. God promises to protect me from fear! Ps. 46:1-3

12. God promises to bless me and will bless others through me. Prov. 11:25

13. God promises to give me something to look forward to! 1 Cor. 2:9

14. God promises to answer my prayers! Matt. 7:7-8

15. God promises to work for my good. Rom. 8:28

16. God promises to comfort me and others through me. 2 Cor. 3:4

17. God promises to bring me joy! Ps. 126:5

18. God promises to give me the desires of my heart Ps. 37:4

19. God promises to reward my faith. Matt. 17:20

20. God promises to reward my patience. Gal. 6:9

21. God promises to give to me as I give… Luke 6:38

22. God promises to direct my decisions. Prov. 3:5-6

23. God promises to give me wisdom. James 1:5

24. God promises to renew my strength. Isa. 40:31

25. God promises to be with me! Isa. 43:2-3

Read daily and add “and I believe it” to each one – until you do!

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 42; Proverbs 12

Daily Quote: Objection: “Our church is too big to celebrate the Lord’s Supper each Sunday during the worship service. It’s a logistical nightmare!” Response: Somehow giant churches still manage to collect money every Sunday, and I’ve never heard anybody complain that it was a logistical nightmare!

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. ~Psalm 5:11

Pride – the Ugly Sin

12/05/201612/04/2016Leave a comment

A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Proverbs 29:23

It’s something that rears its head so often in our lives and yet sometimes we are blind to it. Maybe?

Pastor and Author Lou Priolo says that “Pride is the AIDS of the soul … Pride blinds us not only to itself, but to every other sin tucked away in the recesses of our hearts and lives. It causes us to hate correction and reproof. It hides our sin from us, it justifies our sin, it excuses our sin, and it keeps us from repenting of our sin. It deceives us into thinking that we are spiritually well when, in fact, we have a deadly cancer and are in desperate need of the Great Physician’s Balm.”

Puritan preacher, Richard Baxter really lays it out for us: Pride is a deep rooted and self-preserving sin; and therefore is harder to be killed and rooted up than other sins. It hinders the discovery of itself … It will now allow the sinner to see his pride when he is reproved; neither will it allow him to confess if he sees it; nor to loathe himself and forsake it. Even when he recognizes all of the evidence of pride in others, he will not see it in himself. When he feels himself despising reproof, and knows that this is a sign of pride in others, yet he will not know it in himself. If you would go about to cure him of this or any other fault, you shall fee that you are handling a wasp or an adder; yet when he is spitting the venom of pride against the reprove, he does not perceive that he is proud; this venom is a part of his nature and therefore is not felt as harmful or poisonous.

Pastor Priolo suggests several things about deadly pride in our lives:

1. Pride is the delusion that our achievements are primarily the results of our doing.

2. Pride is esteeming ourselves above and beyond the condition and proportion that God has appointed for us.

3. Pride is the desire to be esteemed by others above and beyond the condition that God has appointed for us.

4. Pride is the desire to exult ourselves above and beyond the condition and proportion that God has appointed for us.

In the Valley of Vision – Prayers of the Puritans, I found this prayer regarding pride:

Lord, let not pride swell my heart. My nature is the mire beneath my feet, the dust to which I will return … Help me see myself in Your sight, then pride must wither, decay, die, perish.

Humble my heart before You, and replenish it with Your choicest gifts. As water rests not on barren hill summits, but flows down to fertilize lowest vales, so make me the lowest of the lowly, that my spiritual riches may exceedingly abound.

When I leave duties undone, may condemning thought strip me of pride, deepen me in devotion to Your service, and quicken me to more watchful care.

When I am tempted to think highly of myself, grant me to see the wily power of my spiritual enemy; Help me to stand with wary eye on the watch-tower of faith, and to cling with determined grasp to my humble Lord; If I fall let me hide myself in my Redeemer’s righteousness, and when I escape, may I ascribe all deliverance to Your grace. Keep me humble, meek, lowly. Amen!

Are you struggling with pride today? If so, grab your online concordance and look up verses to help you see God’s perspective on pride. The opposite of pride is humility. Lord, make me more humble today.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 34; Proverbs 4

Daily Quote: The man who thinks he is too big for a little place is too little for a big place. ~Vance Havner

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Praying as You Read The Scriptures

11/28/201611/27/2016Leave a comment

In just a few days we will be entering the month of December. A number of you committed to read through the book of Psalms and Proverbs with us this year and I trust it has been a blessing to you.
I am always looking for ways to keep my quiet times fresh and exciting. I have seen a number of great resources that I will share with you as we prepare for 2017, but resources that you can start right now.
I recently read a blog by Kristen Wheterell and she suggests 22 ways to pray as we read through the Bible based on principles from Psalm 119. I am using them in my quiet time and commend them to you:

Pray for wholehearted seeking: Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways (vv. 2-3)!
Pray for protection from sin: I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you (v. 11).
Pray for opened eyes: Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law (v. 18).
Pray for spiritual strength: My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word (v. 28)!
Pray for delight and longing: Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!…Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life (vv. 36, 40)!
Pray to fight lies: Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word (vv. 41-42).
Pray to live with trust in God’s promises: This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life (v. 50).
Pray for quick obedience: I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments (v. 60).
Pray for good judgment and knowledge: Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments (v. 66).
Pray for God’s comfort: Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant (v. 76).
Pray for endurance against the enemy: All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me (v. 86)!
Pray to depend on God’s enduring Word: Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens….I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts (vv. 89-94).
Pray for continual meditation: Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day (v. 97).
Pray for God’s light to guide you: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (v. 105).
Pray for fear of the Lord: My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments (v. 120).
Pray for trust in the Lord’s justice: I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken (vv. 125-6).
Pray for victory over sin: Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me (v. 133).
Pray for joy in trouble: Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight (v. 143).
Pray for God to hear you: Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life (v. 149).
Pray for mercy: Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules (v. 156).
Pray to abhor falsehood: I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law (v. 163).
Pray for a soul of praise: Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me (v. 175).

Pretty cool, huh? I trust they will be helpful to you. I’d love to hear from you. Send me an email at bwelte@americaskeswick.org Trust you had a great Thanksgiving.

Resource: Kristen Whetherell blog

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 28; Proverbs 28

Daily Quote: The louder Satan roars, the more proof you shall have of Christ’s love. ~C.H. Spurgeon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7

Response To Truth!

11/23/201611/23/2016Leave a comment

“Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” (Acts 17:32)

Paul was dealing with a severely Greek influenced culture with many wise and well thought out perceptions. The philosophers were known for unraveling new ideas and voicing their opinions on various matters. They even had ideas on the reality of gods and what was recognized as the Unknown God. Which Paul used as a segue to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But the key here is the various responses to the Good News.

Believers; has God been sharing new perspectives in your lives? Has he been calling you to new truths or deeper conformity? Are your convictions being challenged? And if so, what’s your response? Do we mock it, reject it because it’s different from which you are comfortable, or delay and say I will hear at another time?

“But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” (Acts 17:34)

This is the response I enjoyed. These men heard the truth and their actions followed. We are faced with trying times and confusing circumstances. This is not the time to be casual in our walks with Christ. Jesus did not die on the cross for us to be lukewarm in our walks. God didn’t not call you out of darkness to display a dim reflection of His glory. He wants us to respond to His truths in a way that there will be immeasurable evidence that we are in Him. Respond well my friend!

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 23; Proverbs 23

Daily Quote: There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him. ~William Law

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

⁶So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ~II Corinthians 5:6

Let’em Eat Stuffing!

11/22/201611/21/2016Leave a comment

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” ~Colossians 1:11-14 (ESV)

It’s that time again!! Time for turkey, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce and for me to wonder if the Dallas Cowboys will ever play the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. For some (including yours truly), it’ll be a day of football, cooking, eating, and the sudden urge for someone at the Thanksgiving table to say a little something before they carve up some white meat (please pass the gravy with that). For others, it’ll be a day of difficulty because things in life haven’t gone in such a way that they can feel being thankful let alone see it at all. Yeah, Thanksgiving Day can be a rough day to get through and those “Black Friday” ads shoving a commercialized Christmas down our throats doesn’t help either.

But you know what? Thankfulness was an important subject to the Apostle Paul and is an extremely important component in the Word of God. The Greeks used some really fancy words to express the concept of thankfulness (charizomai homologeo…told ya it was fancy) and in our language, it means to basically acknowledge or confess grace. That’s why it is always important to be thankful in prayer, none the matter of circumstance, we need to acknowledge the grace imparted to us by God. Even Secularland gets grace imparted to them, “For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matt 5:45b) Don’t forget the air to breathe, food to eat, clothes to wear…you get the picture.

For those of us who do call ourselves children of God being thankful in all things should be a reflex. Yeah, I know, we fail at this and so do I but, never-the-less, being thankful says we recognize God exists in our everyday lives, in the big moments and those small still ones. Besides, we’re commanded to do so in Scripture, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.” (Psalm 100:4) “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:18) are just a few examples to go with and remember, “All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.” (2 Cor 4:15)

Now I have a warning for you, there is a dangerous consequence to thanklessness and Secularland knows it all too well. “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.” (Romans 1:21) Bitterness, complaining and grumbling are the by-products of an unthankful heart and they promote pettiness and an unhealthy occupation of self, people and problems. This stuff creates depression and feelings of hopelessness because we have become focused on the stuff around us and not on the person of Jesus Christ.

So, Christian do yourself a favor and keep living in the Word of God (it’s where your focus should be anyway) and yes, I am preaching that to myself as well. Allow the Holy Spirit to direct your steps on the narrow road. Being a child of God is a pretty cool thing so that alone deserves your thankfulness, remember your calling, “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Col 3:15) and to “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” (Heb 12:15)

This Thanksgiving, before we watch the games (one day it’ll be Dallas against Detroit, I have faith), bless the food (pass the stuffing), and thank those around us who have meant so much to us; let’s take more than just a few minutes to assess if we’ve been living a thankful life. Let’s assess the way we have been living before a gracious and forgiving God. Let’s seek His forgiveness for putting Him on the shelf and re-commit to thankful living, so a very selfish and thankless world will see Him in how we live and ask “why?” And if they choose to turn a deaf ear to us…Let’em eat stuffing anyway!! Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 22; Proverbs 22

Daily Quote: “We tend to take all the gifts and pleasures and happiness and the joy without saying much to God. We take our health and strength, our food and clothing and our loved ones, all for granted; but the moment anything goes wrong we start grumbling and complaining and we say ‘Why should God do this to me, why should this happen to me?’ How slow we are to thank and swift to grumble.”—Martyn Lloyd-Jones

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

⁶So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ~II Corinthians 5:6

Finalizing Your Battle Plan

11/21/201611/20/2016Leave a comment

Here is the last step in preparing to fight temptation in your life. I trust that these steps have been a help to you in your daily walk.

Don’t Go There – Take the Way of Escape

I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations. Psalm 119:30

a. Stop thinking about it. The battle starts in the mind.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:12-15

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

Do not look at temptation with a wandering eye if you do not wish to be taken by it, not allow your mind to dwell on that which you do not want lodged in your heart. William Gurnall

b. Purpose where you can and cannot go. Strategize ahead of time. If you don’t plan in advance where you can and cannot go, you have set yourself up for failure. Recently a good friend of mine had to miss a family birthday party because he knew going there would be a big step toward relapse. He chose to stay home and for him. That was a good move. c. Take the way of escape that the Father ALWAYS provides for you.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Can you ever think of a time when you faced temptation where God did not provide a way of escape?

d. Don’t boast about temptations. “I don’t struggle in this area …” “I can’t believe he blew it in that area … how could they be so stupid?”

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

e. Find someone who will hold you accountable. Ask the tough questions, hold your feet to the fire, not be afraid to get in your face.

d. Play the tape to the final conclusion. What the consequences if I do this? How will this all unfold/unravel? What about my wife? My kids? My ministry?

O what desperate madness it is to accept the wrath of God for joy that lasts but an hour! William Gurnall

Conclusion:

Today you are not alone against temptation because the One who is your Savior is also your fortress, your hiding place, your defense.

Today you will fight temptation, but not alone because a Warrior Spirit lives inside you and fights on your behalf. Dr. Paul David Tripp

I am a fellow struggler. I am in this journey with you. But with God’s help and a strategy, we can be more than a conqueror.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 21; Proverbs 21

Daily Quote: The Bible characters never fell on their weak points but on their strong ones; unguarded strength is double weakness. —Oswald Chambers

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

⁶So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ~II Corinthians 5:6

Past Performances

11/17/201611/16/2016Leave a comment

Moment of rest

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. ~Psalm 23:3

Not many of us learn from our mistakes, if we’re honest the truth is we usually are creatures of habit. A habit is defined – as a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. Our reputation is based on our past performance as well as how we may react or conduct ourselves given the current circumstances. What we need is our souls restored. There are times when we can surely say “my soul is satisfied”. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

The transformational healing message of the Gospel is that we no longer have to react according to our past performances. Our next move or reaction will be determined by whether we are walking in the Spirit or the flesh. I am someone who can be overwhelmed by anxieties usually brought on by fear, so when I find myself in a situation where I’m about to react, there’s an uncomfortable knot in my stomach that is ready to explode. It’s then I have a choice, a pure antidote for putting the deeds of the flesh to death is scripture. I can recite certain verses such as

“The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul”

To be able to allow God to “Restore my soul” is a sure fire way to step out of your typical “Past Performance” and walk according to the Spirit. I love when I am out of character especially when the character displayed resembles Jesus. I have often walked away from a situation thinking to myself, “that wasn’t me.” No, I would have not handled that well apart from the help from God.

I was in church recently and one of the songs during our worship time we sang “God with us, God for us, nothing can come against, no one can stand between us”. I was reminded of the passage in Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

There is a truth that we need to be reminded of and that is we belong to God. When I commit myself to God’s word it allows the Holy Spirit to restore my soul. I then respond to things according to the Spirit.

What are your anxieties today? What are you fearing? I believe God is waiting for you to come to Him so He can do what only He can do.

Our poor past performances no longer define us, we can walk in a newness of life when we commit ourselves to Jesus. Amen

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 17; Proverbs 17

Daily Quote: The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer. ~F.B. Meyer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

¹⁰that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.– Philippians 3:10-11

Freedom Fighters

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Tag: christianity

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Finalizing Your Battle Plan

Past Performances