God will make you strong in your weakness!

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10 NIV)

Weak things of the world

God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. (1 Cor. 1:27b NKJV)

He gives strength to the weary 

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV)

Therefore…

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9 ESV)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10 ESV)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:19 ESV)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Eph. 6:10 ESV)

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You are an overcomer!

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NASB)

Under the circumstances?

A few years ago, when I was going through a particularly rough time, a friend said to me, “How are you doing?” I answered, “Okay, I guess, under the circumstances!” He then said, “What are you doing under there!?” I laughed, at the time. But, as the years have passed, I have come to realize that there was a great truth in that simple statement made by my friend, so long ago. I don’t have to remain “under any circumstance” because of Christ living in me, and also because of the many Bible promises that cover every possible thing!

One scripture passage says at top says, “they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11 NKJV).

Two ways

Notice that they overcame their adversary two ways:.

1) By the Blood of the Lamb (what Jesus did for them on the cross)

2) By what they professed with their mouth (they testified)

Therefore…

No matter what negative “circumstance” comes your way, you can victoriously rise above it by standing firmly on God’s Word, and by saying boldly and confidently, “I am an overcomer because of what Jesus has done for me! And, greater is He (Jesus) who is in me, than he (the devil) who is in the world! (John 4:4). Therefore, I am an overcomer!”

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God forgives and forgets without measure

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NKJV)

When You confess your sins to God, He forgives and forgets them and cleanses you completely from all unrighteousness! That means you are made completely clean and righteous in His sight!

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:22-24 NIV)

God has the ability to totally forget and to remember your sins no more! 

And, your sins will never be brought up against you again! And, why does God do this wonderful thing for you?

The Bible says that He does it for His own sake! 

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25 NIV)

How far does he blot out your sins? 

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12 NIV)

Notice that the above passage says that God has removed them as far as the “east from the west” and not as far as the “north from the south”. That’s because “east from west” is immeasurable, but “north from south” is measurable! God’s amazing forgiveness is without measure!

Therefore…

“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.” (Col. 1:13-14 ESV)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Eph. 1:7 ESV)

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isa. 1:18 ESV)

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God is good all the time!

“Give thanks to the LORD for He is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1 NIV)

How wonderful it is that we serve a good God!

God is not angry, He is not upset! He loves you all the time without fail. 

He is love! 

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8).

He gives mercy, grace and help

Because of the payment for sin by the blood of Jesus, we can come “boldly” to God to get what we need. 

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Heb. 4:16 NLT)

He is consistently the same 

And, God never has a bad day! He’s consistently the same!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8).

We can confidently say

So, you can say with complete confidence, “God is good all the time. All the time, God is good!”

Therefore…

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!” (Psalm 31:19 ESV)

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How to succeed and prosper in everything you do

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3 KJV)

Directions have been around a long time

In the business world there are many business conferences every year on the subject of how to achieve greater success. There are also literally thousands of books published yearly about how to move ahead in life and in business. But, the best directions have been around a very long time and available at your fingertips. It’s all in the Word of God, the Bible! For instance, would you like whatsoever you do to be blessed and to prosper (succeed and grow)? You can find the instructions for that in just one passage of Scripture alone. This wonderful passage is found in the book of Psalms, verses 1:1-3. It explains what you need to do to make it happen.

How to make it so 

1) “Don’t walk in the council of the ungodly.” This means to not get your directions, counsel and/or advice from ungodly sources. They will only cause you to fail! Instead, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33 KJV).

2) “Don’t stand in the way of sinners.” This means you don’t act and behave like ungodly unbelievers (like anyone who doesn’t follow and serve God).

3) “Don’t sit in the seat of the scornful. “Don’t join in with negative and critical people. They will corrupt you and cause you to to be a negative thinker, too! Negativity is contagious and destructive!

4) “Delight in the Law of the Lord.” Make God’s Word a happy part of your life. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 NKJV).

5) “Meditate (dwell on and think deeply) on God’s Word both day and night. That means all the time, or continually. The Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7 AMP). You are what you you think about so it’s critical to watch what you put into your mind and what you dwell on! The great motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, said to “Give yourself a checkup from the neck up to keep you from stinking thinking and hardening of the attitude!”

You will become productive 

And, as a result of following the practical steps in the above passage, you will be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water” (your roots will be watered continuously which will make you healthy); “that bringeth forth his fruit in his season” (you will have productivity at the right time in what you do as needed); “his leaf also shall not wither” (you won’t suffer drought, setbacks or lack); “and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Anything you do will succeed and prosper).

To recap:

Get your directions from God (not from the world), be guided happily through God’s Word and His Spirit continuously, and then whatsoever you do will grow and prosper as God adds his blessings to it.

Therefore:

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Prov. 16:3 ESV)

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37:4 ESV)

 “And keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,” (1 Kings 2:3 ESV)

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Christ gives us the victory!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor.15:57 NIV)

A strong work ethic back then

We live in a different kind of world in many ways than the one I grew up in. When I was a kid we were taught a strong, clearly proclaimed, work ethic. We were taught at home and at school that we must work to get the things we need in life. That life is tough for those who fail to work. That the world does not owe you a living. And that lazy non-workers were called bums.

Many have a victim mentality!

Today, many have the idea that the government owes them a living. The number of people on food stamps and other types of government entitlements is staggering. Many have a victim mentality.

It wasn’t always this way! 

In one of his famous speeches, President, John F. Kennedy said the following: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask instead what you can do for your country.”

Things are very much the opposite today!

A few weeks ago while Susan was in a store, I waited for her in the car. A woman saw me sitting there and tapped on the door glass to get my attention. When I rolled down the window she handed me a note. The note said, “I am deaf, anything you can give me will help!”

She was a healthy looking young woman

I asked her if she could read lips? She indicated that she could. I then asked her why she didn’t just get a job instead of begging. I told her that I had deaf friends who worked regular jobs and did very well. I said that she looked plenty strong and healthy to me and that there are lots of jobs around that don’t require hearing.

She saw herself as a victim

When she saw that I wasn’t going to give her any money, she moved away from me and immediately approached someone else in the parking lot. She clearly saw herself as a victim and expected others to feel sorry for her and to compensate her for being a victim of deafness.

A dangerous mental trap

I believe as long as anyone sees themselves as a victim of any kind they are in a dangerous mental trap! The promise at the top says, “He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

We never have to beg when we understand God’s abundant provision

Psalm 37:25 says it best, “I was young and now I am old, yet I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.”

Now, that’s another great promise!

Therefore…

“With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.” (108:13 ESV)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Eph. 6:10 ESV)

“For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” (Prov. 24:16 ESV)

Quotes: 

“The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.” – R.A. torrey

“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.” – Warren Wiersbe

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He is faithful, so hold fast!

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)” (Heb. 10:23 KJV)

This promise is so simple and direct that you’d have to get some help in order to misunderstand what it says!

Do not waver!

Hold fast to the profession of your faith, without wavering, because, He that promised is faithful! How simple is that!

How wonderful that We never have to worry about God’s faithfulness to His promises, ever! We just need to mix our faith with them (Heb. 4:2) and then expect (believe) them to work for us! And they do, every single time!

Therefore…

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14 ESV)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33 ESV)

“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4 ESV)

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Press towards the mark!

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14 KJV)

There’s an old story about a kid who grew up in the back hills of Tennessee many years ago. While walking through the woods one day, he saw a big tree with something carved into its trunk. When he got closer he could clearly read what it said.

“Daniel Boon killed a bear clear up to there!” And next to Daniel’s message was a mark to indicate the size of the bear.

The odd thing, was that beneath Daniel Boon’s mark were a few other marks put there by other bear hunters. Apparently, Daniel was very famous for killing such a huge bear and therefore, whenever anyone else killed a bear in the area after that, they would drag it up to Daniel’s tree and press it up towards his mark to see how theirs compared with his. They would then carve their own name there and put their own mark under his to indicate the size of their bear. 

I don’t know if the story is actually true, but it does illustrate a great point about living for Jesus.

Jesus is the mark we must press towards!

We are told to “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” (Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT)

When you do this, you will be pressing towards the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” And, that’s a great promise!

Therefore…

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6 ESV)

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:13-17 ESV)

Quotes:

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” – Apostle Paul  (1 Cor. 11:1 ESV)

“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.” – Billy Graham

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God comforts us to comfort others

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4 ESV)

When God gives us His generous comfort, as sometimes is needed, He gives it to us in such measure that we are able to not only be comforted ourselves, but there is plenty comfort left over for us to give the same kind of comfort to others.

A lesson from sourdough 

As a youth, I lived in a log cabin in Rabbit Creek, Alaska. We were without indoor plumbing and really roughed it in many ways. We got our water from the creek and used an outhouse out back. Cooking was also very basic, but it was delicious. Mom made a special homemade bread out of sourdough. The sourdough was made from a small batch of  “starter” she kept in a bag of flour as a small lump. Mom had originally gotten her sourdough starter from another Alaskan who had kept theirs for many years. Each time mom made a batch of bread, she would take a small lump of the sourdough from it and put it into a sack of flour to use the next time. She continued to use that technique year after year and often gave some of it to friends when they came to visit, so that they could make sourdough bread, too.

In the same way

The “comfort that God” gives, is like the sourdough starter and can be used over and over and be shared countless times for others as needed! “God comforts us so we can comfort others with the same comfort.” And, it will never run out!

Therefore…

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:1-4 ESV)

“For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:5-7 ESV)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (Isa. 40:1 ESV)

Mike Frenchbible promises, comfort, god’s comfort, sourdough