But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 What is your go-to thing to find satisfaction for a moment in your life? Mine is a diet coke or chocolate with caramel. You know the time in your life where things are just hectic and you are hungry, but you don’t have time to stop and eat. Or how about the times where you need time to stop, but it won’t. What is the one thing that you grab to help you through that time? That is what I am talking about. …
-
-
What Is Tempting You
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 Have you ever compared how Jesus and the Israelites each handled their wilderness experience? They both experience God in those moments. However, the Israelites complained and wanted to go back to their former lives, while Jesus was humble to the Holy Spirit’s leading. We all face temptation. Temptation comes in all shapes, forms, and sizes. The one thing we must remember is temptation does not come from God. Do not believe the…
-
Walking In The Wilderness
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 Have you ever camped in the mountains in the ruggedness of it all? No electricity, no heat, no lights at night? You have to learn how to cook over a campfire—NO comfy couches or chairs. You have to make or own entertainment because well you have to tv and not data for your phone. I don’t know if many of us would last. We would complain and grumble and go back home. How about life in general. …
-
The Father Will Give You Whatever You Ask
“so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 15:16-17 Do you have a person you admire for their relationship with God, that when you grow up, you hope to be like them? How about a person who is willing to at any opportunity to share about Jesus? I have many people like that in my life. I am still striving to be like them in this area of my life. To have that confidence!!! Let’s read 1 John 5:14-15. How do these verses relate to John 15:16? What can we be confident in? How does this make you…
-
Appointed To Go
“I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit,” John 15:16-17 Today will focus on the verse above. Jesus revealed the purpose behind your “chosen-ness.” We all have a “go appointment.” How it looks for each of us will be different. We will go, where we will go, and what we’ll take with us will vary. The one thing we do have in common as Christ-followers is that we are appointed to go. The fruit we will bear in this appointment. Proverbs 11:30 says this: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise…
-
Jesus Chose You: Part 2
“I chose you.” John 15:16-17 Have you ever had to apply for something in your life, like a job, a contest, etc., and you got chosen out of how many people? How did you respond to the news that the organization chose you for the position? Picked? Were you excited, scared, appreciative? Let’s do a little word study on the word chosen. According to the Greek language, the word chose comes from exelezamen. It means “to pick out for myself, to select.” Now let’s put it into context. Jesus picked us out for Himself. He selected us to be His abiding…
-
Jesus Chose You
“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. John 15:16-17 Today, We are going to focus on choice. Who chooses and why it matters. In the above verse, Jesus said we didn’t choose Him. In the Jewish religious culture, a student would pick a rabbi. In return, the Rabi then has to choose the student back or not to choose the student. There is a whole process to go through—interviews, tests, and applying for such training. Jesus, though turns this process upside down. He chose His disciples, and then in return; they chose Him back by abiding in Him for the long haul. Let’s look at some scripture verses on who…
-
Filled With My Joy
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:10-12 How much do you love our Lord and Savior? Does your life show it? Today, we will focus on the result of having steadfast obedience for Jesus out of our tenaciously abiding love for Him. Have you ever put abiding and obedience together to be filled with joy? I sure haven’t. Let’s look at the following verses: John 4:31-34, Philippians 2:5-11, and Hebrews 12:2. What can we learn from these verses about the connection between obedience and joy from the life of…
-
Remain In His Love
“just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” John 15:10-12 How much do you trust God? Do you ever feel like you are stepping off the ledge when He asks you to do something that is not you? Let’s read Hebrews 4:14-16 and 5: 4-9. How does Jesus help us hold firm to what we believe? What did Jesus face? What difference might it make to consider Jesus facing a struggle with similar roots? What is the invitation given in Hebrews 4:16? What is offered after the invitation? In chapter 5:4-9, how does this show the humility of Jesus and His…
-
Obey My Commandments
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, . . . John 15:10-12 How do you feel about being obedient to God and what He asks of you? Do you clench your jaw a little or a lot?? Well, let’s dive in a little about this today! When Jesus said, obey my commandments, you remain in my love, He wasn’t/ isn’t putting us behind jail bars. He was putting up guardrails to keep us from going off the cliff! Keeping us from falling away from His love. Obedience to Jesus keeps us in the staying power. It keeps us on the road to…