But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].  1 Corinthians 1:30 The Amplified Bible

What should we do when the enemy accuses us of doing some wrong or just not being good enough to deserve God’s blessings?

The answer may surprise you: Agree with him.

But then, tell him the whole Truth.

If, for example, he whispers in your ear, “You are not righteous enough”, say “I completely agree, devil.  But Jesus is my righteousness.”

When you hear, “You don’t deserve to be saved” answer “I couldn’t agree with you more. But Jesus is my salvation.”

Every time you point back to Jesus, the devil can say nothing. Jesus qualifies us for all of God’s blessings. There is none good but God and we have been saved by His grace.

Sound too simple?  The Gospel is simple:

“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.    John 3:16

Then read Ephesians 2:1-9

Brother Bill

Jehoshaphat is one of my Bible heroes. When he was faced with a vast army that was coming to attack Judah, he was overwhelmed and alarmed. He immediately went to the Lord in prayer and called the people of Judah to pray and fast.

Jehoshaphat’s prayer spoke of God’s faithfulness and power in past times of need and the promise that God would save them when they cried out to Him. Remembering your victories of the past, can be a powerful prayer when you are praying for faith for the future. My favorite part of Jehoshaphat’s prayer is when he said “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” God miraculously saved them from disaster. Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-29. It is powerful and encouraging.

When you don’t know what to do, remember what God has already done for you and keep your eyes on Him. He will fight the battle for you.

Christine

“I WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”  Psalm 34:1-3 The Amplified Bible

“Magnify the Lord.” When we have troubles, great or small, remember these scriptures and meditate on them.  To magnify is to enlarge.  When you look to your circumstance and worry about it, you are magnifying or enlarging it as if you are looking at it under a microscope.

Magnifying the Lord gives a clear picture that God is much greater than your problem or situation.  Think and meditate on God’s word and His promises to you.  Anything you face in this life, God has an answer.  Even if you have to wait for your breakthrough, God’s word says to wait expectantly!

God is for us and not against us.  He is greater and bigger than any mountain that seems to be in our way.  In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 17:20 to tell your mountain to move and it will move.  Moving mountains and waiting expectantly on the Lord are ways to magnify Him because it causes you to think and dwell on His word and therefore makes Him much larger than your situation.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!

Christine

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].”
Philippians 4:13 The Amplified Bible

Do you sometimes feel you can’t do what you discern the Lord telling you to do?  Well, I do MOST OF THE TIME! That’s when the Lord brings this verse to my mind.  That’s why it’s one of my favorites–one to which I cling and claim on a regular basis.  The Lord may be calling on me to do something but it is His strength that empowers me. I love the word “infuse”. It brings up a visualization of the Lord’s power filling me from bottom to top.

The other day I received in the mail a letter from Charles Stanley’s ministry, In Touch. I admire Dr. Stanley’s wisdom concerning God’s word and I enjoy listening to him on television and reading his letters.

His recent letter talks about God’s guidance and the reason we can trust God to lead and guide us in any situation we may face. The article came at just the right time (A GOD THING!), and encouraged me to know that God cares about my situation and decisions.

Dr Stanley states clearly that God will lead never mislead you and that he created you for a unique purpose and He will fulfill that purpose in you when you trust and obey Him. This wonderful promise, he points out, is for those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If you don’t know Jesus, I urge you to give your life to Him and allow Him to lead you and fulfill His desire for you.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Matthew 28:20
Isaiah 30:21
Isaiah 42:16
Deuteronomy 31:8
Ephesians 2:10
Psalm 32:8

Christine

“Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.”  Psalm 141:3 The Amplified Bible

Sometimes, I’ve said things I shouldn’t say (Okay, frequently I’ve said things I shouldn’t say!) about others or even about myself. In the past, I’ve tried to “be better”. But–thank God–I can’t be better. That’s why I say continually, “Lord, watch my mouth. Holy Spirit, stop me when I’m about to speak the wrong things. Prompt me to speak as You would have me speak.”

And, you know what? It works a lot better than when I try to do it on myself!  Yes, I still get in the way, but not nearly as often as before.

“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Psalm 32:11 The Amplified Bible

Don’t feel like it? Doesn’t matter. Neither do I sometimes. But, you know, when I start praising the Lord and rejoicing something comes over me—or I should say Someone comes out of me. It’s the Holy Spirit.

Oh, and that “uncompromisingly righteous” part—don’t worry. If you’ve professed Christ Jesus as your Savior, you are righteous. And it has nothing to do with you or your conduct or your works. Like Intel says, “It’s Inside.”

“Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long. Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness; for they have been ever from of old.”
Psalm 25:4-6 The Amplified Bible

I’ve got a college degree and some post-graduate work but sign me up, Lord! I’m ready for some higher education–some REALLY HIGH education!  You don’t grade on the curve–the grade was determined solely by Christ Jesus. My education in You was bought and paid for and I’m ready for some “on the job” training. Amen.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.”
Psalm 4:8 The Amplified Bible

Lord, I don’t need a Tempurpedic ® or a Sleep Number ®.  Okay, I need a new mattress and maybe these would be great. However, all I really need is You. No matter how comfortable the mattress, my mind can go many places I don’t want it to go. You alone make me lie down and sleep in peace. In You I dwell in safety and confident trust.  Yes and Amen.

“Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard or too wonderful for You–” Jeremiah 32:17 The Amplified Bible

When Jesus fed the 5,000 it took five loaves of bread. When He fed the smaller 4,000 crowd it took seven loaves. It looks like to me that the larger the “problem” the easier the solution! Can we say that about our own answers? Read more »

“God helps those who help themselves.” Ephcollipians 1:24 The Mythical Bible

Nope. it’s not anywhere in the Bible. God does not help those who help themselves. He helps those who are helpless and dependent on Him. He helps those who look to Him as their only source of help. Read more »