“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.”  2 Peter 1:2 (AMP)

I tried many things to fill the void in my life. However, in reflection, I realize that I forfeited peace often over the years because I didn’t seek to know God more. I didn’t put the necessary effort into memorizing scripture and working at renewing my mind. I panicked instead of praying. I looked at my circumstances instead of God’s promises. Then, I decided to trust Him more and more. Peace at last flooded in.

Do you remember your first experience of the overwhelming sense of God’s presence that accompanies trusting in Jesus? When people first experience forgiveness and life in Jesus, one of their first responses may be astonishment over how much peace occurs ? especially in their minds. That is how it was with me. At first, I sensed much contentment — it was greater than anything I had ever experienced.

I soon realized that along with this contentment and a desire to follow Christ wholeheartedly comes a battle — the battle for our will and for our minds. No surprise there. Jesus promised that in this world we would have trouble (John 16:33).

However, He also promised His peace could reign in our hearts, not just the first time we come to Him, but every time. We can retain that peaceful sensation no matter what bombards us in life. Growing in our knowledge of the Lord is a lifelong pursuit. Peter reminds us it is worth every effort. He says God will provide more and more grace and peace as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus our Lord.

Lord, thank you for your promise of grace and peace as we grow in our knowledge you. Teach me to know you. Write your word on my heart. Help me pray according to your will and pray through everything I need. Thank you that you hear and will answer according to your will. Thank you for the promise of your peace — beyond anything this world can give. Amen.

By Donna Mitchell
used by permission

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The post Worth the Effort appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news….Today …a Savior has been born to you;… ” (Luke 2:10-11).

Between the Old and New Testaments, God had been silent for over 400 years but at the appointed time, at the birth of Christ, He began to speak. In the Christmas story God spoke at different times through dreams, visions, songs, prophecy and through the Galaxy.

In Luke 2:10-14, an Angel of the Lord appeared to a group of shepherds who were in their daily workplace at night-time. He gave them a message that would change the course of history forever. As the Angel spoke about the birth of the Messiah, a great heavenly choir began a song of praise and the sky shone with the glory of God; probably like an amazing celestial fireworks display.

Examples of God speaking in the daily routine of His servants:

God still speaks to His people, and often, like with the shepherds, He speaks in our daily routine. Too many times, we expect God to speak only at Conferences and Church services. He certainly does speak in these gatherings, but can we believe God to also speak to us in our daily routine. God spoke to Moses while keeping sheep and to Gideon while threshing wheat. He spoke to Elisha while plowing a field. He can talk to you too near a cooker, a computer, a mop, a canvas, a keyboard, a microphone, an exercise machine or in any other place.

A Pastor friend was enjoying a refreshing drink at a wayside shop in Colombo one day when two visually impaired persons bumped into him. The Pastor, moved by God, spoke to them, saved their contact numbers and eventually helped them on to a bus. As they connected in the days ahead, an idea for a Church Service for the visually impaired was birthed in this Pastor’s heart. As a result, our church has been able to host such a service for the past 7 years which has now become a national event! In the same way, God waits to speak to you too in your daily routine. Be sensitive to His voice.

Prayer – Lord, help me to hear your voice today in my daily routine.

Expect God to speak to you in unexpected situations and in unexpected places.

by Palitha Jayasooriya
used by permission

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The post God Speaks in our Daily Routine appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” Philippians 4:11,12

“Mom, you find pleasure in the smallest things,” my daughter laughed.

I had just described to her my joy at finding a spider web suspended outside my kitchen window. Raindrops caught in the web shone like beads of crystal in the early morning sunlight. What could be more beautiful?

A sense of wonder at the small things! How we need that today in our world of noise, speed, and consumerism. It’s easy to be sucked into the world’s way and to miss the many little blessings God scatters into each day for us.

Two things that steal my sense of wonder:

—Comparing myself with others who seem to have more of what I want–more book sales, more success in ministry…

—A feeling of entitlement–I deserve more than I’m getting. After all, I have worked very hard and given so much.

Paul could have gone that route. He had worked day and night to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had sacrificed everything: home, family, career, comfort, even a wage. Yet, he was in prison while others were free to preach.

What was his response? “I have learned the secret of being content.”

What was his secret? I think I know: Develop a keen sense of wonder at all that God is doing for you and through you. All the little miracles he is scattering into each day for you. Like a spider web outside the kitchen window.

Today, I encourage you to write down the little blessings that add to the pleasure of your day. See if you can come up with ten. Then share some of them with the rest of us.

Father, I thank you for the surprising ways in which you come to us. Today I want to be alert to the small blessings you’ve planted along my pathway.

by Helen Lescheid
used by permission

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Contentment by Max Lucado

Secret of Contentment by Phil Ware

The Secret of Contentment by Charles Stanley

Contentment by Idelette McVicker

Contentment and A Broken Ankle by Katherine Kehler

The post A Sense of Wonder appeared first on Thoughts About God.

If you have never tried it, I encourage you to make it a regular practice to spend a day with the Lord.

Usually our days are filled with the demands of life crying for our attention, but today, whether for four, eight or 12 hours, your only priority is to be with your Lord, to bask in His love, to thank and worship Him, to listen to Him, to intercede for others, to lay your life and activities before Him and let Him give directions.

The Bible promises us in James 4:8,

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.”

He is waiting for you! Don’t rush. The objective is to spend relaxed, uninterrupted time with God, not to go through a format. These are mere guidelines. Let God be your guide.

Preparation

• Find a place where you can be alone and free from distractions.
• Bring your Bible, a notebook and pen, a hymn book, song sheets or cassette tapes.

Thanksgiving and Praise

Begin with Thanksgiving
Psalm 100:4 tells us, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.”
a. Thank Him for His patience and forgiveness.
b. Thank Him for the privilege of coming into His presence.
c. Thank Him for what He has done in and through your life in the last year.

Make a List
Take time to list what God has done for you.
Be specific.
Think through every area of your life.

Search My Heart
Ask God to search your heart. Psalm 139:23,24

• Confess any sins the Holy Spirit reveals. Psalm 19:12
• Remember the certainty of forgiveness. 1 John 1:9
• Make certain you are walking and praying in the Spirit. Ephesians 5:15-20

Become Still
Become still before the Lord. Psalm 46:10

• Consider who God is. Psalm 103
• Praise Him for His attributes. Psalm 145
• Rejoice in your fellowship with Him and that He delights in you. Proverbs 15:8
• Read passages of scripture and pray them back to God. Psalms 146-150
• Sing to the Lord.

Revelation
Ask God to reveal the world to you from His point of view as you read. Psalm 33

Intercession
Pray your way around the world with unhurried, detailed intercession for others.

• Begin with your non-Christians, friends, relatives, neighbours and others the Lord puts on your heart.
• Pray for those in authority – federal, provincial and municipal government leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1,2
• Pray for Christians using Paul’s prayers in Philippians 1, Colossians 1, Ephesians 1 and 3.

“By intercessory prayer we can hold off Satan from other lives and give the Holy Ghost a chance with them. No wonder Jesus put such tremendous emphasis on prayer!”  -Oswald Chambers

Personal Life Evaluation

Ask for understanding as you read an entire book of the Bible. Record insights God gives you.

Inquire of God what He thinks of your life and wait. Listen for His answer.

Evaluate the use of the time, talent, treasure, education and experience God has entrusted to you. Are they glorifying to God? Do you need to modify some of them?

Discuss with the Lord your joys, your sorrows and decisions you are facing. Find promises and directives in the Bible which you can record.

“The greatest answer to prayer is that I am brought into a perfect understanding with God, and that alters my view of actual things.”
~Oswald Chambers

Concluding Your Day with God

Praise and thank God for the fellowship you had today.

Schedule the next “Day with the Lord” in your appointment book.

Share with someone about your day.

by Katherine Kehler
used by permission

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How to Have a ‘Quiet Time’ with God

Quiet Time with God is like a Date Night – by Max Lucado

How to Pray

The post How to Spend a Day with the Lord appeared first on Thoughts About God.

How do we deal with fear? By taking charge of our situation. By doing something instead of nothing. The two servants who invested the money the Master entrusted to them were probably afraid too, but they did something anyway.  If they had any fear at all, it was covered up by their activity. The third servant, however, was overcome with fear and did nothing. He sat on it, and God could do nothing with him because of his inactivity.

Fear rules where inactivity festers. Fear dissipates where activity flourishes.

Remember when the disciples were fearing for their lives on a stormy Sea of Galilee, and Jesus came to them walking on the water? Now they were even more afraid thinking they were seeing a ghost. But as soon as Peter saw that it was Jesus he asked if he could walk out to meet him. Jesus bade him come and for a while Peter too walked on water until he took his focus off of Christ and onto the storm and started sinking, requiring Jesus to reach out and rescue him.

Now compare Peter’s experience with that of the other eleven disciples on the boat. They are sitting there with nothing to do but shake with fear. Peter didn’t have time to worry; he was too busy acting on his faith. He had an idea. He was having an adventure because he chose to get out of the boat and do something. He took charge of the situation and turned it into a story we’re still talking about and learning from today. And even when he did get afraid out there on the water, when he took his eyes off of Jesus and started noticing the waves and the storm, Jesus was right there to rescue him.

Initiation dissipates fear. The “doing” is the best weapon against being afraid, because once we step out of the boat, the adventure begins. The choice is always ours – do nothing and be afraid, or do something and believe.

by John Fischer
used by permission

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The post What To Do With Fear appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Give yourself a pat on the back – you’ve done such a great job!”

Ever notice how difficult it is to give yourself a pat on the back?

It takes someone else to do it for us. When we do it ourselves it becomes a self proclamation and is boasting. Scripture tells us…

“Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3

“If we are going to boast then let’s boast about the Lord… My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice.” Psalm 34:2

“Heavenly Father please let those who boast – boast in You. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom You commend. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 10:17,18.

by Alec Niemi
Used by Permission

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What Should We Boast About?

Skewed Values

Boast in the Lord

The post Pat on the Back appeared first on Thoughts About God.