“But, dearly loved friends, if our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, and get whatever we ask for because we are obeying Him and doing the things that please Him” 1 John 3:21,22.

What a marvelous promise – unfortunately, a promise which few Christians are able to claim. Why? Because they do not have a clear conscience in regard to their sin and when they come to God, they cannot come with confidence that He will hear and answer them. As God’s Word reminds us in Psalm 66:18, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. How wonderful to know that whatever sins have been committed, the shedding of Christ’s blood and His death on the cross have paid the penalty for them all. If we confess our sin of pride, lust, jealousy, gossip, dishonesty, greed, whatever it may be, we can by faith claim His forgiveness. Remember that if we agree with God concerning our sin, if we recognize Christ’s death on the cross has indeed paid the penalty for that sin, and if we repent or change our attitude, which results in a change of our action, we can know that we are forgiven. However, if there is no change of attitude and action, obviously there has been no true confession and therefore no forgiveness and cleansing.

If you have truly confessed your sins, you can come now into the presence of God with great joy and a clear conscience and have perfect assurance and trust that whatever you ask for, you will receive because you are praying according to the will and the Word of God.

Bible Reading: I John 3:18-24

One of the qualifications for supernatural living is a clear conscience. Therefore, by God’s grace I will keep my heart and motives pure through the practice of spiritual breathing knowing that when I breathe spiritually (exhale – confess, inhale – appropriate promise), I can come into God’s presence with a clear conscience and expect to receive answers to my prayers.

By Dr. Bill Bright
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

• True Forgiveness
• The Power of Forgiveness
• Forgive Again and Again
• The Stumbling Block of Unforgiveness

The post Claiming Forgiveness appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“But God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?’ ‘It is,’ he said. ‘And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.’” Jonah 4:9

Anger is a silent killer. Not only can it fester in our hearts and cause our blood pressure to rise — it also discolours how we see things. It tightens our jaws so we grind our teeth. It tenses our lower back muscles and disturbs our sleep. So why do we hang onto it so often?

Jonah was angry — at the people of Nineveh, at God, at everything. Even the withering of a plant that had shaded him from the sun. His disposition had soured his whole outlook on life, and God called him on it. Was it right for him to be angry?

Throughout Scripture, God is said to be compassionate and slow to anger. The two go hand in hand. When compassion flows in, anger is squeezed out. The focus shifts from our feelings to the other person’s. It is no longer about who hurt us or did us an injustice. Instead, God’s love encourages us to see the “why?” behind the act.

Yes, there is such a thing as righteous anger. The Bible states that God can become angry, but not swiftly. Feelings are not factored in. No jealousy, no revenge, no hurt. Instead, the anger spurs a call to action to right a wrong, to turn a negative into a positive.

Paul warned in Ephesians 4:26,

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…”

Anger is not the sin. Letting it cloud our compassion for others can be.

Dear Lord, help me to release any feelings of anger in my heart. Do not let them shackle me and keep me from seeing others with compassion as you see them. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Anger Management
• Justified Anger
• Watch Your Anger – Psalm 37:8

The post Unresolved Anger appeared first on Thoughts About God.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” Luke 18:16

Sherry and Jimmie met at a hard rock Black Sabbath concert.
Both were serious substance abusers.
Sherry became pregnant and a few months later, they got married.  But it was awful!
A divorce ended years of abuse.
Strangely enough, God drew them back together.  He had a plan for this family!
What did God use?
Little three-year-old Jason told the pastor, “I want Jesus to bring my daddy home.”

Months later, the couple asked the pastor to marry them.
He agreed if Jimmie would receive Jesus into his life as Sherry had done previously.
So Jimmie said yes.
Now he says,
“Jesus invaded our world that night.  We got up from there and were completely different.”

Now Sherry and blues artist Jimmie Bratcher are sharing Christ’s life-changing story with others.

Friend, your experience might be less dramatic, but God WILL change your life!

By Vonette Bright
used by permission

~~~~~~~

If you don’t know God and his forgiveness and would like to start living a life where he is at your centre, you can start that journey today with a prayer:

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to trust you from now on. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be. Thank you for enabling me to trust you in these uncertain times. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~

FURTHER READING

The Gift of Forgiveness – by John William Smith

A Moving Mountain

Searching for a Higher Purpose – Betty Lau shares her story

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“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

It’s crazy how easily we can talk ourselves into wanting to be more, have more, and do more. And for me, it happens most when I let the world creep in where Jesus should reside.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Taking delight in the Lord means that our hearts truly find peace and fulfillment in Him. If we truly find satisfaction and worth in Christ, Scripture says He will give us the longings of our hearts. The idea behind this verse and others like it is that, when we truly rejoice or “delight” in the eternal things of God, our desires will begin to parallel His, and we will never go unfulfilled.

Many delight in wealth, status, material possessions, and other temporary things of this world, but they are never satisfied. They never truly get what they want, which is why they are always wanting more.

Everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father, but from the world which seeks pleasure. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

We will never be deeply fulfilled or “happy” with the things this world has to offer. But if we place our joy and hope in God first, He will meet all of our needs.

Have you trusted God first in your life? If not, do so today and receive the desires of your heart.

THOUGHT: What gives you pleasure in life? Does it come from the world or from Jesus?

PRAYER: Father God, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you and look to you and to you alone for true delight and pleasure in life.

By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

FURTHER READING

Our Heart’s Desires

Delight Yourself in the Lord

God is My Delight

The post The Delights of Your Heart appeared first on Thoughts About God.

There are places and times when we feel we need extra wisdom, insight, guidance and strength. We long for understanding in situations that seem confusing. We need revelation when truth is being hidden or skewed.

God provides all these things to His children through the Holy Spirit. Paul the apostle, prayed for believers to receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so they could know God better. This prayer is still for us today. It reflects what is available to believers… to you and me.

Why do we allow ourselves to live in confusion and even chaos when we can be equipped by the Holy Spirit of God. Do we miss the wisdom and revelation we can have from God because we drown out that quiet voice of the Spirit by our busy lives? In so doing we are actually choosing the chaos and confusion. Think about it. This is not God’s plan for you. Know He wants to equip you to walk in wisdom, revelation, strength and power right where you are. He wants you to know Him better.

Heavenly Father, Thank you that Your Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Thank you that Your Spirit will lead me to know You better. Fill my spirit afresh today with the wisdom and revelation, the strength and comfort I need to walk in the areas that perplex me. Quiet my heart to hear Your Spirit specifically in (name your own perplexing circumstance) . Thank you that You equip me by Your Spirit. I pray these things in the name of Jesus, amen.

Thought: Think of one area where you are experiencing perplexity, confusion or chaos and invite God right now to begin to show You His wisdom in this situation.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”  Ephesians 1:17-20

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

Praying the 23rd Psalm for Yourself and Others

The Supernatural Power of Praise

Hearing God’s Voice

The post Are You Choosing Chaos? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Two hikers, bone weary from trudging toward the peak of a majestic mountain, pause when one says, “I think we’re on the wrong path; we’ve stopped making progress. Maybe it’s time to turn back.” Instead of agreeing with her companion, instead of berating her fellow hiker with condemnation and shame, she simply says, “Let’s rest for a while and study the map.”

Walking the Christian path is much like climbing a mountain. Vistas ahead are breathtaking, companions along the way encourage, unexpected bubbling streams refresh. But the way is long and often fraught with danger.

When the way is long, when we doubt that God is leading—when we doubt that God cares—it’s time to rest awhile and study the map, God’s words from the Bible. Past experiences of God’s faithfulness, knowledge of God’s will and way will not always eliminate doubt. Faith is almost sure to waver as we climb the mountain, but God’s promise to “never leave nor forsake” is like a cup of cold water as we traverse through thorns that leave us bloody, blinding lightning and soul searing thunder, gnashing teeth of wild animals called despair.

After misunderstanding from friends and family, after the never-ending neediness of people, after heart rending grief, Jesus says to his weary friends,

“Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).

Whatever thorny path you now travel, whatever doubt plagues your soul, whatever mountain peak is unseen through the clouds, Jesus’ invitation can be heard: “Sit down on the path with me and get some rest.”

Lord, I’m weary. Are you listening to my cry? Do you care? I need your comfort, please fill me again with your endurance and strength. Thank you that you are a God of mercy and grace.

By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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FURTHER READING

Importance of Knowing God
I Want to Know Him
The Christian and the Bible – do you believe it is the infallible truth?

The post Walking on the Mountain appeared first on Thoughts About God.

God moves us forward by healing our past!   Can he really? 

Can God heal this ancient hurt in my heart?  Of course He can.  In fact, God cares about justice more than we do.  We’re reminded in Romans 12:17-19, “Never pay back evil for evil…never avenge yourselves.  Leave that to God, for He has said that He will repay those who deserve it.”

We fear the evildoer will slip into the night, unknown and unpunished.  Escape to Fiji and sip mai tais on the beach.  Not to worry.  Scripture says, “God will repay,” not “God might repay.”  God will execute justice on behalf of truth and fairness.  Unlike us, God never gives up on a person.  Never!  Long after we’ve moved on, God is still there– probing the conscience; stirring conviction; always orchestrating redemption.  Think you need to fix your enemies?  That’s God’s job.

By Mas Lucado
Used by permission

From:  You’ll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Turbulent Times
learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

Why Worry Yourself Sick? – by Muriel Larson

Did You Know that You are Someone Special?

A Poem of Hope

Reasons to be Thankful

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“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish,  that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8

Spiritual knowledge of Jesus is personal knowledge. I cannot know Jesus through another person. No, I must know Him personally.

This knowledge will be an intelligent knowledge. I must know Him, not as I’d sometimes selfishly imagine Him to be, but as the Word reveals Him. I must know His natures, at once fully divine and fully human. I must know His presence, His characteristics, His works, His shame, and His glory. I must meditate on Him until I fully understand Him from all angles, and most importantly until I know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge. (Ephesians 3:19)

It will be an affectionate knowledge. If I know Him at all, I simply must love Him, and an ounce of heart knowledge is worth a ton of head learning.

It will be a satisfying knowledge. When I know my Savior, my mind will be full. I will feel that I have everything that my soul thirsts for, and when we eats this bread we will never hunger again. (Revelation 7:16)

At the same time it will be an exciting knowledge. The more I know of my Beloved, the more I will yearn to know. The higher I climb, the loftier will be the heights which invite my eager footsteps.

Finally, this knowledge of Jesus will happy knowledge. In fact, it will be so reassuring, that it will help us through trials, doubts, and sorrows. It will help us become something so much more than “Mortals, born of woman,” who “are of few days and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1, TNIV) It will guard us in the winsome presence and the joy of the eternal, merciful Savior.

Come, my friends, sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from Him all He has to teach you today.

Question: How is your knowledge of Christ increasing daily?

By Charles H. Spurgeon
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

How to Know God Personally

The post Learning to Fully Know Jesus appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Galatians 6:10

Becoming a Christian was the most liberating moment of my life. It was also daunting. A world that once was familiar now appeared foreign. I didn’t know much about my new life except that I needed a family of fellow believers.

With fervent prayer, I explored churches to find “that” place where I could flourish in my faith. It wasn’t long before one church spoke the word “home” to my spirit when I was greeted by the senior pastor and his wife — an older couple who had been shepherding the congregation for years.

They took me under their wings and, lovingly, became my spiritual grandparents. I met other church members and enrolled in the Alpha program, a study about who Jesus was and the dynamics of Christianity.

They continued to lead me in nurturing pathways to strengthen my beliefs, including a ladies’ Bible study facilitated by his wife in their home. They were the epitome of disciples. They accepted, taught, and counselled me. Their commitment to my Christian maturity was transformational and something I’m still grateful for, years later.

Their love of the Lord and diligence to seeing me grow was Jesus in action. Though they’re retired from pastoral service, I know they still exude the personalities of dedicated disciples within the great tapestry of God’s kingdom.

As a Christ-follower, I endeavour to mirror the same characteristics my spiritual grandparents did in the power of the Spirit.

In fact, as all believers, we have an obligation to do so. May we never hesitate to speak or act into the life of someone needing discipleship.

Heavenly Father, I desire to serve and honor you with my life. Grant me the heart of a dedicated disciple when encountering other believers who are in need of guidance. It is in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By Melissa Talbot
used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

Importance of Knowing God
I Want to Know Him
The Christian and the Bible – do you believe it is the infallible truth?

The post Dedicated Disciplining appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Read: Hebrews 11:23-29

As human beings, we often have a difficult time perceiving what the Lord is doing in our life.

We are limited by the passage of time, the confusion of present circumstances, and a lack of understanding regarding God’s goals and His means of accomplishing them. That’s why studying the lives of men and women in Scripture helps us see how the Lord worked in previous generations. God’s relationships with the faithful in earlier times are helpful examples for us today.

When we face uncertainty, we can look to Moses’ example. His life was unpredictable and full of hardship, yet he “endured, as seeing Him who is unseen” (Hebrews 11:27). In Greek, the root word for “endurance” refers to the capacity to bear up under difficulty. Moses successfully persevered under pressure by keeping his focus on God rather than on the events surrounding him.

From Moses’ example, we learn that this is what the Lord desires for us as well. Although we may want out of a difficult situation as soon as possible, this may not be God’s aim. It is not His goal to make us as comfortable as can be but, rather, to transform us into the image of His Son. And endurance helps us get there.

If God calls us to endure pain, hardship, or uncertainty, we can find encouragement in knowing we’re never alone. Part of “seeing Him who is unseen” is realizing that God’s grace and comfort carry us through every situation. The Lord doesn’t want us to simply grit our teeth and bear hardship; He desires that we trust Him and bring glory to His name through our dependence.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Hope and Endurance

A Prayer of Endurance

Joyful Endurance

The post God Values Endurance appeared first on Thoughts About God.

You are my Rear Guard

…. for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard
Isaiah 52:12

You are my STRONG TOWER

…For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. Psalm 61:3

You are my Shelter

…For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5

You are my Strength

…The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Psalm 28:8

You are my Peace

…Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

You are my Healer

…for I am the LORD, your healer Exodus 15:26

You are my Portion

LORD, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future Psalm 16:5

You are my Shield, my Refuge, and my Savior

…my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. 2 Samuel 22:3

Lord, may we never forget who you are to us. May we always be reminded of your loving kindness, compassion, and grace in our lives in Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission
From: https://findingtruthwithin.com/

FURTHER READING

Place of Shelter

Shelter of the Most High

Shelter Living

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The post Remind Me Who You Are to Me Lord… appeared first on Thoughts About God.

by Roy Lessin

Wouldn’t you rather follow His way than lean upon your own understanding?

Wouldn’t you rather find His rest than be heavy laden?

Wouldn’t you rather obey His word than go your own way?

Wouldn’t you rather believe in His timing than work things out for yourself?

Wouldn’t you rather stand on His truth than your own assumptions?

Wouldn’t you rather know His peace than have your mind filled with anxious thoughts?

Wouldn’t you rather have His wisdom than proceed with what seems good to you?

Wouldn’t you rather rely upon His strength than your own efforts?

Wouldn’t you rather know His joy than the pleasures of the world?

Wouldn’t you rather see His smile than have the approval of others?

Wouldn’t you rather enjoy His blessing than have the best the world can give?

Wouldn’t you rather trust in His goodness than anything else?

Wouldn’t you rather have Jesus than anyone else?

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” Psalm 73:25 (AMP)

about Roy Lessin
used by permission

FURTHER READING

I Testify that God is…. – by Wendy Patrick

God You’ve Been Working by Katy Haufmann

Eternal Love

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