Living Words

Have you ever wondered what you’re doing here on planet earth?  Well, you’re not alone.  The good news is that you’re not here by accident!  God had planned for You and He knew you before you were ever born.   In Jeremiah 1:5 it says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (NKJV)

Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (NKJV)  God has a plan for you.  It’s your destiny.  If you pray and ask God to guide you, and lead you on the path that He would have you to go on then He will help you to do whatever it is that He has called you to do.  God already knows your destiny, and if He has planned for you to do it, then He’ll also equipt you to do it.  Nothing is impossible with God! 

God does not make mistakes, and He does not create junk.  God has always had you on His mind.  “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;  When I awake, I am still with You.”  Psalm 139:17-18 (NKJV) 

I want to encourage you to begin to walk out your destiny.  Begin to walk in the call that God has placed upon your life, and hold on to the dreams and desires that God has placed within your heart.  Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (NKJV)

A prayer- Father God, I come to You in Jesus’ name, and I ask You to direct all of my paths, and help me to begin to walk in the calling that You would have for my life.  I know that You, Lord God, perfect the things and the people which affect and concern me.  I believe that since You prepared a plan for me before I was even born, that You will be faithful to help me run that race and complete it, because it is You who began a good work in me Father.  Amen.

God has given each of us special talents and gifts, but it is our choice to use those gift and talents or to bury those gifts and talents.  In Matthew 25:14-29 we read about the Parable of the Talents. 

14  ”For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 

15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 

19  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art  an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” (KJV)

Although in this parable the word “talent” is referring to money, we are to be a good stuart of everything, in every area of our life, that God has entrusted us with.  When we are faithful with the things that God has already given to us then He will give us more to be responsible with.  If you have gifts and talents that you have buried, I want to encourage you today, to begin to use those gifts and talents that He as placed within you.  Let God begin to stretch you, and you will begin to grow and walk in those gifts and talents!

God has given us human beings such a neat gift.  It’s the gift of words, however, it’s up to us to decide how we will us this gift.  We can choose today to begin to bless our family, our friends and those around us by the words that we speak.

We can help to build confidence in an individual, we can encourage those around us to accomplish the goals and dreams they may have, we can bring hope to a friend as they go through trials, and we can help draw others to Christ.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.” (NKJV)  What an awesome responsibility we as believer’s have!  I encourage you today to begin to watch over the words that you speak, and begin to speak words of life!

Recently I was watching CBN and they’ve started a 40 day share the prayer.  I thought this was such a neat idea and I wanted to share this with everyone who views this blog.

In Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus said, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (NKJV)

I want to encourage you today to get a prayer partner and take this pray challenge.  You and your partner agree to spend at least five minutes each day in prayer together over the next 40 days. 

If you are interested in participating in this prayer challenge please visit http://www.cbn.com  and click on Share the Prayer.  There is also a commitment certificate available to print.  We’ve decided to take this challenge and I hope you will also!

Are you in need of healing today?  Do you believe that God wants to see you well? In 3 John 1:2 we read, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers,” (NKJV) There are many believers in the body of Christ who need healing, but aren’t quite sure how to receive that healing they so desperately need. 

Be encouraged for we read, “if you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7 (NKJV) Begin to plant God’s Word into your heart today, and as you do this continually, it will begin to grow.  As you begin to meditate on healing scriptures then the truth of God’s Word will drop down into your spirit. The stronger the Word of God grows in your spirit the more you’ll be able to begin to walk in health.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV)

What more could we ask for?  Jesus already did it all on the cross 2000 years ago.  Jesus took our sicknesses and carried our pain.  Make a choice today to choose to believe God’s Word, which says that healing and health belong to us as believers!

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  John 14:27 (NKJV)

When storms hit our life we need to remember that God is our resting place.  There are many times in my own life that I want opposition to be removed, but that doesn’t necessarily happen.  In Matthew 8:23-26 we read, “Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great temptest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.  But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him,  saying, “Lord, save us!  We are perishing!”  But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” (NKJV)

We don’t always understand why we have to walk through the storms in our life, but if you’re a child of God then I want to encourage you to trust Him.  Trust that He is with you in the midst of the storm, and allow Him to bring you peace, and let Him become your resting place, knowing that eventually He’ll calm that storm!

A few years ago my daughter came home from school and her cheek was swollen.  She was having severe pain on her gum and around her tooth.  I called our family dentist and he wanted to schedule an appointment for her immediately.  As it turned out she had an abscess.  An antibiotic was ordered for her, and although she began taking the antibiotic she was not able to see and feel the results immediately, however, after a period of time it began to work and she was able to see and feel a noticeable difference.

Through this experience God began to impress on my heart that as Christians sometimes it’s that way with us and putting His Word into our heart.  You may be reading His Word and planting it into our heart, but you may not feel like it’s working.  In 1 Corinthians 5:7 in says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  You may not see immediate results, but if you’ll continue to plant the Word of God into your heart and trust that it’s growing then eventually you will begin to see the results come to pass in your life!

Is there an area in your life today that needs God’s peace?  God knows the situations and circumstances that you are facing and He wants to be that perfect peace that you desire.  In Philippians 4:7 we read “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (NKJV)

God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you and I, and  He desires for us to walk in the fullness of His salvation.  When you accept Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior then He becomes everything that you need.  He died so that we could receive His salvation,  His healing, and so that we could be set free from bondage in our life.

I would encourage you today to give all of your cares to God (casting all of your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1Peter 5:7) and allow God to bring His peace (Shalom) to your situation.  In John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (NKJV).  Let Him become your peace today!