God Placed Heaven In Your Heart

God Placed Heaven In Your Heart

We are living in volatile and uncertain times. There are all sorts of voices and influences fighting for our attention. In some cases, we’re not even sure what to believe.

Regarding COVID-19, I read that it isn’t mutating, then I read another article that says it is. Some say once isolated to test for vaccines, the virus dies quicker than they can test it, others say it lasts longer than usual. Our own health care officials say the church is dangerous but it’s unclear if the virus is spreading due to protests. One thing we know for sure is that God’s promises are sure, let’s stand on those.

But since we can’t really trust the majority of news sources, we must listen to another source. I’m not pushing a conspiracy theory as much as I’m addressing the 24-hour news cycle. News outlets are forced to squeeze every drop out of a story. Often times they release stories before they know all the facts. This is a problem.

That leaves us with one option that will not give us fake news, the spirit of God. If I could teach you to do one thing and one thing only, it would be to hear and follow God. But how do you do that?

The Body of Christ is God's Promise to the World

The Body of Christ is God's Promise to the World

Christ is the seed. He is the fulfillment of the promise that through Abraham, all the families of the earth will be blessed. Christ offers deliverance from sin and death as well as eternal life for all who trust in his finished work.

It’s pretty simple to understand that Christ is the seed that blesses all nations, but you are actually included in part of that fulfillment as well. The Body of Christ in the earth, blessing all nations is the residual effect of Christ being planted in the earth.

Christ continues to bless the nations of the world through his spirit AND his body. YOU!!!

Not only do you enjoy the blessings -

Your Thoughts AND Your Words Have The Power of Life and Death

Your Thoughts AND Your Words Have The Power of Life and Death

Your thoughts about yourself and inner self-talk have the power to produce life or death. Think about it. What happens when you’re feeling sorry for yourself or you spend time beating yourself up in your mind? How does it feel? How do those kinds of thoughts influence your inner state and your choices? Same question about your words. You are nurturing yourself or killing yourself. You are planting seeds of life or death.

How to Think Spiritually and Have Life and Peace

How to Think Spiritually and Have Life and Peace

Spiritual thinking isn't necessarily when you're hearing God tell you mysteries, or you hear angels singing and secrets about other people, spiritual thought is merely coming into agreement with how God thinks.

God gave us lots of instruction on how to think and what to think about. In fact, in Romans 8, we learn that the focus of our thoughts ultimately determines whether we'll experience life or death.

If we think as God instructed us to think, we will have life. If we use only our five natural senses to inform our thoughts, it will produce flesh-based thinking that will always lead to death. It's death because we're trusting in our own effort, and we can not bring ourselves into spiritual life.

Here are a few passages on how to think and what to think about. If you not only know them but also apply them, you can radically change your life and experience what God has given you in spiritual form.

Nurturing Spiritual Desires

Nurturing Spiritual Desires

Every situation in life is an opportunity to have faith and trust God. In the world, we will have trouble, but Jesus has overcome the world. That doesn’t mean you’ll never have a problem in your life; it just means that he promises to be with you and provide a way out by following his spirit.

Overcoming Temptation and Unbelief

Overcoming Temptation and Unbelief

James is saying, count it all joy when you’re tempted and your faith is tested because it’s an opportunity to trust God and develop patience. BUT!! Don’t say it’s from God. Pretty clear, God doesn’t tempt you or create trials for you.

But doesn’t God test us? Yes, but not like you think.

Here’s how God tests you.

Jesus Will Not Give Up On You

Jesus Will Not Give Up On You

Peter lied to Jesus and denied knowing him. What did Jesus do to Peter? Jesus died for him, conquered the grave and rose from the dead, then came looking for him. You’d think Jesus would mention Peter’s denial of him, but he didn’t. He met him where he was and affirmed his calling. Jesus will do the same for you.

If you feel like you’ve grown distant from God in your heart, I can assure you, God has not grown distant toward you. God’s affection for you is not affected by yours for him.

The Most Underrated Passage In Scripture - Colossians 2

The Most Underrated Passage In Scripture - Colossians 2

I pray you have a fruitful and fulfilling walk with the Lord. You are called to follow Jesus as his disciple. It’s pretty simple, a disciple is someone who follows a teacher and applies their teachings. Jesus said following his teachings (yoke) is easy, and his burden is light. Yoke and burden are euphemisms for his teachings and the requirements of those teachings. He said it this way…

Your Self-Portrait In Your Heart Should Look Like Jesus

Your Self-Portrait In Your Heart Should Look Like Jesus

Whether you realize it or not, you have spent a lifetime working on your self-portrait. This is not an external painting, it’s an image of yourself in your heart. You have constructed a detailed picture of who you believe you are that drives every belief, thought, emotion, and choice you will ever make.

Every time you have a decision to make, you look at your self-portrait. That internal image reminds you of who you are. This is not a conscious process. This is a subconscious process that happens in your heart without thinking about it. What you see in your self-portrait may or may not reflect the truth.

Ultimately that self-portrait in your heart should look like Jesus, but you painted over that image with pain, fear, failure, and sin. The good news is, the original image remains!

God Crowns You with Dignity, Honor, Worth, Value and Respect

God Crowns You with Dignity, Honor, Worth, Value and Respect

God has the utmost respect for you. He has a high sense of value for you. You are worth his own life. You are worthy of being treated with dignity and respect because of the kind of being you are (crowned with glory and honor).

Being made in God’s image doesn’t mean you look like him; it means you are a being that’s worthy to be in his class. You are not a worm. You are a valuable creature, born of God’s image, carrying his presence everywhere you go.

What if you believed that about yourself?
What if you believed that about others?