Rely Only On God

"Do not worry and say: What are we going to eat? What are we going to drink? Or: What shall we wear? The pagans busy themselves with such things; but your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Set your heart first on the kingdom and justice of God and all these things will also be given to you." - Matthew 6:31-33

Today was the third time in the past week that I've shared this verse so I felt that it was a sign to write about it. We all worry about the future and making it financially. There are so many things we need and every day can be a struggle, but I am a firm believer in what Jesus says here - set your heart first on the kingdom and justice of God and all will be given to you. If you hesitate, it means you're not having complete confidence in God. You don't see the results because you're not showing faith, you're not trusting. It is our faith that activates the power of God and until you start showing that faith, you won't see God working in the way He wants to. He'll only go as far as you let Him, so remove those mental obstacles.

Finances aren't the only reason to set your heart on God first. I've been speaking to people that want to change, that are struggling to be better but get stuck on trying to do it themselves. We can't do anything on our own. It is all by the grace of God. That's why, again, set your heart first on the kingdom and justice of God and all else will be given to you. You really, really need to take this message in: Our God is a good and powerful God - the ONLY thing we need to do is focus on Him and every single thing we need He will take care of, He wants to take care of… a new job, a new car, a spouse, a family, health, happiness, finances… all of these things He will handle for you if you just focus on Him!

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, teach me to stop relying solely on myself when it is You that give me all I have, even the air I breathe. Teach me to trust in You and set my heart on Your kingdom and justice. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Christ In Me

"In face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, "Lord, save me!" - Matthew 14:30

In Galatians 2:19, Saint Paul writes, "it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me." I can't explain to you how I wish I could see myself beaten down and put against every type of adversity, like Paul, and still be able to stay in the peace of the Lord, saying that I have died to my fears, my worries, my insecurities, and my life is lived for and by Christ. Instead, at times I find myself more broken than before, lonelier that before. At times I feel so much like Peter. I want to walk on water towards Jesus, but what I end up doing is perceiving Him to be further away than He is. I only see the huge waves and the rough winds pushing me down, wearing me down. And it hurts that my faith is not as strong as I'd want it to be, or thought it was. Like a lost child, I find myself crying out to God, just like Peter did for the Lord to help my poor little faith. Yet, although I have such a long way to go, I have to remember that I'm on a journey with a beginning, an end, and sooo many bumps and rough patches on the way…it doesn't mean I'll never get there though. On the water, I'm feeling so lost, so helpless and I can't see God because I'm too focused on my fear and the waves around me. I long to be like Paul, beaten, persecuted, hated, and yet so full of joy, full of peace, not alone but in the company of Jesus Christ. No matter what came at him, Paul rejoiced and God made His presence known in Him. But my own faith is weak and I pray that Jesus hears my cry for help and brings me to walk on the water with Him to a place where the storm within me is quiet and I can also say that it is not I who live, but Christ in me.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, please don't take into account my lack of faith, but the pain it causes me to know that I am not as strong as I thought and that I have let You down. Jesus, just as You raised up Peter, raise me up. Transform me on my journey to walk through the valley of the shadow of death and have You live in me. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Betraying Thoughts

"O Lord, how great in number are my foes! How numerous are they who rise against me! How many are they who say of my soul: 'There is no help for him in God.' But You are my shield, O Lord, my glory, You lift up my head." - Psalm 3:2-4

I'm not sure how many real enemies I may have but I know that my worries are many and the things that make me sad are many; they are my foes. And sometimes it feels like they all come up against me at the same time. Then, like in the psalm, these problems rise against me to tell me there is no help in God. I've been praying, kneeling in God's presence and I've heard voices in my head saying, "there is no one there, there is no one to really help you, just give in to your sadness." But you know what, I've learned two things - a. This life will always be full of problems and b. The enemy will always try to take away whatever good God is trying to give me. Although everything just feels like it's against me and I can't see a way out and I just feel so helpless and alone, I set my hopes in my God because I know He will not abandon me. It might take some time before I see these worries go away, but through my hope in Him, He gives me strength to make it through the day. It might not be the best day and things might not be going my way, but He will come through…He always has.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, You don't need to search my soul for You know the sadness and fear that lurks within. You know the betraying thoughts that float around my head, but You are bigger than this Lord and today I ask You to come and descend upon me as Your child. Guide me and show me Your love and protection. In Your Name we pray, amen.