God sets us up to succeed!

Jer 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

His good plans were set in motion before we were born.

Jer 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

The question we must ask is, are we folding into His good plans for us?

Rom 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If we aren’t living God’s plan, then we are conforming to the world’s standard of success. Are we focusing on money and popularity rather than the commands of Jesus?

Lk 9:23
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Let’s lose our life to find it!

Our God is wonderful. He is the One Who provides.

As I look back on my life, I cannot recall one time that my family went without food, shelter, or clothing. If we needed medical help, God provided. When God assigns a task He always provides.

Ps 37:25
I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

We are encouraged to ask God for provision because He loves to give, especially when our hearts are set on doing His will.

Lk 11:9-10
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Let’s be confident in God’s love for us. Let’s live to do His will and not get hoodwinked into pursuing money, power, and pleasure. Instead, let’s seek Him above all!

Mt 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Praise God for the Cross of Jesus Christ!

Gal 6:14-15
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Paul wants to boast in the cross! Paul marvels at the central role of the cross in his and our lives, when Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself for our redemption. By boasting in the cross, Paul glories in the power, grace, and salvation that we receive through Christ's ultimate act of love on the cross. Now any boasting in worldly pride is replaced by spiritual humility and gratitude for the saving work of Jesus.

The lyrics of “Wondrous Cross” describe this well.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood.

Gal 6:15
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.

Praise God! Because of the cross, we are nothing like we used to be!

As children of a good, loving, and perfect God we know He hears our prayers. We can be sure they are answered when we pray according to His will.

1 Jn 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him.

However, if we are harboring unforgiveness toward anyone our prayers go unanswered.

Mk 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Throughout life people are going to hurt us. Our response has to be forgiveness. We don’t forgive for the sake of the offender but for our sake. We let them off our “hook” and give them to God. He knows the perfect way to handle them.

So let’s pray for all of us to have a forgiving heart! According to Jesus we will see the glory of God through answered prayer.

Today many observe St Valentine’s Day. St Valentine is known for his commitment to love and faith, and his belief in the power of marriage. His life and teachings prioritized love, faithfulness, and the sanctity of marriage.

Prioritizing love most certainly agrees with the teachings of Jesus.

Jn 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

A love commitment between one man and one woman known as marriage is important to God as well.

Mt 19:4-5
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

Especially today, whether we are single or married, let’s be known by our love to anyone God puts in our path. After all, love is the proof we are His followers!

We actually live in love because God lives in us!

1 John 4:16b
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Our residential address is God because that is where we live!
When you visit a friend’s home where God is honored, you usually find an atmosphere of love, joy, peace, generosity, and “always enough.”
It should be the same when His children fellowship together. The Presence of God should be felt. This Presence in the Old Testament was called Shekinah Glory.

1 Kg 8:10-11
When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

Let’s live lives wholeheartedly devoted to following Jesus. Let’s not grieve His Spirit and thus put a cover over His Glory that illuminates His love.

Eph 4:30a
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…

Eph 5:1b-2a
…as dearly loved children live a life of love.

All of us want to walk in the truth and to know our life aligns with Jesus. It means we will follow His teachings and commandments.

Jn 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This involves our actions and our attitudes. Truth requires us to be honest, sincere, and trustworthy in our dealings with others. It means always speaking the truth and avoiding falsehood, deceit, and hypocrisy.

Jn 18:37b
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

We are on the side of truth as we walk with Jesus. We live a life of integrity and righteousness. It’s living a life of love that serves and sacrifices so others may live by knowing Jesus.

Let’s live a life of truth by following Jesus’ commands. Let’s follow Truth and produce good fruit that lasts!

We know God’s love is directing our paths when we are not enamored with the things of this world like possessions and systems of power, politics, and pleasure.

1 Jn 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

We want our life aspirations to be love, humility, giving, and serving. We value losing our lives so others may come to know Jesus.

1 Jn 4:16
For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world.

We know life is but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

1 Jn 4:17
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

The world’s system can be enticing. Let’s not be fooled by the glitz that’s doesn’t satisfy.

Mt 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

As disciples, the Spirit beckons us to become like Christ, to live in the truth. By faith we know there is no other way to live.

Ps 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

May our hearts be undivided, wholly set apart for Him. May the Lover of our souls, who died so we may live, be our first love. May we experience the joy of our salvation by being filled with His Spirit, producing love, joy, and peace, without fear or worry.

Ps 86:12-13
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

Let’s praise Him today with all our hearts! May we know God’s great love for us as we live in the fear of the Lord.
Recall the fear of the Lord is a childlike, reverential trust in God, knowing He loves us and knowing we must obey Him. It’s the beginning of wisdom. Let’s live!

The Bible teaches us that we must be faithful since we have been entrusted with sharing the Good News.

1 Cor 4:2
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

What does it mean to be faithful? It means “steadfast in affection or allegiance, firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.” It embodies commitment to someone for the long haul.

When we are faithful to the trust given us, our Master commends and rewards us.

Mt 25:21
His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

God Himself is faithful and we will emulate Jesus as we remain in fellowship with Him.

1 Cor 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Let’s be known as people God and others can trust. Let’s hear on the day we give account to Jesus, “Well done!”

"Faithfulness in little things is a big thing." - Charles Spurgeon

We are encouraged to run to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. 

Pr 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Isa 40:31

…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Mk 10:49b-50

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

As we run from sin, let’s run to Jesus!

1 Cor 6:18

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

1 Tim 6:10b-11

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance & gentleness.

Sin is anything Jesus wouldn’t do so let’s run to Jesus and live!

Often as believers we think unbelievers should act like they know Christ. The problem is they can’t because their hearts haven’t been transformed by the Spirit. 

1 Cor 2:14

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

That’s why we bring the Good News of Jesus with the Spirit’s help and with respect. 

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…

Let’s continually seek for opportunities to make Jesus look good. If we pray for opportunities God will answer. Let’s help people encounter God’s amazing love and His good plans for them. 

Col 4:6

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Overcoming trials builds perseverance. Perseverance keeps going forward despite challenges, obstacles, or discouragement. It’s that “no quit” attitude that keeps us going when the going gets tough because we love people more than our mortal life.

Jm 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James wants us to view trials as opportunities for growth. Instead of being discouraged by difficult circumstances, James urges us to consider trials a reason for joy.

To look at trials as joy and mature spiritually, let’s love God and people before thinking of ourselves. Let’s grow stronger for our neighbors need us.

Rom 5:3-4
…but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.