Faith That Moves Mountains

"I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'Go, fall into the sea.' And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you" 

-- Mark 11:23 / New Century Version

Because we live in a demanding world, all of us have mountains to climb and mountains to move.  Moving those mountains requires faith.  Are you a mountain mover whose faith is evident for all to see?  Hopefully so. God needs more men and women who are willing to move mountains for His glory and for His kingdom.

God walks with you, ready and willing to strengthen you. Accept His strength today.  And remember, Jesus taught His disciples that if they had faith, they could move mountains. You can too, so with no further ado, let the mountain-moving begin!

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"Faith is a strong power, mastering any difficulty in the strength of the Lord who made Heaven and earth"  -- Corrie ten Boom

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Lord, we want a faith that moves mountains.  You are big God with big plans for this world and for us.  Help us to dream big and be ready for a mountain moving day.

To God Be the Glory

"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble"

 -- 1 Peter 5:5 / Holman Christian Standard Bible

As Christians, we have a profound reason  to be humble.  We have been refashioned and saved by Jesus Christ, and that salvation came not because of our own good works but because of God's grace.  Thus, we are not "self-made"; we are "God-made" and "Christ-saved."  How, then, can we be boastful?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "It is very easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements in comparison with what we owe others."  In other words, reality breeds humility. So, instead of putting out your chest and saying, "Look at me!", give credit where credit is due, starting with God. And, rest assured: There is no such thing as a self-made man. All of us are made by God . . . and He deserves the glory, not us.

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"The one true way of dying to self is the way of patience, meekness, humility, and resignation to God" -- Andre Murray

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Lord, it is the nature of mankind to be prideful, and we are no exception. When we are boastful, keep us mindful that all our gifts come from You. Let us grow beyond our need for earthly praise, God, and let us look only to You for approval.

Finding Hope

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"

-- John 16:33 / New King James Version

There are few sadder sights on earth than the night of a person who has lost all hope. In difficult times, hopecan be elusive, but Christians need never lose it. After all, God is good.  His love endures ; He has promised His children the gift of eternal life.

If you find yourself falling into the spiritual traps of worry and discouragement, consider the words of Jesus.  It was Christ who promised, "In the word you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  This world is indeed a place of trials and tribulations, but as believers, we are secure. God has promised us peace, joy and eternal life.

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"God is the only one who can make the valley of trouble a door of hope" -- Catherine Marshall

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Lord, let our hopes always reside in You.  If we become discouraged, let us turn to You. If we grown tired, let us find strength in You. You are our Father, and we will place our faith, our trust, and our hopes in You.

A Sacrificial Love

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep"  -- John 10:11 / New American Standard Bible

How much does Christ love us? More than we, as mere mortals, can comprehend.  His love is perfect and steadfast.  Even though we are imperfect and stubborn, the Shepherd cares for us still.  Even though we have fallen far short of the Father's commandments, Christ loves us with a power and a depth  that is beyond our understanding. The sacrifice that Jesus made upon the cross was made for each of us, and His love endures for eternity.

Christ's love changes everything. When you accept His gift of grace, you are transformed, not only for today, but also for eternity.  If you have not already done so, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.  He is waiting patiently for you to invite Him into your heart.  Please don't make Him wait a single minute longer.

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"Sacrificial love, is love that is willing to go to any lengths to provide for the well-being of  the beloved" -- Ed Young

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Lord, we are humbled by Your love and mercy. You went to Calvary so that we might have eternal life. Thank You, Jesus, for your priceless gift, and for Your love. You loved us first, Lord, and we will return Your love today and forever.

Taking Up The Cross

Then He said to them all, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me"   -- Luke 9:23 / Holman Christian Standard Bible

When we have been saved by Christ, we can, if we choose, become passive Christians. We can sit back, secure in our own salvation, and let other believers spread the healing message of Jesus. But to do so is wrong. Instead, we are commanded to become disciples of the One who has saved us, and to do otherwise is a sin of omission with terrible consequences.

When Jesus addressed His disciples, He warned them that each one must, take up their cross daily and follow Him. His message was very clear. In order to follow Him, His disciples had to deny themselves and trust Him completely. Nothing has changed since then.

Do you seek to fulfill God's purpose for your own life? If so, then follow Christ. Follow Him by picking up His cross today and every day that you live. Then, you will quickly discover that Christ's love has the power to change everything, including you!

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Help us, O Lord, to understand what cross we are to bear this day. Give us the strength and the courage to carry that cross along the path of Your choosing so that we may be a worthy disciple of Your Son.

Abundant Peace

"The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"  -- Philippians 4:7 / New King James Version

if you are a thoughtful believer, you will open yourself to the spiritual abundance that your Savior offers by following Him completely and without reservation.  When you do, you will receive the love, the peace, and the joy that He has promised.

Do you sincerely seek the riches  that our Savior offers to those who give themselves to Him? Then follow Him. When you do, you will receive the love and the abundance that He has promised. Seek first the salvation that is available  through a personal, passionate relationship with Christ, and  then claim the joy, the peace, and the spiritual abundance that the Shepherd offers His sheep.

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"God's riches are beyond anything we could ask or even dare to imagine!  If my life gets gooey and stale, I have no excuse"  -- Barbara Johnson

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Lord, You have promised an abundant life through Your Son Jesus.  Thank You, Lord, for Your abundance and Your peace.  Your blessings endure forever, and we will praise You today, tomorrow and throughout eternity.

In Times of Adversity

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith"  -- 1 John 5:4 / New King James Version

All of us face times of adversity.  On occasion, we all must endure the disappointments and tragedies that befall believers and nonbelievers alike.  The reassuring words of 1 John 5:4 remind us that when we accept God's grace, we overcome the passing hardships of this world by relying upon His strength, His love, and His promise of eternal life.

When we face the inevitable difficulties of life here on earth, God stands ready to protect us.  Our responsibility, of course, is to ask Him for protection. When we call upon Him in heartfelt prayer, He will answer - in His own time and according to His own plan.  And while we are waiting for God's plans to unfold and for His healing touch to restore us, we can be comforted in the knowledge that our Creator can overcome any obstacle, even if we cannot.  Let us take God at His word, and let us trust Him!

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Lord, when we are troubled, You are there to help us.  When we are afraid, You protect us. When we are discouraged, You lift us up.  In times of adversity, let us trust Your plan and Your will for our lives.  And whatever our circumstances are, Lord, let us always give the thanks and glory to You. 

The Power of Words

"The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foul hastens destruction"  -- Proverbs 10:14  / Holman Christian Standard Bible

All too often, in the rush to have ourselves heard, we speak first and think next ... with unfortunate results.  God's Word reminds us that, "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18). If we seek to be a source of encouragement to friends and family, then we must measure our words carefully.  Words are important:  they can hurt or heal.  Words can uplift us or discourage us, and reckless words, spoken in haste, cannot be erased.

Today, measure your words carefully.  Use words of kindness and praise, not words of anger or derision. Remember that you have the power to heal others or to injure them, to lift others up or to hold them back.  When you lift them up, your wisdom will bring healing and comfort to a world that needs both.

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"Attitude and the spirit in which we communicate are as important as the words we say"  -- Charles Stanley

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Lord, You have commanded us to choose our words carefully so that we might be a source of encouragement and hope to all whom we meet.  Let the words that we speak today be worthy of the One who has saved us forever.

Protected

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord"  -- Psalm 31:24 / New King James Version

Being a godly person in this difficult world is no easy task.  Ours is a time of uncertainty and danger, a time when even the most courageous have legitimate cause for concern. But as believers, we can live courageously, knowing that we have been saved by a loving Father and His only begotten Son.

Are you anxious? Take those anxieties to God.  Are you troubled? Take your troubles to Him. Seek protection from the One who cannot be moved. And then live courageously, knowing that even in these troubled times, God is always as near as your next breath - and you are always protected.

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"Faith is stronger than fear"  -- John Maxwell

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Lord, fill us with your Spirit and help us face our challenges with courage and determination.  Keep us mindful, Father, that You are with us always - and with You by our side, we have nothing to fear.

The Power of Perseverance

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus"  -- Philippians 3:13-14 / New American Standard Bible

A well-lived life calls for preparation, determination, and, of course, lots of perseverance.  As an example of perfect perseverance, we Christians need look no further than our Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus finished what He began. Despite His suffering, despite the shame of the cross, Jesus was steadfast in His faithfulness to God.  We, too, must remain faithful, especially during times of hardship.  Sometimes, God may answer our prayers with silence; and when He does, we must patiently persevere. 

Are you facing a tough situation? If so, remember this:  whatever your problem, God can handle it.  Your job is to keep persevering until He does.

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Lord, when life is difficult, we are tempted to abandon hope in the future.  But You are our God, and we can draw strength from You.  Let us trust You, Father, in good times and in bad times. Let us persevere - even if our souls are troubled - and let us follow Your Son Jesus Christ this day and forever.