August 2018 Passages
August 1, 2018
Jesus suffered as we do. So, when doors are closed, there is no strength to continue, emptiness prevails, & loneliness is your friend, allow yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit and use his strength & see how he will open doors for you; trusting in his relationship with you.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
August 2, 2018
Jesus was vulnerable when tempted just as we are vulnerable. He wants us to successfully resist being tempted. So, He shows us how he resisted; through the power of the Holy Spirit and also with the knowledge of the word of God.
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ”
August 3, 2018
Interestingly, temptation is alluring. Be careful to resist thoughts and steps to take for power, success, notoriety, and money. These are lies of the enemy which will destroy.
"The devil led him (Jesus) up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ”
August 4, 2018
Do not let your guard down. Pray often throughout the day. The Holy Spirit will keep your eyes open & awareness keen because the devil will look for opportunities to tempt with the intent to destroy.
"When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him (Jesus) until an opportune time."
August 6, 2018
When there are bad days, bad months, bad years; remember God's grace and love.
"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord ’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
August 7, 2018
To hope is to expect what you desire. When God is desired, he teaches us that the small invitations to tasks build toward him doing great things through us.
"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
August 8, 2018
God is active in and among us if we dare to surrender. He walks with us as we go through our days. So invite him to each encounter and let your life be a full blown adventure!
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
August 9, 2018
For the times you feel invisible or that no one cares. When you think no one sees what you do from the tiniest task to the active part you play in major projects, remember this:
The Lord looks down from heaven; He observes everyone. He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from His dwelling place. He alone shapes their hearts; He considers all their works.
August 10, 2018
Jesus knows the details of your heart; what drives you, makes you afraid, what is hidden,what embarrasses, what paralyzes. Yet, be confident in Him because his knowledge of you is greater than what you understand of yourself.
"This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence, even if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience, and He knows all things."
August 13, 2018
It may seem God is no where to be found, that he is silent in your circumstances. Yet he is working and is very close - He knows where you are and will bring you through the fire, beautifully refined as gold.
"When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
August 14, 2018
We are an open book to the Lord from the superficial thoughts to the desires in the depths of our being. Pray to him to fill your need.
"All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you."
August 15, 2018
Life does have surprises. Some are wonderful and others can fill us with dread and fear. Moments where we are rocked violently can seem like Jesus is unaware, disengaged, or even doesn't care. Yet the test of our faith is belief that Jesus is engaged, does care, and very aware and of what is going on. Pray for him to be the peace in your storm.
"Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."
August 16, 2018
What is it that makes you afraid or too self conscious to continue? Do things have to be perfect before even considering moving forward? Do things have to be on your terms? When frozen by these human conditions, remember it is by faith we have access to and can use the power of God to go even if we don't have all the answers. Step by step we progress and are mighty in his name.
"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
August 17, 2018
Fear and faith rival to take up residence in you. If you are fearful - faith is faint or non-existent in that situation or even overall in your life. Faith is a choice and does not necessarily come naturally. Take that step knowing Jesus is your sustainer; provider of strength and wisdom. So, moment by moment faith will take hold and fear will dissipate.
"He (Jesus) said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
August 18, 2018
In truth, you and I don't miss out if we don't get invited, get the salary deserved, take advantage of a sale, or have the "stuff" we want. But, we do stand to lose everything without faith in Jesus!
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."
August 20, 2018
The act of "to keep on" or "to continue" fosters discipline to search out what our desire truly is. It is a training ground for us to witness the faithfulness of God to give. Though our want may change as we continue to pursue, our joy remains rooted in the giver.
“So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
August 21, 2018
When you are quiet - stripped of all distractions - you can see how the One who created you sees you and how He is working in and through you for His glory.
"So she called the Lord who spoke to her: The God Who Sees, for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the One who sees me?”
August 22, 2018
It is our belief in God and in what he says that credits us to be righteous. To that end, we will make mistakes and can misinterpret or even laugh at the prospect of what he plans for us just as Abraham did when God told him in his old age he would have a son. Yet, it is our faith that believes he will do what he says he will do that credits to us as righteous before him.
Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.
August 23, 2018
Righteousness: No matter what your day is like, how the project plan goes, how people respond, whether mistakes are made, or that you don't have all the answers; you believe the promise made to you by our Lord Jesus.
"He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."
August 25, 2018
We, by faith,through hard times experience the development of our character and continue to keep going because of our hope; not in ourselves, our jobs, or people but in Christ alone.
"And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
August 26, 2018
We are confined by human limitations. On our own, we don't see the magnitude of what is promised by God. It is our faith, to get "outside the box," of human logic that allows us to see with more depth what God has in store.
"But Abram said, “Lord God, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”
August 27, 2018
To be buckled at the knees, face down, in awe of God and his wonder opens for us as it did for Abraham a sacred relationship knowing our place: God is God and we are not.
"When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him"
August 28, 2018
God is a compassionate beautiful mystery very active in our lives; patient in our shortcomings, extending love, forgiveness and discipline.
"And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,"
August 29, 2018
Thankfully, God does not play by our rules of predictability or logic. Always remember there is nothing too hard for him to do! What is it you pray about that seems hopeless? Never give up on him. Remain steadfast in prayer.
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
August 30, 2018
Make no mistake, God will "call us out " on our behavior just as he did when Sarah denied that she laughed at the prospect of her having a child in her old age. Be authentic and open to God and ask him to help you believe.
"Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
August 31, 2018
God already knows the situation, but we do not especially in full. We can't make assumptions on heresay and claim as fact before making a judgment call. As God illustrates to Abraham regarding Sodom and Gomorrha, we need to go see with our own eyes.
Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”