Tag: today

Markethive

Receiving Blessings from God

The Receiving is the Blessing!

Written by Susan on 10/05/2016

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Blessings, God, Holy Spirit

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

Ephesians 1:3-4

God has already done it all!

If God has already provided all of His spiritual blessings for us, how do we get those blessings? Ephesians 1:3-4 and 2 Peter 1:3 say we have what we need already. “We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.” His provision is here — now. We need to understand and use the blessings He has provided. How do we do that?

How do we receive blessings from God?

You receive God’s blessings from His spirit. We must remember that spiritual blessings aren’t usually what we picture. The purpose of spiritual blessing are to make us “holy and blameless.” You have to know what pleases God before you can put His spiritual blessings into practice.

The “Fruit of the Spirit” is a great example of this: “God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled…” (Galatians 5:22-23) I Corinthians 13:4-8a tells us “Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…” Do you want to love like that? You can! But it is not the fruit of your own heart. It is poured out by God’s Spirit. It is literally His fruit.

God’s Work, God’s Way

Think of it this way: if you own a business, paying all its expenses, you would not let your business sell a product people should not have. In the same way, God’s promised blessings are for living the life that pleases Him, not a life that opposes Him. Living by faith (1 John 5:4) means understanding what pleases God (Ephesians 5:10) and counting on Him to “hold back nothing good from those who walk in the way that is right.” (Psalm 84:11)

Pray this week:

Will you pray this week: Help me to begin to see Your provision of blessing in my area of greatest need. Make me able to see Your blessings in my life, and not lean on my perceptions.

Have you thanked God for His very specific presence in your life today? He is present, are you choosing Him over all else today?

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Are You Angry with God?

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there so much injustice in the world?

Written by Hope on 28/07/2013

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Anger, Bitter, Emotions, God

 

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28)

 

Life Is Unfair

Sin in our world makes it difficult to understand the world as God wants it to be. Bad things happen to "good people," and "good people" sometimes let — or even make — bad things happen. "Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23). It is so easy to want to sin. Why is life not easier? You might wonder, Why would God make a world where horrible things can happen? You might even be furious with Him. But injustice exists because of sin; God created people "for [His] glory" (Isaiah 43:10).

God Is Just

The Lord said, "I love justice" (Isaiah 61:8), but He hates sin. We cannot hope to understand Him nor our place in the world if we cannot understand that He is righteous, holy, and loving. Bad things happen; however "God does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent" (2 Peter 3:9). The Creator's "purpose was for the nations to seek after God" (Acts 17:27). After sin entered the world, He revealed part of His plan, teaching us to obey: "[The Law] was given alongside the promise to show people their sins" (Galatians 3:19). People could not be justified by the Law alone, but by faith: the Law "protected us until we could be made right with God through faith" (Galatians 3:24).

Trust in Him, Not the World

God sent us Jesus to restore the balance between justice and love. The unfair death of righteous Jesus Christ paid the penalty for the sins of us unrighteous people. "God will also count us as righteous if we believe in Him, the One Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead" (Romans 4:24).That is why we trust in the Lord as our Saviour — He paid the price; we accept that gift in faith. The world tells us that we should be angry with a Creator Who allows bad things to happen, but God gave everything (in the death of His Son, Jesus) to show us His love and justice.

Prayer, Care and Share Jesus

Scripture: Romans 8:28

The Bible tells us that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). But in reality, we see that even people we call “good people”, based on our human standards, can have bad things happen to them:

  • A tragic accident.
  • The sudden loss of a great job.
  • Theft
  • Unexpected/unfair death.
  • Betrayal in a relationship.

The list could go on!

These are tough situations for anyone to go through. Some of us become angry with God for allowing bad things to happen. We feel let down by God. This feeling is real, and even fully committed followers of Jesus carry these burdens.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, understands. Before He was falsely accused, condemned, tortured and died on the cross to pay for our sin, He prayed three times that this cup would be taken from Him. (Matthew 26:36-44). Even on the cross, Jesus felt the Father had forsaken Him. My Friend, something like this may have happened in your life. You may angry with God or blame Him for what happened. NOW is the time to turn to God and know that He has not forsaken you. I encourage you to stand by faith on God's promise of causing all these things to work for your good (Romans 8:28).

Your feelings against God bring separation from Him. They hinder you from following God’s path for your life, and living more like Jesus did. Repent, dear One, and ask forgiveness. And pray that everyone who hears this message ask God to turn their hearts to Him.

Pray this week:

God will identify any events in your life for which you are angry with or blame God.

If you become angry with God, should you tell Him? What are you angry with God about today? Share with someone and find healing.

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

How to Pray

Are you unsure of how to talk to God? Let this five-step starter guide help you begin your prayer life!

Written by Abide

PRAY NOW

A common definition of prayer is “talking to God.”  But how often do you take time to stop and listen to His response to you? 

Our prayers include asking, begging and requesting something of God.  Scripture tells us He loves the sweet smell of those prayers. However, if all we do in prayer is spend time asking, what space, time or margin is left to listen to the Lord’s response?

Only by God’s grace through faith in Christ does He allow our broken lives the experience of communing with Him.  Seeing our transformed minds connect more deeply with the peace of God.   The result is peace, stillness, renewal, centeredness, and alignment with God.

When we are mindful with our prayers, we allow God to bring our future hope into our present reality. This series will help you unlock the secrets of living in a state of calm, peaceful, active attention on the present with God through the spiritual practice of prayer.     

Have you already cried out to God today with worry about whether He is present and aware of your problems?  

Listen HERE for guidance on learning how to draw closer to the presence of God in prayer. 

This series was written by Julie Thomas. 

https://abide.co/prayer/1y6jig?ref=gmo

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member