If We Are Going To Win, We Must Know Our Weapons

I find strength and spiritual help by using God's Word to help me fight Satan's attack. I really like the phrase from Matthew 4:10 "Get out of here Satan..."

We have to know the Word of God in order to use it. So, I throw out the challenge, to try to memorize some of these verses, they will be great weapons against Satan's attack. I encourage each of us to share some of these great verses with our wife and or family. Tell them how God's Word is strengthening you.

What verses are you able to use as a weapon to fight Satan?

God bless you!
PJ

More Than Fire Insurance

I really appreciate these two sentences from the devo; "As he works within you, your way of thinking becomes more and more like that of Jesus and begins to stay focused on what is really important. This impacts every relationship you have and every decision you make." Wow, I meet so many people who compartmentalize their salvation. It is a Sunday event. It goes into the Sunday religious compartment and it doesn't influence the daily walk, talk, decisions, etc... We must force our faith to spill out to everyday and everything we do. I love the 2 Corinthians 5:17 verse. God please help me be new in you. Please make my salvation to be more than just fire insurance, for missing hell. Make it life insurance for my entire life.
God bless you,
PJ

I Didn't Even Know It

Today we learn about faith being our shield for protection. I remember, as a boy, my Dad would mention God's protection and that God was protecting us in situations when we didn't even know it. For example... "when He alerted the driver to stop at the red traffic light, because if they had come through, they would have broadsided you." While I don't specifically know that happened there have been a few times I was delayed in the office or at home and when I left to go to my destination I came upon an accident. I have often wondered if my delay kept me from the accident!

I know I must have faith to trust and believe that God is and will be my shield. I must remember; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." Romans 8:28 I am counting on God being my shield and working for my good. How about you?

God bless you,
PJ

"Peace Man"

The very statement "peace" conjures up late sixties and seventies memories of some hippie appearing person making the traditional peace V with their fingers.

However, God desires that we experience something much deeper and eternal than a hippie image of peace!

I often turn to 4 Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I practice verse six and experience verse 7. When I do this, I can even have peace in the midst of life's battles.

God bless you,
PJ

I'm right, you're wrong!

It is so easy to feel like we are a failure when we struggle in spiritual battles with sin. Satan takes great joy in making us feel unworthy... because we are. However, that is why it is so important to realize that our righteousness comes from Jesus Christ. He is the one who makes us right... we are not good enough. It is important for me to remember that Jesus did not like the self righteousness of the Pharisees and he doesn't like it in us. When you are struggling in battles with sin, remember to use the armor of God to help you win the battle. And remember, no matter how good you are, you are not good enough and your righteousness comes only through Jesus Christ. Now, we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and take on the world in the victorious righteousness of Jesus Christ in us.
Have a great day!
PJ

The Truth will set you free!

Life if filled with lies and half truths and I find them so frustrating. I wholeheartedly believe the Word of God is TRUTH and Jesus Christ is The Truth. I find great fulfillment in finding my truth in The TRUTH. While the world likes to argue about, "what is truth". I am confident in Jesus Christ and His Word and I stand by that Truth. I am willing to live and die with and for the TRUTH. Because of that commitment, I believe the Truth (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and Scripture) will assist me in the battles of life.

God bless you,
PJ

Battle Gear

I cringe when I watch a football game and a player looses his helmet and continues into action, sometimes head first. I think, "What is the matter with you, you could get hurt!"

When I adventure into life's battles without the "Armor of God", I could really get hurt. We find it in Ephesians 6:10-18. It was in our devo today.

There are several key things that capture me;
*Our real struggle is not against people... it is a spiritual battle.
*I need to put on all of the armor.
*Be alert, Pray for my victory and for other believer's victory.

Everyday is a battle and God has given us the spiritual armor to win. Go be a winner!
God bless you,
PJ

Battle Worn

Most men know what battles are like... a few on the literal battle field, many more battle it out in sporting events and all of us have a battle in the mind where good and evil are at war. I am eternally grateful that God is the mighty warrior and He is in the battle with us, if we will ask Him for help. Prayer and scripture are key weapons for us in our battle.

I believe memorized scripture is vitally important in our battles. When Jesus was in the battle with Satan, Jesus used memorized scripture to combat Satan.

Use every help God gives you to win the battles!

God be with you,
PJ

Mighty God

I am grateful God is Almighty and able to be my defender for eternal purposes. God is my ultimate eternal warrior who has won my eternal victory. I am also very thankful that God is able to help me through my daily battles and He, by His Spirit and ministering angels is my warrior God. I realize there is a serious spirit world battle raging and God is victorious in the spirit world.

What does it mean to you that God is your Warrior?

Have a great day!
PJ

The Real Thing

I have grown up attending church all my life. My dad was a preacher. Shoot, I don't know, I might have been born in the church. However, it seems like many of us who have been churched all of our life... we can have a form of appearing like we are saved but we don't have the real thing (remember the old Coke ads, Coke, the Real Thing).

It is easy to simply be around church and hear the words or simply say, I think heaven sounds better than hell... I choose heaven. But we have never really confessed that we are a sinner and need a Savior. Each of us must recognize that we are sinners, no matter how good or bad we might have been. Romans 3:23... for all have sinned.

Each of us must receive Christ into our life for personal salvation and the key indicator of it being real is obedience.

You might want to read 1 John 5:11-13... "He who has the son of God has life and he who does not have the son of God does not have life."

Get the real thing! Jesus Christ!

God bless you,
PJ

Trust Me!

Have you ever said or had someone say to you, "Trust Me!"? We hear it in spoken word and we pick it up through the connotations of a conversation.

God is saying, "Trust Me!" Trust seems easy when He works in ways we like and when we don't understand we doubt Him rather than trust Him.

You might want to read Proverbs 3:5-6 and Proverbs 16:20.

I continue to grow in my trust of God... He is worthy, I am weak. I choose to trust Him.

God bless you,
PJ

Wow

The more I seek God through reading the Bible, the more I find His wisdom and more I realize I need His wisdom. It is so important that I filter everything through the wisdom of God. I encourage you to find God's wisdom in the Words of God.
PJ

Wisdom

The bible informs us that Solomon's greatest prayer request was to ask for wisdom. I pray that I can fear God (in the right sense of fear), understand God and then have Godly wisdom. I know I must seek God through faithful study of the Holy Bible and I He will grant me ever increasing levels of Godly wisdom. I am challenged to grow in Godly wisdom! God bless you!
PJ

Daily Proverb

Remember yesterday I wrote about faith risks not foolish risks. Satan takes us toward foolish risks! God leads us toward faith risks. Sometimes there is an obvious difference. Other times it is more difficult to know. I have found the daily reading of a chapter of Proverbs as a great way to exercise caution and find wisdom for discerning if I am faith filled or foolish. For many years I have read the Proverb chapter that matches the day of the month. Today I would read Proverbs 17. The reading of Proverbs has been an outstanding way to gain the wisdom of God and it serves as a great caution against foolish risks. You might consider adding the Proverb reading to your daily devotions. Oh, by the way, just because you read it for a month and work your way through the book of Proverbs, it doesn't mean you have got it. I found that after years, God continues to reveal new truth from the verses I have read many times. Seek God's word!
God bless you,
PJ

Take A Risk

These three devos on risk have been good. Last night I awoke with this idea... Take a faith risk not a fools risk. Much of what we do is a risk, but when we take a faith risk, we are doing what God would have us do, even if it feels risky. It may feel risky to pray with your wife. It may feel risky to witness to a friend. It may feel risky to stand up for Truth. But these are faith risks.

Avoid a fools risk... Satan tempts us with things that are risky. You know what your fools risks are... stay away from those risks.

Take on a faith risk for the glory of God. God is speaking to some of you about doing something for Him that feels risky. Do it!

God bless you!
PJ

Still Walking On Water

I enjoyed reading the comments regarding the Thursday, Jan 14 devo. Thank you! I, too, like my comfort zone. But I desire to be the kind of believer that will have such great faith that I will choose to take faith based risks for God. I am very grateful for God's faithfulness to me in past situations that give me stronger faith and greater trust in Him to take risks for God's glory.

I want to challenge the men, who are married, to take the risk to have devo's with your wife and pray with her. Don't keep your spiritual growth a secret. If you are not married, take the risk to share some spiritual truth you are learning with a friend.

Tomorrow we will do another devo on risk... it is good. Ask God what risk He would have you take!

God bless you,
PJ

Walk on Water!

I am challenged by the faith risks Jesus calls me to take. Today, more than ever, here in America we have to take a faith risk to follow Jesus. More Christians are mocked and rejected here in America than ever before. It is risky to follow Jesus!

I am challenged by the story of the Disciple who got out of the boat to walk on water and follow Jesus... that was risky. As long as he kept his eyes Jesus he succeeded...when he looked at the wind and waves (life, problems, people, economy, etc...) he would sink.

I am going to keep my eyes on Jesus and live risky for Jesus!

God bless you!

Me Worry?

I am honest, I do this some! More than I want to admit! Another scripture passage that is helpful for me is Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
"God, please send your Spirit to help me trust You more and worry less!"

Trust Me!

I wonder how many times I have heard someone say, "trust me!" Today's devo reminds me of God saying "trust me!" When life seems to offer uncertainties I turn to Proverbs 3:5-6; "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." I needed this word today!

Great reminder for me!

This devo was a great reminder for me. Many times I feel so inadequate! I am grateful for the infilling power of the Holy Spirit and God's super-natural ability to "equip me with all I need for doing His will" (Hebrews 13:20)God's provision is wonderful!
God bless you!

Yes! You are called by God!

All of us are called. That is a universal calling where God desires us to be Christian believers. And... All of us are called to be witnesses for Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). Many people think of "God's Calling" as something for the preacher and or missionary. There is a vocational calling into ministry, however, it is not everyone! I recall our younger son struggling with this question; "Should I be a preacher? But that is not what I want to be! I want to be in the fitness business. I believe God has gifted me for the fitness business." I responded to tell him that God gifted him and he should give whatever gift he has to God. Use it for God and build God's Kingdom. Today my son is in the fitness business and he likely witnesses to more people for Christ on a daily basis than anyone I know. He has found his calling. You are called, fulfill it right where you are!

Remember we are all called of God to be a Godly... laborer where we work, husband to our wife, father to our children, citizen in our community, etc....

Fulfill your calling!

Relentless Ambition or Godly Motivation

Men, we need goals. We need to be motivated to fulfill God's purpose and plan for our lives. I have met men who have a relentless ambition to achieve. They do whatever it takes to achieve their goal... even misuse and abuse family and friends. I believe in goals and the pursuit of goals, but, we need to have Godly motivation not relentless ambition. Our first goal should be "Christ First". That is the name of our church youth group. Chi Alpha (Christ First). That should be our goal in everything we do. Remember... Chi Alpha! God bless you! Have a great day!

Ice Cream Cone

When I was a kid, I would give myself a goal and if I accomplished it, I could go buy myself an ice cream cone. I am challenged by the devo today to revisit my daily, life goals and eternal goals. What about personally? What about as a husband or father? What about vocationally? What about church? What about the Kingdom of God? What about sharing Christ with others? What about you? Do you have any goals? Oh, by the way, put some ice cream stops along the way to keep you motivated. God bless!

Everyone has influence

Each of us has influence! Sociologists report that even the most introverted person will influence ten thousand other people during his or her lifetime. That means each of us is either influencing or being influenced. I need to be careful about who is influencing me and I need to intentionally pray and plan to influence others for good and God. My prayers, my attitude, my actions, what I say, what I write, where I go, what I do, is all a part of my influence. "God help me to be a Godly influence!"
Who will you intentionally influence for good today?
God bless you, Pastor Joe

Snowed Out

Today I was at the church at about 5:40 a.m. and the snow made the FWC hills too slick to have services. I sincerely miss the fellowship of believers and corporate worship. However, personal and family worship is always possible.

The devo today challenged me to pray for God to open my eyes see His vision for my life more clearly. And I am challenged to act upon what I already know to be God's vision and purpose for my life. (Richard commented about that already... good word!)

Surrender to be and do what God has for you!

Have a great day,
Pastor Joe

Good read today

The Ephesians 3:19 (and 20) passage was good for me.
I desire to dream to be a Godly man and do a great work for him in my family and vocation. "God help me have the fortitude to do what I know you want me to do!"
God bless you!
Pastor Joe

Fresh Start

As I read today, I thought of how many times I felt like asking for "do overs". I am grateful for a fresh start with God. I am asking God's Spirit to renew me and continue the great work He has started in me. I am going to purpose in my heart, soul and mind to plant good seeds in me and in others.

God bless and Happy New Year, Pastor Joe