DECIDE TO GROW IN LIFE WITH CHRIST

…In all things grow up into Him…that is, Christ.’ Ephesians 4:15 NIV

Today’s Devotion

Christian life or Spiritual growth doesn’t happen automatically. You must desire to grow, decide to grow, discipline yourself, and delight in spiritual growth. ‘But my life is just too hard,’ you say. A lot of people have had it worse than you and grown into spiritual maturity, and a lot of people have had it better and remained stuck in spiritual infancy. That’s because they doubted their ability to grow, drifted wherever the current took them, or delayed their growth, thinking, ‘I’ll get around to it when things change’. But it never happens.

Growth always begins with a decision. ‘…Follow Me and be My disciple… So Matthew got up and followed Him’ (Matthew 9:9 NLT). Matthew didn’t understand all the implications of his decision; he simply decided to follow Jesus. That’s all you need to get started: a decision.

Nothing shapes your life like the decisions you make. If you want to know what you’ll be twenty or thirty years from now, examine the commitments and priorities that rule your life. It’s at the point of commitment that most of us miss God’s best. Because we are afraid to commit to anything, we make half-hearted commitments to too many things and end up frustrated because we chose the wrong things. And when we commit to the wrong things we end up living with regrets.

Every choice has consequences, so choose wisely. Christlikeness is the result of making Christlike choices, then depending on Him to help you fulfill those choices. And He will: ‘…put on the new man which was created according to God…’ (Ephesians 4:24 NKJV).

Parallel verses: Num 34-36, Matt 13:24-35, Ps 138, Pro 4:14-17

Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father thank you for your powerful word today. As I pray Lord I realize that I need to grow spiritual with you and know you more about you. Lord thank you for changing us to grow and to make us a servant that you want us to be. Lord strengthens me by your Word and allow your Word saturate in my life so that I will grow strong in my faith with you. Lord thank you for calling me and make me as your disciple and follower to serve you in your Church and to use me in the ministry that you want me to for your glory, In Jesus Name. Amen!

Prayer for Salvation

Lord I admit I am a sinner I repent of all my sins and I receive you into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior Amen. If you mean that prayer above from the bottom of your heart you are now saved. It is God’s Word promise in John 3:16 that if you trust His Son Jesus you will not die but you will have Eternal Life. Welcome to the family of God. In order to grow in your faith with God please do these consistently starting today; 1. Pray always 2. Read your Bible Daily 3. Attend Church Services Regularly 4. Attend Prayer Meeting, Bible Study, Church Seminars and make God first place in your life with your talents and finances 5. Lastly, witness Jesus to others that they may receive Eternal Life also.

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Wednesday, 12 Feb. 2014

Prayer as a Way of Life by Sis. Cristy and Bro. Rolly Custodio

WHEN NO HOPE AND FEAR PREVAIL JUST PRAY (Part 2)

‘He restores my soul’ (Psalms 23:3 NKJV)

Today’s Devotion

Fatigue: Remember the old saying, ‘You can’t burn the candle at both ends’? Today we’ve gone from candle power to atomic power, and few of us pay heed to that old saying anymore. We want bigger homes, fancier cars and more exotic holidays, etc. So we start earlier, work harder, and finish later. Then we stagger home and fall asleep in front of the television, worn out and feeling guilty about spending so little time with our family.

We forget that God designed us to need one work-free day a week for rest and spiritual renewal (Exodus 20:8-11). As a result, fatigue saps our creative energy, distorts our outlook, diminishes our joy, erodes our confidence and drains us spiritually. Elijah is a great example of this. Single-handedly he defeated the prophets of Baal (1Kings 18). In answer to his prayer God sent fire from heaven that consumed the altar and turned Israel back to God. It was a spectacular victory, yet on the heels of it he got so down that he actually asked God to take his life. Now that’s reaching an all-time low!

So what did God do?Like any good doctor, He diagnosed the man’s problem and prescribed three things: proper diet, adequate rest, and a good assistant - Elisha. Many of us, who love what we do for a living, can have a tendency to get out of balance. We have no boundaries so we risk burning out. We ‘grow weary while doing good.’ What’s the answer? ‘He restores my soul’ (Psalms 23:3 NKJV). The word ‘restores’ has two parts: ‘rest’ and ‘store.’ Relax physically, and replenish spiritually. When you feel down you must pray and rest your soul in Him!

Parallel verses: 2 Samuel 17:14 - 19:43, Luke 8:1-15, Psalm 123 , Proverbs 18:13-16