Month: November 2018

unwanted thoughts

Defeating Unwanted Thoughts During Prayer

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One of the major struggles with prayer is the problem of unwanted thoughts. When we are physically still and in a quiet place our mind takes the opportunity to think about the concerns of the day as well other concerns. Some of these will go away in a few minutes but others will intrude anytime. They can be very annoying and we can end up thinking that we are wasting our time. The good news is that everyone has them and that we don’t need to be discouraged by them. The normal strategy for unwanted thoughts is to just let them float by. Nearly everyone has unwanted thoughts no matter how mature they are; don’t think that you can you rid yourself of them. Instead, when you’re praying picture a stream with all your stray thoughts floating by. This way you do not spend energy and attention trying to address Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Jesus Is Present In Your Gathering – Weekly Word Of Encouragement

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“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matt. 18:20 ESV). Jesus is always with us but he promises that when two or three are gathered in his name that he is among them. God loves community and he honors community by promising that he, the Son, is present in a better way than with a single believer. This should encourage us to gather together in small groups as well as big groups and have expectant faith that Jesus is really with us and that we can have a stronger connection to him when we are gathered. In small groups we can pray for someone’s need and wait on Jesus. Maybe someone will have an impression or leading from God. Maybe God will give a word through someone. Jesus is there. If we believe and give him some space then we will begin Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

The Gift Of Rest From Our Burdens – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28, NIV). Jesus encourages us by promising to give us rest when we come to him, in other words, when we place our dependence and hopes on him. He is restful because we can cast all our cares on him (1 Pet. 5:7); we don’t have to do our work with anxiety in our soul. Whether it is a relationship, our occupation, our health, or a spiritual struggle in our heart it is usually our dependence on our own strength or our fears about the future that make us “weary and burdened”. Instead, we can come to Jesus, keep placing our burdens and dependence on him, and trust in the way he will work out the future. When our focus is on him then he gives us rest. Application: put your name in Continue Reading →

climbing

Why Should We Go Through Purification Now? – Part 2

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Last week we looked at the first three of five reasons we should make the effort to purify our lives now and submit to God’s shaping us, even though God will fully purify us after Jesus returns. Today we look at the last two. The purpose is to encourage and motivate us to do whatever we can to cooperate with God’s work even when it is painful. The fourth reason is that we are destined to live as perfected New Adams in an eternal community of love with God and his followers. This overlaps with the previous point about wanting to be our true self. If you “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13, ESV) then why would you spend any time avoiding foretastes of your hope even if it involved effort? If I were Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Sparrows and Souls – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matt. 10:29-31 (NIV). Jesus spoke these words after he sent his twelve disciples out to announce the coming of the kingdom of God. He said they would be persecuted and some believers would be killed. But he also said they should not fear the killers because God is the one who preserves the soul. Then he speaks today’s Scripture that even a sparrow doesn’t die without the Father’s care. Sparrows die and people suffer and die but God always cares about creation and his people. He is there and he will preserve your soul regardless of the suffering. He doesn’t promise to protect you from suffering but he Continue Reading →