Eternal Perspective Sets You Free From This World

An essential principle of following Jesus is learning to live with a heavenly perspective. This means living our lives, knowing that we are citizens of heaven, (Philippians 3:20), and will spend eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth … Store your treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–20 NLT). Colossians 3:2 states: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (NIV). This eternal perspective sets you free from this world. When Jesus came, he brought the Kingdom of Heaven and his followers live in the Kingdom now! But the Kingdom is mixed with this fallen world. After Jesus comes He will sweep away all the fallenness and will fulfill the promise of a perfect Kingdom for us to dwell in, the New Earth. All the rewards we stored up in heaven will come down to the New Earth for us. Since we Continue Reading →

Jesus Gives You Power Over Temptation – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Heb 2:18 (ESV) Since Jesus felt the suffering that comes with resisting temptation he is able to help us too. He gives us power over temptation. How does he help us? Through the reality that all believers are connected to him like a body to a head. Remember that you are united to Christ and he provides power to become like him. If you keep your life focused on him, his power will flow into you and you will acquire the same character he has. Thus, the same power to resist temptation that Jesus had, he gives to us when we abide in him. And we can resist more than just sensual temptations. Temptation can include temptation to pride instead of humility, or temptation to neglect devotional time, or giving in to Continue Reading →

Humility Brings God’s Favor To Your Life – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6 (ESV) What a huge encouragement to know that humility brings God’s favor to our lives! This is one of God’s most prominent promises in the Bible; this verse is a quote from the Old Testament in Proverbs 3:34. The worldly approach to success is to promote oneself, defeat others, exalt our abilities, etc. But God wants us to humble us so that it is God who is the supreme worker in our lives. If we cling to pride or boastfulness God actually opposes us. Instead, we should adopt an attitude of the heart that reflects who we are before God, which is the definition of humility. If we have a good grip on the immensity and perfection of God, and if we have an understanding of the corruption mixed up inside us, we should be able to abide Continue Reading →

Healthy Relationships Through Letting Go Of Your False Self

Discovering your false self is very important for spiritual growth. God wants to reveal any falseness and destroy your false or ideal self. Your false or ideal self is the “self” you created since childhood in order to avoid being rejected and be accepted by others. It includes all the inauthentic strategies you develop to cope with your world. Some people create a false self that always smiles and cooperates and agrees with everyone. Others create a false self that prefers to oppose and fight others; their false self is the “tough” self. Some create a false self that escapes rejection altogether by hiding behind hobbies or studies or career. There are endless varieties of false self and we all have our own individual version. Letting go of your false self can be a huge challenge. Of course, the result of adopting a false self is that others do not Continue Reading →

God Sees Your Work – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Heb. 6:11 (ESV). God sees your work. It is easy to think that no one appreciates the things we do to help others. In their hurry they may forget to thank us and encourage us for helping them. We can tell ourselves that we don’t really need the encouragement, but it really does make a difference when we are thanked and encouraged. But if no one else than us, we have the encouragement from this passage that God does not forget what we do. He sees our work, especially when we help His people. And even more, according to this verse from Hebrews, God actually deems our help as loving Him! This is the highest service we can do, and God will Continue Reading →