weekly words of encouragement

Overcoming A Fault That’s Beyond Your Character

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Have you noticed that sometimes the reason we aren’t overcoming a fault is that we haven’t fully intended to? We make some mild efforts to change but they don’t work. Then one day we decide to put our full effort into it and presto – the fault is gone! But we also have another kind of experience with overcoming a fault: failure, in spite of all our efforts. “I keep trying to stop doing this, but it doesn’t work.” We’ve probably all said this at some point. We ask God for help, read books, study Scripture, and exercise our willpower, but nothing works. And the fault lives on. Why do we have such different experiences with becoming holy? Because some changes are within our character, and some are not. What do I mean by this? There are some changes that God has already equipped us to make, and success is Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

Hope In God – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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No one who hopes in youwill ever be put to shame.(Psalms 25:3, NIV)It is interesting how fear unconsciously and semi-consciously influences our lives. Is it not true that one of the reasons we do not trust God for difficult things is that we fear it will not turn out well? We fear he doesn’t hear us, or that he won’t act, or that we won’t like the way he acts. We fear letting go of our attachment to something in order to trust God in that area. We even fear that he won’t keep his promise to reward us in the next age for our sacrifices now. Yet God promises in his word that if we put our trust and hope in God, then we will not be put to shame. In the Old Testament, to hope in God meant that God will give faithful believers material blessings, prosperity or Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

The Value Of Holy Viewing – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?Who may stand in his holy place?The one who has clean hands and a pure heart. (Psalms 24:3-4, NIV)The Psalmist here speaks of hiking up Mount Zion to visit the temple, which is the “holy place” of God. This reminds me of Hebrews 10:22 which directs us to “draw near to God with a sincere heart” (NIV) just after mentioning that we have the privilege of entering the holy of holies (the innermost room of the temple where the presence of God dwelt) through the blood of Jesus. Also, remember Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God” (NIV). These passages lead us to the value of holy viewing. God promises that those who come to him in sincerity and holiness will have the privilege of “standing” in his presence. We will see God better; we will have Continue Reading →

cross suffering

Courage To Embrace The Unpleasant Truths Of God

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A few years ago I was reading a book by a famous spiritual formation author. In it he talks about “finding the Christ dwelling within us.” Since this was ambiguous, I searched to find out if the author believed in the necessity of repentance and the new birth. Instead, I found statements like “Your belovedness precedes your birth…You are fully loved because you belong to God for all eternity. That’s the truth of your identity. That’s who you are. And you can reclaim it at any moment.” I was concerned that he did not accept the unpleasant truths of God. So I searched the book (with the Kindle search function) for the words “sin” or “repentance,” and they were not found. I could not find a mention of the final judgment of God on human lives. Obviously, these ideas could be expressed in different words, but I did not find Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

The Poor Are Blessed – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him.” (Psalms 22:26, NIV). In the later Old Testament writings, the “poor” were people who not only lacked physical resources but also depended on Yahweh. Knowing that food and housing were limited, they turned to God for help. So the Psalmist of this psalm declares that the poor are blessed, and the Lord’s intention is to give to the poor the food they need. And those who “seek the Lord” live in dependence on Yahweh will praise him because of his provision. So, if we are “poor,” we can remember that the poor are blessed. In general, the physical things we need, God will provide (Matt. 6:33), and his indwelling comforts our hearts. Under the new covenant the poor are blessed even more than under the old covenant. Jesus promised: “Blessed are the poor in spirit,for Continue Reading →