HOW TO BANISH NEGATIVE SELF TALK AND THINKING

CHARACTER CHANGING INGREDIENTS

Erica McClean

Copyright@2013

CONTENTS

Why Hugh Jackman lost Weight

You’re Not an Accident

The One Thing That Changed My Daughter

Divine Ingredients for Character Cake

For this very reason, make every effort

The Thing That Displeases God

Faith: I Don’t Think I Can Change

Goodness: I think evil thoughts and do bad things

Knowledge: I Don’t Know What to Do

Self-Control: I Can’t Control Myself

Perseverance: I Give Up

Godliness: Every One Is Doing It

Mutual affection: I Am Not A Lovey Dovey Person

Love: I Hate Her

Other Books by the Author

Why Hugh Jackman lost Weight

When my church suggested that the members take part in 40 days of praying and fasting last year I was secretly livid.  Who likes giving up their favourite food? Who likes giving up food period! Food can be used as an emotional crutch; it’s used for social interactions.

Why on earth does God require us to give up food for a period of time in order to hear him? I don’t think it’s fair. Why on earth do we have to work at things to improve our Christian lives and characters? (2 Peter 1:5-8)

I recently watched an interview with the actor Hugh Jackman where he told the interviewer that for his role in Les Miserable he lost 25 pounds and went without food and water for 36 hours. For the role he had to look so strikingly thin and so different that anyone who knew him would have had to think he was ill., in fact, so different from the way he normally looked, that his friends would think he was extremely unwell.

Raise your hand if you think that is insane. However Jean Valjean (his character) was meant to look a certain way so Jackman did not complain. He dedicated himself to his craft and to the role and he was later rewarded with a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination. He thought the sacrifices had been worth it, yes the dizziness, headaches and grumpiness he thought was a little price to pay for the way he was able to depict his character.

I started to realise that there is no need to question God’s method of doing things. There are times where He requires complete dedication and sacrifice from us and it is only for our betterment and for us to enjoy life.

Prayer and fasting from the things we love brings us closer to God in a way that is beautiful and special. Many people in the Bible have been delivered when they put aside their earthly pleasures in order to fully submit themselves to God.

It worked for the people of Nineveh when Jonah prophesized they would be destroyed for their wickedness (Jonah 3:7-10). It also worked for Queen Esther. She fasted and prayed for 3 days, seeking divine intervention from God in order to spare the lives of the Jews (Esther 4:15-17). To put it simply, prayer works!

In this book we dig deeper. We venture into the discipline of our characters. How many of us say we can’t change. It’s part of who I am. My father was short tempered and so was my great great grandmother, you see, it’s in my genes. The good news is we can change. Christ has made this possible. This change opens amazing doors to living successful lives and enjoying it to the full. It’s a journey I am taking and enjoying.

Here I will share with you the power of meditating, praying and speaking God’s word into your life to bring about life transforming enjoyable changes to you and your environment. It is changing my life, has changed many other people’s lives and it will certainly change yours. The journey is breathtaking and supernaturally wonderful.

Without Christ we can do nothing. This book is therefore not an attempt for us to be made acceptable to God. By giving our lives to God through our acceptance of Christ’s atonement we are made right with God.

Just like a child or a plant doesn’t worry about how it will grow; we are also not to worry about our spiritual growth thinking how will it happen, or perhaps I don’t have what it takes to make it happen. The child as it eats wholesome food and as the plant is fed with the nutritious soil and exposed to sunlight and air growth naturally happens.

In order for us to grow and mature in our Christian experience, Christ is the all in all. We look to him and meditate on his goodness. He is the living water and the bread of life.

In the precious gift of His son, God has encircled the world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates the world. If you choose to breathe this life giving atmosphere, you will grow into a mature Christian with godlike characteristics. No different from your favourite heroes in the bible. God has provided for us all the ingredients we need for growth as we constantly look to Jesus. Without Jesus this growth is impossible.

It is our privilege to grow daily.  Growth is made possible when we pray, meditate and speak things through God’s word. Praying, meditation and speaking His word will result in a heart willing to obey what the Spirit of the Lord directs us to do. Loving God will spur us into obeying Him.

These are the ingredients that we will result in the cake of good character and isn’t that what all of us want? To be better people and to get closer to our Maker is what we are all aiming for.  I know it’s what I want. You will note that all the big heroes of the bible never defined their circumstances by what they saw with their physical eyes, but by what the word of God said about their situation.  Jesus our greatest hero did this all the time. If Jesus, the son of God, saw the importance of praying, meditating and speaking God’s word 365 days then who am I to think I can only once a week or as and when I feel like.

In order to become men and women who move mountains, our characters need to change. Our way of thinking about our situations and circumstances need to change. We don’t have to be rocket scientists to figure out how to do this. The bible has provided the answer.

It tells us that God through his divine power has given us everything we need to live life here on earth (2 Peter 1:3) Yes, as followers of Christ we have been given everything we need to have godly characters. As we change our circumstances and environments will start to change.  Christ died for us so that we can have characters that think positive thoughts of whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8) We however need to pray, meditate and speak the word of God in order for our minds to change from negative to positive. You and I have to work at this.

Prayer

Dear God. Thank you for loving me with an everlasting love. Please help me to see the importance of praying, meditating, speaking and obeying your word.  This is not something I am used to, but I pray that you help me to be willing. I know that you are willing and happy to walk with me on this journey of getting to know you better. Help me to realise that all of this is for the betterment of my character, the only thing I will take to heaven.

Thank you for listening to me.

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

You’re Not an Accident

You are not an accident that just happened to pop into the world.

Despite the circumstances of your birth and mine, a loving Creator made us for a purpose. He created us to enjoy life to the full. Christ says in John 10:10 that “my purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life”.

If truth be told I have been a Christian for over 30 years. Good things have certainly happened, but I couldn’t honestly for those 30 plus years put my hand to my heart and say I have experienced a rich and satisfying life.

Divorced, raising children on my own in a country that’s not my place of birth and hence no close relatives at hand, financially overwhelmed at times, overweight and not professionally having experienced being the “head and not tail”, I felt life had somehow sprinkled some lemons in my way.

The Ah Moment – The Dropping of the Penny

Then I had my “ah!” moment (thank goodness the penny finally dropped). I learnt that I could make lemonade from the lemons sprinkled in my life.

Indeed despite being this side of heaven, Christ was telling the truth when He said, He came so that we could have life and have it to the full. He has given us everything we will ever need in life to not get affected with the potholes and lemons thrown at us.

2 Peter 5 3-4 says,

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

The hidden secret, which is well known by many others who have lived life to the full and continue to do so, but that had eluded me most of my Christian life, was having the faith and accepting that God had given me everything I needed to live a fruitful life.

The bible says He has given us, through His word great promises that pertain to having an abundant life. We were created and redeemed to participate in his divine nature. You and I have been empowered to have a character like his. By so doing we are enabled to enjoy life.

I didn’t have to be a miserable scrooge. I could have hope for the different challenges of my life; fat but losing weight, complainer but learning to praise, ungrateful but learning power of gratitude, speaking negatively but learning to speak positive words of life, contentious but learning to be a peace maker, inconsistent but learning to be consistent, financially challenged but learning financial discipline and trusting him for the blessings of Deuteronomy chapter 28 that I will lend to many but will have no need to borrow.

You too can join me on this exciting life transforming change that many before us have walked. Transformation starts from believing and hoping in the word of God.

The One Thing That Changed My Daughter

I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:114)

I wondered why my daughter kept lying, acting foolish, dumb and stupid. Unfortunately, the answer lay between my nose and chin… with my tongue.

Incredibly often, when she did something wrong (and in most cases it was lies that we were dealing with) I would say she was a liar, dumb, and yes would say the father of all liars was the devil.

I, a believer, was simply repeating how I had been brought up. I never questioned that this was wrong. Of course I loved my daughter very much. I would die for her, but I was constantly frustrated with the character that she was portraying.

My Tongue, the Problem

However, through my own tongue I was killing her, and slowly but certainly changing her perception of who God said she was. He viewed her as beautifully and wonderfully made, while I informed her otherwise.

I prayed, fasted, screamed to no end and took all sorts of drastic measures that you really don’t want to know about, but my daughter just didn’t change.

Our extremities become God’s opportunity. When I was at my wits end things started to change, as I started to pray differently.

I learnt the power that is found in the live word of God. The power that activates my faith as I pray, claim and affirm God’s word.

Indeed, my daughter started behaving very differently when I started affirming God’s word into her life.

Thus for instance her propensity to not tell the truth started changing when I would affirm her through scripture and say words like, “You are beautifully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) “You are a child of God and He has good plans for you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) You are a blessing, a reward and a heritage that God has given me. (Psalm 127:3) I started a new habit of blessing and affirming my children before they went to school and last thing at night. I would do this by quoting scripture.

There are of course several other things that needed to change and be addressed, but my greatest breakthrough came when I started believing and speaking God’s word into her life despite what the physical environment told me.

For years I had been struggling with several characteristics that were concerning to any Christian mother.

It was only after I decided to take a radical step into speaking, praying and affirming God’s word into her life that I started to see changes in her behaviour, and ultimately her life.

The Game That Will Get You Thinking

Encouraged and overwhelmed with the changes in my life, I am becoming more conscious of what I say. What if you started believing God’s word, speaking His word and affirming His word concerning my character? What radical changes would take place in your life?

The tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21) Try this little exercise of how powerful words are. Play this game entitled ‘Guess what words I have said’.

The idea is that your friend should be able to tell whether the words you spoke were “I am strong and worthy” or “I am weak and unworthy” by how easily they are able to push your hands down.

Ask a friend to go out of the room and ensure that he or she cannot hear you. Close both hands tightly and make a fist. Stretch out your hands and say 10 times either “I am weak and unworthy” or “I am strong and worthy”.

Call your friend back in the room and ask them to push your stretched hands down.

Try as hard as you can to resist your hands from being pushed down. Next, ask your friend to leave the room and make a fist and stretch out your hands as before. However, this time say the opposite phrase to what you said earlier 10 times.

Don’t say anything after you have said whichever phrase you have said 10 times. What will happen is that when you say the phrase “I am weak and unworthy”, somehow the person pushing your hands down will find it much easier to push your hands down than when you said the phrase “I am strong and I am unworthy”.

Your body is somehow affected by the words that you have spoken, and whether you like it or not it responds to the words spoken.

There is indeed power in words and no wonder we will be judged for every idle word spoken (Matthew 12:36)

More effective than we can ever imagine is God’s word. The words God has spoken in His book the bible are powerful and life transforming.

His word concerning any situation is the truth because He is the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6) We are told that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was. John 1:1 God’s word is extremely powerful because it is who He is.

When God speaks in the bible we are called to believe, have faith and hope in his word. Not believing his word is the same as not believing him because He is the word.

God has told us that there are certain things we can do to ensure that we never stumble and are given a rich welcome in the Kingdom of God.

Prayer:

Father, I praise your name because your eyes are on those who fear you and those whose hope is in your unfailing love. (Psalm33:18) My hope is on you. You are the only one who can change me and my circumstances.

Forgive me for the times I have thought I could do it on my own and have doubted that with you all things are possible (Matthew 19:26)

I ask that this year be a life transforming year. A time when I will pray, meditate and speak your word concerning my character and circumstances.

I know that this year will be a year of spiritual growth. I will not remain the same. As I look and meditate on the love of my Lord Jesus Christ, I will change and my circumstances will change.

I thank you that by your grace and that of my Lord Jesus Christ you have given me eternal encouragement and good hope (2 Thessalonians 2:16)

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Quote:

Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.

Anonymous

Affirmation:

I will cast my burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain me; He shall never permit me to be moved. (Psalm 55:2)

Divine Ingredients for Character Cake

The whole story starts in with 2 Peter 1 3-10, which reads:

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is near-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[[a]] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Here is a summary of what you are called to not just believe but affirm, irrespective of how things are in your life right now.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness

He has given us great and precious promise that will enable us to have Christ-like characters (2 Peter 1:4)

Believing and trusting that these promises are true, we are to make every effort to add the listed virtues in our Christian walk. (2nd Peter 1:5)

Our journey will start by believing and trusting the word of God. We will therefore take an interesting life changing route that doesn’t look at the natural of what we are now, but rather the supernatural word of God, of what we are called to be. Our lives will never be the same again, as we learn to:

1.       Speak God’s word through scripture to change our characters,

2.      pray God’s word,

3.      and affirm ourselves through God’s word.

Join me as we go on the supernatural journey where we will never again be the same. The 8 life forming characteristics that the Holy Spirit has promised to continuously change us into will change our circumstances too. As we change, things around us will have to change.

As you became amazed at what God will be doing in your life through trusting and hoping in his word, you will be transformed into the type of faith filled Christian who can command any mountain in their life to move!

This book guides you on how you can enjoy doing this daily as you build up the characteristics of:

1.       Faith,

2.      Goodness,

3.      Knowledge,

4.     Self-Control

5.      Perseverance,

6.      Godliness

7.      Mutual Affection.

8.      Love

Create and stick to a daily plan on how you will get to know Him better through His word, the bible. Determine to believe His word that you read, speak His promises into your life, affirm his promises, obey him, repent and confess when you sin, get up and start the journey again.

Each devotional empowers you with scripture, prayer and affirmation (speaking the word on God into your life) relating to the characteristics that Peter tells us to build. The power of speaking positively and speaking the truth about your life truly cannot be emphasised enough.

Prayer:

I thank you Father that you have given me everything that pertains to how I am to live my life here on earth and how to build a Christ like character. I thank you for your word because it gives me life. There is nothing too small that concerns me that you are not interested in. I love you for that. It excites me to know that even my most little concern; I can bring to you and talk to you about it.

I know therefore that I can trust you. I believe that you will do for me like you did for the disciples of old. You will make me into a great person of faith. I know you are not only willing to do this, but you alsogeorge-orwell. have the power to do it. My circumstances and I will change. I am looking forward to this journey as you change me into an amazing character that you already have a picture of. I know that when all things are said and done, you will be pleased with your handiwork!

Thank you that you are trustworthy. You started this good work within me; I know you will continue your work until it is finally finished. (Philippians 1:6)

Quote:

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught.  - J.C. Watts

Affirmation:

I can and will grow daily to be Christ like. I will speak the word of God into all my situations today

For this very reason, make every effort

(2nd Peter 1:5)

I remember wanting to go into law school with the same attitude that I had during my secondary school years. With my mother being a teacher, I had no choice but to achieve reasonably good grades that enabled me to gain a place at university.

Whilst at university I continued my lazy habits of not giving it my all. If I liked a subject, I got a good grade, as I enjoyed studying for it.

However, any subject in which I either disliked the lecturer or was an early morning lecture, I skipped, and simply wasn’t bothered what the outcome of my behaviour was. After all, I had never failed a course and surely I was intelligent enough to scrape through.

My laissez-faire attitude towards my studies came to a sudden halt when I failed one of my courses. My failures lead to a drastic change of habits.

No surgeon gets to operate without lots of hours of study as a student and self-sacrifice. No solicitor or lawyer gets their practising certificate for the year without showing that they have continued updating themselves in their areas of study. No Olympian gets to win the gold medal without denial of instant gratification, hard work and commitment.

The same is true of the Christian walk. You cannot be a practising Christian without making every effort or being diligent in working out our characters to be more Christ-like.

Paul says we have to make every effort. We have to be diligent. Whilst good works don’t save us, they reflect who we are serving.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) Whereas the works of the flesh are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,[[a]] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

How many characteristics do you have in the fruits lists and how many do you have in the flesh list? Which outweighs the other?

You and I may find ourselves wanting, but the good news is God’s desire is for you to produce the fruits of the Spirit. Not only does He want you to produce them, but He has the power to enable you and me to produce the fruits of the Spirit. Jesus in us will make this possible.

He did this for Moses, Daniel, Joshua, and Paul, and He can do this for you. Prostitutes, murders, cowards and slaves can all be changed into the likeness of Christ.

There was nothing exceptional about these people, but the exceptional Mighty God who was able to change their hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

God is waiting to make your life another best seller that He is willing and prepared to write. As you make every effort to add to your faith, He will then multiple those efforts.

Your journey is a lifelong process of constantly adding these virtues. You need to work at it. You need to set aside time to read His word daily. You need to reflect upon your actions daily and see where you have gone wrong so as to confess and affirm yourself each day through the promises of the word of God.

The Thing That Displeases God

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

I took another look outside at the clear blue skies as the plane flew smoothly in the clouds. I was not only nervous but anxious as well.

I had a fear of flying and always had to hype myself before getting on a plane. Then the turbulence started. Truth be told, it was not that bad but I imagined the worst.

I looked out again, and lo and behold the fuel was leaking from the plane. In a nervous whisper I made my findings known to the woman sitting next to me.

Without checking what I was saying she quickly called the steward to have a look. To cut a long story short, the woman was rather upset with me as there was no fuel at all, but my imagination running wild. That was many years ago and now I don’t fear flying anymore.

I always felt uncomfortable flying as I didn’t know what the pilot looked like and what state he was in. Could he be drunk, does the airline test them for alcohol consumption before they fly or do they just trust them not to have taken beyond the legal limit. Is he or she suicidal?

Well these are the questions that I believe most travellers never think of, or if they do, it certainly doesn’t stop them from travelling. They have some inbuilt faith that they will get to the destination they are going to.

Faith is a gift given to us by God to exercise. We decide to have children, having faith that they will not cause us grief and pain. We believe all will turn out well.

If you have ever been operated on, you have exercised your faith in believing in the skills of the surgeon and medical team. We go to bed every night having the faith that we will get up.

A toddler delights, giggles and enjoys it as his father throws him up in the air because he trusts his father to catch him.

God as a good father wants us to believe the words that He has spoken to us through his word. He wants us to take Him at his word, even though we cannot see any evidence of what He has promised.

He wants us to claim and believe what he has said, not let what the physical eyes tells us determine the truth about our situation.

During this time of lent, take time to read God’s word and meditate upon the many promises that are held in the bible for you.

Here are some promises that keep me going when my physical atmosphere tells me one thing and my spiritual eyes need to tell me something different through faith.

God’s plans for your life are good:   For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future ( Jeremiah 29:11)

When people are hurting you: Be strong and courageous. Don't fear or tremble before them, because the LORD your God will be the one who keeps on walking with you—he won't leave you or abandon you."( Deuteronomy 31: 6)

When You feel you cannot overcome sin or temptation:  My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Prayer

Abba Father I praise your name that You are my strength.  I thank you that you are perfecting my faith and where I have been weak in believing and trusting, you are perfecting me (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Lord I am trusting you with all my heart and I will not lean on my own understanding concerning the things that are worrying me right now in my life (mention them one by one to Him) Proverbs 3:5

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

The way to see by Faith is to shut the eye of Reason (unknown)

Affirmation: My faith will not rest on men’s wisdom, but God’s power (1Corinthians 2:5)

Faith: I Don’t Think I Can Change

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith” (2 peter 1:5)

My knees felt like jelly and my mouth all of a sudden went very dry. “What do you mean the water pipes have broken”, I asked my daughter in a shrieking voice. “As I have said mum, for the tenth time, the tenant called and said water is leaking from the kitchen floor”.

Fear griped me as images of a repair bill for £30,000 flashed inside my mind; this had been my friend’s fate 5 years ago. Her story had a happy ending as her insurance had covered her bill. However, in my case fear turned to utter panic as I remembered that I hadn’t sorted out my building and contents insurance.

To Lie OrNot To Lie?

Do I quickly sort out my insurance and then make a claim (fraud!!); I contemplated as my thoughts ran wild. This temptation was very enticing. A friend came into the library, where I was doing some research, as I was pondering on what to do.

I narrated my woes to her and together we prayed for God’s intervention. As we prayed, the Holy Spirit impressed me to start praising God for the many promises in his word. I confessed my sin of not being diligent with my insurance, and thanked him that He had heard my prayer. After praying I felt an amazing peace and calm.

I was than able to think clearly. I felt God clearly directing me to call a trustworthy plumber and have the job repaired. I went and checked the problem myself, then drove home to make arrangements with the plumber.

There was going to be no shoddy business of fraudulent claims. Yes I needed to immediately sort out my insurance, but this current problem wasn’t to be claimed for.

My challenge now was calling a trustworthy Plummer. I had had cause to doubt the honesty of the plumber that I had been using for previous jobs.

I prayed for God to guide me in what to do. However, since the work was urgent I believed I had no choice but to call my usual plumber.

God however wasn’t going to let me be cheated. I tried calling my plumber several times, but each time the line would cut out.  He tried calling back several times, but even then the call would be cut. This happened for a good hour.

As I sat at my computer pondering what to do next, a big white van drove and parked right outside my house.  The side of the van had a big advert saying “Plumber.” I felt very strongly that I should call the number.

I called the number and two hours later the leaking pipe had been sorted, at a very reasonable cost, and a window had been fixed for nothing.

Fear of the Unknown Causes Us to Act in Unbelief

Fear of the unknown can cause us to lose faith in God, and can cause us do things that would even shock us. Fear of being a motherless wife caused Sara to bring untold misery to her household and descendants.

Her suggestion of Abraham sleeping with her servant girl, Haggai, not only caused misery to herself but to Haggai, Abraham and Isaac.

It also caused enmity between Isaacs’s seed and Ishmael’s that has continued to date. Rebecca’s fear that her favourite son Jacob, whom God had said would serve the older, would not materialise (Genesis 25:19-26) caused her to act in deceit to ensure that the right boy got the blessings.

What followed as a result of her lack of faith in God was deceit, enmity between the brothers, and separation from her favourite son, whom she never saw again.

She failed to believe that God had complete control of the prophecy he had made, and that the prophecy could be fulfilled without her meddling in the situation.

What are the things that cause you to fear and take actions that are against the word of God? Write these down and ask God to forgive you for your lack of faith in believing that God is able to take care of this/these situations that you fear. It is a lack of faith to not believe that God can deal with your situation.

It displeases God when we take matters into our own hands, believing that He doesn’t care enough for us and we have to sort out the situation on our own.

God wants us to know it deep in our hearts that He will reward us for choosing to have faith in him.

We are called to believe that because He loves us, he will reward us in ways that are too amazing to even imagine.  Not to believe this fact displeases Him (Ephesians 3:20)

Prayer

I praise you God because you are the founder and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2) I know that you will perfect me to have faith in you that is pleasing to you. Lord forgive me for the times (mention the times) I have not believed your word concerning my situation.

Lord I am asking that you give me faith so that I will not doubt you. Lord, help me to believe the impossible things that you can do in my life. (Matthew 21:21) Enable me to have faith that you a good God and that you are a good Father. You will never leave me nor will you forsake me.

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr

Affirmation

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)

Goodness: I think evil thoughts and do bad things

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; (2nd Peter 1)

My daughter had done it again. She certainly wasn’t learning. She kept repeating the same mistakes over and over again. I was irritated and annoyed.

She should know better I thought. What followed was a complaining spirit and a long list exposing her faults as if she didn’t know them. The lecture of condemnation lasted quiet a long while.

God is an amazingly good God. To each of his followers He has said “surly goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life” (Psalm 23:6).

No matter where you are and no matter your situation, God’s goodness will be stalking you. You cannot run away from his favour and nothing will ever separate you from the love of God. (Romans 8:38-39)

Psalm 103 gives some of the many different ways in which God expresses his love, goodness and mercy for you and me.

1.       He gives us all the good things we enjoy in life (vs2)

2.      Forgives all our sins (vs3)

3.      He heals all our diseases (vs3)

4.     Crowns you with love and compassion

5.      Compassionate and gracious,

6.      Slow to anger, abounding in love.

7.      Not always accuse, nor does he harbour his anger forever;

8.      He does not treat us as our sins deserve

9.      He does not repay us according to our iniquities

10.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

As we meditate on God’s goodness towards us, He calls us and desires us to be good. The more we meditate on his word, pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to dwell in our lives, the more He will change.

We however also have important roles to play in our characters being changed. We are told in today’s reading to make every effort, or to make constant effort, to add goodness to our character.

The type of goodness here is one where we have an uncommon character that is worthy of praise and of moral excellence.

How do you treat others? Do you treat them with the same kind of graciousness that God has towards you?

The more you see how merciful, gracious and good God has been to you, the more you are called to exercise goodness towards others.

Our first call is towards our family members. Are you kind, loving, forgiving and giving of yourself? Our challenge is to make every effort to be nice to our children, siblings’, spouses and friends.

Ask God to show you ways in which you could constantly be good to those closest to you.

We are to ask God to point out to us those characteristic flaws that are displeasing to Him. For me it was a complaining spirit, for you it could be something else.

Whether its pornography, flirtatious character, gossip, immorality, God wants us to make an effort in getting rid of these characters and be of good moral conduct.

Look at the character flaws that you have and set out a plan for overcoming that character flaw. I had to limit the minutes in which I corrected my daughter and determine to encourage and not condemn when she did wrong.

Our Father is a good God who has promised that His goodness and mercy will always follow us all the days of our lives, in turn He expects us to not only be good to others but be of good moral character too.

Prayer

My Father I praise you today for being so good to me. Lord I thank you for loving me so much that you gave your only begotten son, that should I believe in him I should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16) I thank you for calling me into your marvellous light.

Forgive me for not being good in these areas of my life (mention things that you have not been good in). Thank you for forgiving me of these wrongs because you have said that though my sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)

I desire to be good in these areas (mention areas). Give me daily tips on how I can make every effort to be good in these areas.

Most important of all I know that without you I can do nothing, thus I pray for your Holy Spirit to enable in all these areas that you are calling me to be good in.

I thank you and praise your name because I know that you will perfect me in these areas.

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

"Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

Affirmation:

I can do all things (mention the areas you are being impressed to be good in) through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

Knowledge: I Don’t Know What to Do

“to virtue knowledge” (2 Peter 1:5)

What one thing would you ask God for if you knew that He would, without a shadow of doubt, grant you your heart’s desire?

Young King Solomon had such an opportunity when he took over his father, King David’s throne (I King 3:5). He wasn’t the oldest son but God had chosen him to be the one who should succeed his father.

There are many things that he could have asked for, but there is one thing that Solomon had learnt from his father David. He knew that to know and serve God intimately was all he needed to have life and have it to the full.

To know God’s will in every situation (have God’s wisdom) would be lifesaving to him and his kingdom. Solomon prayed for wisdom to be able to discern between good and evil.

Though he was a grown man he recognised that without God he was like a little child who didn’t know how to go out or come in (v7)

Solomon’s request greatly pleased God. God granted him his desire and said “See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” (vs12)

To add icing on the cake, God said “I have given you what you have not asked both riches and honour, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days (vs. 13.)

Here is the best kept loudest secret “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10) you only get to fear and know God by reading his word and knowing his word thoroughly. Purpose, desire and plan how you are going to spend more time in his word, so that you may continually grow in knowing Him.

Suggestions:

        Make a plan of how long and when you will be reading the bible and other Christian books

        Find a quiet place where you can read without being disturbed (I have a friend who locks herself in the toilet)

        Driving to work, how about playing a bible audio

        Listen to bible every time you are doing a particular task e.g. ironing

        Plan to daily worship with your family

Prayer

My Father I praise you because it isn’t I who has made the initiative to seek you, but rather you always want to make yourself known to me and you reveal yourself to me.

I magnify your name because your word is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of my soul and spirit, and of my joints and marrow and is a discerner of my thoughts and intentions of my heart (Hebrews 4:12)

Lord, search my heart and see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting. (psalm129:34)

Show me the areas of sin in my life that keep me from knowing you more deeply than I do now. Reveal to me how I can apply knowledge to my life today.

Give me a deep hunger to know you more intimately than I know you now. As the deer pants for the water brooks so let my soul pant after you. (Psalm 42:1)

I thank you for your word found in the bible. I thank you for the freedom that I have to read it and don’t take it for granted.

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.  ~ Charles Spurgeon

Affirmation:  Wisdom will come into my heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to my soul; discretion will watch over me, understanding will guard me (Proverbs 2: 10-12)

Self-Control: I Can’t Control Myself

and to knowledge, self-control (I Peter 2 1:7)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it  (1 Corinthian 10:13)

Today I am fasting. I have tried to fast for several days now but have always failed miserably. I have been eating biscuits to no end. Gained back 1 kg that I had lost.

I have decided to claim scripture to enable me overcome the sin of lack of self-control. Self-control is one of the fruits of the spirit.

If our physical habits are not right, our mental and moral powers cannot be strong; for great sympathy exists between the physical and the moral.

You Can Control Your Impulses

The dictionary definition of self-control is ‘the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses’

The human race lost its amazing home due to one sinful act of lack of self-control. God had given Adam and Eve everything they could have ever wanted. Eve however wasn’t satisfied. For the sake of gratifying her taste she and her husband lost everything and hence began the misery of mankind.

There has been untold misery since as a result of mankind failing to have control over the desires of the eyes and taste. The controlling power of appetite has broken down homes and governments, great men and woman have been brought to shame as a result to this lack of control.

Kingdoms such as Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, amongst other things, due to the sin overeating (Ezekiel 16:49-50). Public health institutions are worried at our rate of obesity, anything and everything that the eye sees and the mouth tastes is accepted as good.

As God’s children we are not to regard with indifference the health of our bodies. The standard of virtue is said to be elevated or degraded by the physical habits. Wrong habits of eating and drinking lead to errors in thought and action.

God does not want us to injure our health. He wants us to enjoy good health and that all may go well with us.  (3 John 1:2)

Christ commenced his work of redeeming you and I, just on the point where our first parents met their ruin, on the point of appetite. The fantastic life changing good news for you and I is that Satan was defeated in his scheme to overcome Christ on the point of appetite.

Christ refused to turn the stones into loaves of bread and said “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

He Overcame So That You and I Can Overcome

He overcame the strength of appetite on your behalf, thus making it possible for you to overcome, have self-control in every area of your life.

Note the beautiful words that Christ quoted, you and I are to live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. You and I can have self-control by living the word of God concerning control.

Here are some keywords to ponder on concerning the scripture reading for today.

Key words to ponder upon

1.       Overtake

2.      Common

3.      Faithful

4.     Ability

5.      Way of escape

6.      Endure

Below is my action plan for overcoming. Remember 2 Peter 1: 5-8 says make every effort. What steps have you drawn up to follow to help you overcome and have self-control?

1.       Drink water every hour

2.      Google scripture on self-control and pray every hour

3.      I won’t look at the food counter in the canteen

4.     I won’t go in the supermarket today, I will send my daughter

5.      When I get home I will first go into my closet and pray

1.       I will pray for two friends who I know struggle with self-control (one with food and the other with pornography)

2.      I will ask my daughter to hold me accountable

Prayer

I extol you O Lord because you are gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger and full of mercy (Psalm 145:8). You have not treated me according to the way my iniquity of lack of self-control deserves. (Psalm 103:10)

Your heart of love is touched by the sorrow I feel after I have lost self-control in the areas that are well laid out before you.

I know that nothing in any way concerning my peace is too small for You to notice. There is no chapter in my dark hidden experience too dark for You to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for You to unravel.

You Lord know my anxious thoughts (psalm 139:23) concerning this area of my life that I need self-control in (Be specific and name it) I know that you have taken immediate interest.

Forgive me Father for not dealing with my body as your temple (1 Corinthian 6: 19)

I am asking you to break me free. Take me under your care for Satan tempts me fiercely in this area.

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

The law of temperance must control the life of every Christian. God is to be in all our thoughts; His glory is ever to be kept in view. We must break away from every influence that would captivate our thoughts and lead us from God. We are under sacred obligations to God so to govern our bodies and rule our appetites and passions that they will not lead us away from purity and holiness, or take our minds from the work God requires us to do (E. White)

Genius is divine perseverance. Genius I cannot claim nor even extra brightness but perseverance all can have."

— Woodrow Wilson

Affirmation:

I will endure the temptation to eat. This temptation isn’t beyond my ability. I will make every effort to supplement my faith with self-control (2 Peter1:5-7).

I will think of what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and that which is excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8)

— Woodrow Wilson

I have put two affirmations and quotes here as this is the characteristic that I have to work at most!!

Perseverance: I Give Up

and to self-control, perseverance; (I Peter 1:7)

And as for you, brothers and sisters never tire of doing what is good.

(Thessalonians 3:13)

I certainly didn’t feel like forgiving. In fact my blood boiled within me, all I wanted to do was avenge for all it was worth and let my side of the story be known by all who cared to listen.

I told the Lord that I certainly didn’t think it fair, why was it that I was the one who always had to humble myself and take the first steps towards reconciliation with this particular friend.

Why did I have to be the one to make the phone calls to bridge the rift? I had reached my 70 times 70 thresholds.

This call was a tooth for a tooth and eye for an eye.  Pray for her welfare? (Matthew 5:44) Certainly not! A line has to be drawn at some point. Why does God call us to do some things we would rather give up on and just be normal and common?

We are admonished to persevere. The dictionary definition of perseverance is “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition.”

We are never put to disadvantage for obeying God. Whatever it is in your life that you have to be persistent in, that is in accordance with His Word, it will work out for your good.

Look at how great we look when we are persistent in exercising and eating healthy. The same principle goes with our spiritual wellbeing.

We have to keep working at it. In the physical realm you never reach a stage and say enough, I have done my exercises for the year; I can now relax and do whatever I please.

I obeyed and once again enjoyed the peace that comes from forgiving others. I felt healthier for it and was able to be more productive in the coming weeks, I refused to dwell on all the tips the Devil occasionally kept throwing at me on how to avenge.

Here are 10 great scripture verses on why you and I should never give up on doing what He has called us to do. We are never put to disadvantage for obeying God.

1.       In due season you will reap good things (Galatians 6:9)

2.      You shall know the truth and it will set you free (John 8:31,32)

3.      Your strength will be renewed and you shall soar like an eagle (Isaiah 40:3)

4.     At the end of it all you will receive a crown of life (James 1:2)

5.      You will be very productive (John 15: 4,5)

6.      You shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you (John 15:7)

7.      It will make you a nicer person as it will build your character, the only thing you will take to heaven (Romans 5:3-4)

8.      You will receive God’s promises (Hebrew 10:36)

9.      Your work will be rewarded (2 Chronicles 15:7)

10.  You will have eternal life (Romans 2:7)

And the great thing is that you will be mature, complete and not lacking in anything (James 1:4)

Prayer:

Father, I praise you because you have been very patient with me. Who is a God like you that is long-suffering and of great mercy? (Numbers 14:18) You have persevered long with me.

I have fallen many times in my Christian walk, but in my weakness your strength has always been made perfect.

Great men and women Lord have always been those who have not given up. Make me preserve and never give up in all that you have called me to be.

In particular I pray for (mention areas in your life where you are finding it difficult to overcome) that you give me the strength to soar like an eagle.

I thank you for the many times that I have persisted. I know that all good things come from you and it is only you that enabled me to persist.

I thank you that even in this area of challenge, I can hope in you O Lord and you will renew my strength. I will soar on wings like an eagle, I will run and not grow weary, and I will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

“Never never give in” – Winston Churchill

Affirmation:

I may fall seven times, but I will rise again (Proverbs 24:16)

Godliness: Every One Is Doing It

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy…… Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2nd Timothy 3:1-5)

Peter was furious and seemed to be breathing out smoke and fire like a wounded dinosaur whose territory had been invaded. Throughout the meeting, he muttered under his breath clearly showing his displeasure. Yes, his territory had been invaded for Charles had a different opinion to his. Much to Peters’ annoyance, Charles expressed his opinions rather arrogantly making it known to everyone that he knew better. When the meeting ended, both men walked out in a huff and puff.  A United Nations meeting attempting to bring warring parties to find a peaceful resolution?  No, this was a church meeting I was attending with 12 saints of God.

Just because everyone around us isn’t being the Christian they are supposed to be should not excuse into thinking our behaviour is acceptable and ok with God.

As we look to Jesus and meditate on his life, we will naturally know how to treat others. I believe this is what Christianity is all about. It has never been how others treat you but how you treat others.

In the garden of Gethsemane, just before Christ was crucified, the religious rulers and Roman soldiers came to capture like a prized prey him with their swords and weapons. Here was a man whose only crime was that He loved humans. He healed, comforted, cast out demons and made people’s lives meaningful. Yet now he was being betrayed by one of his inner circles, Judas. Another close friend of his, Peter was about to furiously deny him and the rest were about to desert him.

John chapter 18 gives an insight of Christ’s godly characteristics. He heals the High Priests’ servants’ ear that Peter had just chopped off in an attempt to defend Jesus, he is calm and dignified. No insults come from his mouth. He could have called upon a legion of angels to defend him and make minced meat of his accusers, but because of the love that he had for human kind, he opted to go through the death of the cross.

He saw that He would mankind back to God and this made it all the more worthwhile.

Being a Christian today means more than just reading the bible and following some religious ceremonies. It means having the same power that made Jesus such a wonderful person; having the power to be an extremely nice person.  Christ manifested the fruits of the spirit throughout his ministry even to the point of death.  There was no limit to his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) He was the type of neighbour, brother or workmate you would like to have

God through the death of Christ has provided us with the power to become Christ like and godly. This isn’t beyond us. Your character ought to daily increase in these fruits. We cannot be Christians who exhibit more of the fruits of the flesh than the fruits of the spirit. The fruits of the flesh are listed sexual immorality, impurity extreme sensuality, idolatry , witchcraft,  hostility,  bitter conflicts, jealousy, outbursts of anger,  lack of unity, dissentions, cliquishness envying, drunkenness  and ( Galatians 5:16-17)

We are warned that in the last days, there will be people who say they belong to God and yet deny the power that makes them godly. We deny this power when we think we can’t exhibit the fruits of the spirit or give reasons as to why perhaps we cannot be gentle, kind and longsuffering with another. Our calling is to be Christ like. This isn’t impossibility because when God calls us to do something, he empowers us to achieve that calling. We to daily through the baptism of the Holy Spirit grow into the likeness of Christ.

Prayer:

Dear Father, I praise you with you all things are possible. You are the Lord God All Powerful. You arm me with strength and make my way perfect. You make me like the feet of a deer; you enable me to stand on the heights. I thank you that you train me for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great and you broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

Thank you for working in my life and sanctifying me daily to become more like you. I honor you and I worship you for the mighty work you are doing in my life.

Forgive me for (state particular character fault you have recently exhibited) my un Christ ways. I thank you that when I confess my sins you are faithful and just to forgive me of all my sins (Psalm 103:3) (I John 1:9)

Lord, I sometimes find it very difficult to be like you, to forgive people are purposefully plotting against me and it hurts.  I find it challenging to be kind to friends who have betrayed me, longsuffering with my children and gentle when I am being lashed at.

Empower me to be like you in every negative situation of my life.

I thank you because you have answered and you are making me into a lovely vessel pleasing in your sight.

I enjoy life better by becoming more like you.

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

The key to godliness is not more knowledge but more obedience (Woodrow  Kroll)

Affirmation:

I will today through the power of the Holy Spirit be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good,  faithful,  gentle and self-controlled. There will be no limit to how far I will exhibit these characteristics.

Mutual affection: I Am Not A Lovey Dovey Person

“To godliness brotherly kindness” (2 Peter 1:7)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32)

I felt a great sense of release as my sister’s visit was coming to an end.  Her visit had challenged my innermost being. It had not been easy. I had tried to be calm but had the firm resolution that the next time she came to the UK, I wasn’t going to host her.

She could stay with her many friends that she seemed to get on so well with. I was exasperated. I carried a holier than thou attitude and only saw her great wrongs (after all, I was a believer and she wasn’t, I was tolerant she was, I was kind she wasn’t, and so my line of thought went) the drive to the airport was tense and icily quiet. Dropping her at the airport, I managed to give her a reluctant hug and quickly left.

Coming back from the airport I felt a sense of release, but the Lord wasn’t going to let me get away with this appalling behaviour. I was so far gone that in my self-righteousness I wasn’t hearing the Holy Spirit talking to me.

That was until I decided to step on my accelerator and drive beyond the speed limit. From nowhere I saw a police man with a radar speed gun.

Too Late!

I tried to slow down, but I knew I was mincemeat. It was too late! I suddenly felt God telling me that He would let this one go, if I released and forgave my sister. I thought I was hearing things and didn’t think much about my sister. After all what wrong had I done. Well God wasn’t through with me.

The next day being late for church I decided to hit the accelerator just a little more than I should have. Yes I went beyond the speed limit again!! You won’t believe what happened next.

Yes, policeman with a speed gun pointing straight at me. Too late to do anything but feel remorseful I slowed down. Once again I heard very strong in my mind that I would be released of this offence if I let my sister go of any offensives I felt against her.

That’s when the pin dropped and I realised how unforgiving and mean I had been towards my sister. I asked God to forgive me and I was determined to treat my sister as if she had not done any wrong towards me.

She was pleasantly surprised when I called her and asked how her journey was. I continued calling her and being NICE.... and yes I never received anything from the police. No points had been taken off my license, no fine and no notification whatsoever.

Today I have continued to have a warm relationship with my sister, last summer my daughters and I had the privilege of being warmly hosted by her for 5 weeks and were treated like royalty!

It has been said that the strengthening of our love for our brethren and sisters strengthens our love for Christ. We express our love for Christ by expressing love for those we associate with daily.

The principle of love for God and those, whom Christ died for, needs to be quickened by the Holy Spirit and cemented with brotherly kindness, tenderness. The way we behave towards other people should testify that God is love.  If there ever was a man who was courteous it was Christ.

Brotherly kindness characterized his whole entire life, finally leading to the cross.  It was His love for you that put him on the cross.

It was because He loved you so much that He gave His only begotten son, that should you believe in Him you should never perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Courtesy is a Bible virtue.

The virtue of this grace of brotherly kindness characterised the life of Christ. Never was such courtesy exhibited upon the earth as Christ revealed, and we cannot overestimate its value”

We are called to treat others the way we would like to be treated. None of us like to be gossiped about, shouted at, mistreated, spoken rudely to, not thought highly of, misjudged etc.

The yard stick here is to strive to not seek for your own interest first but rather seek others well-being first (1 Corinthians 10:23, 24).

Quiet to the contrary instead of you being miserable as a result of not seeking your interests first, you will find life to be more meaningful and enjoyable. That’s the secret heaven was shouting loudly at Calvary!

Prayer

Father you are good and your love for me endures for ever (Psalm 136:1) you have been compassionate and gracious to me. When I have wronged you, you have been slow to anger and are abounding in love towards me (Psalm 103:8) The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Forgive me for the times I have not shown brotherly kindness to my family, friends and workmates (specifically confess any sins the Lord brings to your remembrance)

I pray for brotherly kindness to be displayed in all my relationships. I pray for reconciliation, healing and unity in all my broken relationships because you don’t want there to be any divisions between me and the people I interact with (I Corinthians 1:10)

I thank you that I will have brotherly kindness towards everyone in my life because you are working in me giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases You. (Philippians 2:13).

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

“People are often unreasonable and self-centred. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

― Mother Teresa

Affirmation:

I will be Kind and loving to everyone I will interact with today

Love: I Hate Her

(Love)

And to brotherly kindness, love (2 Peter 1:7)

Love – Everything God is, lived out by Jesus, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, experienced personally and manifested through us to a lonely and hurting world

Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:31-36)

It was an unexpected but delightful phone call. We were first amazed and pleasantly surprised. We couldn’t believe what my friend (more acquaintance than friend at that time) was telling us. She must be not with it I thought.

My then husband and I were struggling financially as students with two young children in a foreign country.

Our little banger (old car) had just been put off the road. Going to work, university and school rounds were going to be a challenge. Our car had stopped working on Friday.

A few days later, my friend whose husband was also studying called and said her husband and her had decided to give us $1500.00 to purchase a new car

No she wasn’t giving us a loan, and no I hadn’t handed the offering plate to her. She had simply known about our situation and felt compelled that they give us some of their savings (we had none) to make our lives easier.

I had never experience such love from someone I didn’t know that well, but it certainly felt good!

The answer to living life to the full originates from purposing to have supreme love for God and unselfish love for another.

We express our love for God by obeying his commandments (John 14:15) this love isn’t humanly possible. It’s only as we ask God to fill us with his Holy Spirit that this love can be expressed and experienced. It’s not an impulse but a principle.

As the Holy Spirit renews our hearts daily, love will become the ruling principle by which you and I operate daily. Daily our characters will be modified; it will govern our impulses, control our passions and ennoble our affections.

Operating daily in this love will sweeten your life, and yes despite the lemons that life throws at you, you will still have an amazingly abundant satisfying life.

Prayer:

I thank you Father that you have first loved me. Even whilst I was yet a sinner Christ died for me (Romans 5:8).

I praise you because neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love that you have for me in Christ Jesus my Lord. (Romans 8: 38 -39)

I am amazed at why you should love and care for me so much. It is beyond my human understanding but I just want to worship you and say thank you.

Forgive me for the many times that I have doubted and questioned your love for me because of the potholes and lemons that I see this side of heaven.

Forgive me for not believing your word and taking all the things in my life that scream out that you love me for granted.

I thank you for the simple things of life, for the fact that I can go to sleep and wake up, for breath, energy (list 10 things in your life that you take for granted) I worship you and magnify your name

Lord I know that if I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have no love, I gain nothing.

Work in my heart and renew a right spirit within me so that I will be like you patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered and keeping no record of wrongs. Keep me from delighting in evil but let me rejoice with the truth. Let me always protect, trust, hope and persevere. (I Corinthians 13: 1-6)

Add your own words of what’s on your mind

Amen

Quote:

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action. Mother Teresa

Affirmation:

I will love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with my entire mind. I will love my neighbour as myself (Mathew 22: 37-39)

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Cleaning Tips: The Simple Mattress Stain and Odour Solutions You Should Know

I would like to hear what you thought about this devotional. I would be greatly blessed if you could spare a few minutes and write a review on amazon. My aim is to constantly improve this book so that we can together have an amazing journey as we become mature in our Christian experience.

Table of Contents

Why Hugh Jackman lost Weight

You’re Not an Accident

The One Thing That Changed My Daughter

Divine Ingredients for Character Cake

For this very reason, make every effort

The Thing That Displeases God

Faith: I Don’t Think I Can Change

Goodness: I think evil thoughts and do bad things

Knowledge: I Don’t Know What to Do

Self-Control: I Can’t Control Myself

Perseverance: I Give Up

Godliness: Every One Is Doing It

Mutual affection: I Am Not A Lovey Dovey Person

Love: I Hate Her

Other Books by the Author