the.Sold.Out.Soul: Recent Episodes
Carl Carrero
When we yield to God's will and take the steps that He desires, events do not always unfold the way we expect. We might find ourselves on his ordained path wondering why things have turned out the way that they have. We might even question whether, given the choice again, we would make the same decision. If we know that we have followed his path, and that his will is perfect and for our good, then we should be confident in whatever we have decided.
The great masters of the arts put their work behind their passion. They could not be sure that their work would create a legacy, immortalize them in our culture, or be tossed aside when the next great works appeared. Beethoven and Rembrandt could not have known that we would be admiring and studying them today. Let us focus not on our legacy but on our work, and let us trust that God will use that work to impact others long after we are gone.
Recently, I have been challenged to evaluate how I spend this time and this life while God still grants me minutes and hours here. There is a lot we could be doing, and then there is a lot we should be doing. Perhaps it is time yet again for us to seek God regarding whether there are a few more minutes or hours we can devote to him and his kingdom, a better way to spend this time.
Eras, seasons, and times. That is what we expect to experience in this life. Or perhaps life is just one long yet brief season. Or perhaps it is both.
When you think that this fallen world is too much to bear, don't pray to be taken out of it. There is a real, perfect, renewed Earth to come when Jesus restores ALL things. Focus on that future place, and ask God to show you your role in getting us from here to there.
We have seen proud or self-centered people fall far in this life. We also have seen similar people seem to coast through life and end on a high note. Yet, the word of God tells us that every proud and haughty person will be brought down. This is still the case regardless of what we see in people's lives, and there is a foundational truth that requires it.
Paul told the Philippian church no to be anxious or worried but to be prayerful. A recent dream had by a friend of mine painted a picture which might cause some to worry, but that same picture caused me to hope. Let me share with you that dream and what I believe the Lord has shown me in it.
There is joy, meaning, and purpose to so much of this life, but the wrong perspective will send us looking for those things in places where we will never find them. Let us seek God for direction for our fulfillment in life.
God puts hope in front of us so that we can bring that same hope to others. Sometimes we accomplish this with words and sometimes with actions. Let us ask God to reveal to us the opportunities we have today to be another person's hope.
To pursue God and his kingdom is about more than what we can gain. Blessings, treasures, gifts, mercy, and eternal life are great. Who would not want them? However, pursuing God is about pursuing holiness in us as well, a transformation only He can bring. If we are not pursuing the development of godliness within us, we are not pursuing God.
We cannot afford to build temporary riches while neglecting true riches. One can have a dozen zeros to that bank balance and still be bankrupt. The difference is between the fortune we cannot take with us and the one that lasts an eternity.
Jesus is the Lion of Judah. He is the original lion, but there is a counterfeit on the hunt. He went after Job, and he will go after us. The question is whether we are conscious of this daily battle and prepared for it.
I've heard it said that if you say something enough times, people will start to believe it. Unfortunately, this method of teaching has been used in the Church for centuries. We have adopted traditions that fly in the face of the scriptures, and that is unacceptable. Let us reassess what we think we know by letting the Holy Spirit reveal the truth of God's word to us.
The same way we have to care for our physical muscles, that is how we must care for our spiritual muscles. Once used, they require rest and rejuvenation. Sometimes God has to get in there to get out some knots or release tightness, and that can be uncomfortable and painful, but it is necessary. Let us ask God to perform this relieving and necessary work in us today.
The story of Samson and Delilah is short but compelling. We will encounter many people, things, and ideas in this world which might seem good to us in one way or another but really have seduced us for our harm. Let us pray to have more discernment than Samson, to see the seductress for who she is and flee her.
You can measure a man by his words. After all, the bible tell us that the one who can bridle his tongue will be perfect. Sometimes, the wisest words we can say are no words at all. This is restraint that only the Holy Spirit can teach us.
Each of us is in a race, and it should be our desire to finish and finish well. God sets the course, but we must do the running. Let us seek not only the ability to run but the discernment to see the course ahead because each has his own race.
Forget about the superficial cures. Forget about the counterfeit remedies. Let us get to the heart of the matter by allowing the Lord to truly treat that which ails our spirits. Let us lead those who are spiritually hurt, broken, and dying to the great physician, the only One who can save a soul.
Where do we hang our hope? Who do we seek in our need? What fuels us to face our days with purpose and honor? What gives us our sustenance and support? Is there not one place, one person to fulfill all these? Do we not already have all we need in him and his kingdom?
Worldly encouragement is not the same as the encouragement we are to have for one another in the truth. A kind word and a pat on the back is so much less than we should be able to offer the brethren. We need a lot more from one another than that as we wage this spiritual war.
We hope now for the promises which are to come, visions of his word which will become reality. But we are not left merely to hope. One day, we will have all we await. Hope will be fulfilled, and we will hope no more.
This Christian life is about surrender, which will require that we give everything to God. This expectation of generosity and willingness to let go should not make us nervous or bring thoughts of scarcity and need. God's abundance is revealed when we abundantly surrender all to him.
Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews of their time certainly had their flaws. Yet, God used them in a mighty way, and we are still talking about it today. For them, the question was simple. Would they be willing to face death individually and corporately in order to save their people from annihilation? History shows us that they would be. Would we be willing to do the same?
Before the return of Christ, a great apostasy will occur. Unpleasant but necessary, this is a stage of the Church's purification that we cannot ignore or dispel as some future event too removed in time from us. The warning is there for all that great deception is ahead and that all are vulnerable.
We have covered this general idea recently, but there is a specific delusion among us resulting from people's desire to identify with anything other than God. As the Church, I believe our job is to pray against the deception and wickedness which leads to God releasing this delusion. He ultimately gives them what they want, but we can pray that they would want the truth. Let us pray for those under the crisis of human identity to have their eyes opened and their souls saved.
Church unity means a lot of things. If the Church is really united, we can walk into any number of buildings on a Sunday morning and be among God's people worshiping him together in Spirit and in truth. It should be like family even if we never have met them. I pray that we all have that.
We follow and serve a king, a prince, whose throne sits at the pinnacle of power and authority. And yet, He lived as a man no less ordinary than you and I for very clear reasons. Let us explore the holy need for the plainness of Christ the man.
On December 25, we celebrate the birth of our Savior, but this was not the beginning of his work. That birth does not mark the beginning of our salvation story. The victory already was secure before the foundations of the earth were laid. The eternal Christ has been ready and able to save since the beginning.
Yesterday might have been great, and tomorrow might be better, but what about today? In the Lord's prayer, Jesus gives us insight into the value of each day we live. Let us recognize the value of each day while we have the opportunity to do so.
No matter where we have arrived spiritually, we all have so much further we can go. There is unlimited potential for the children of God, and we need to tap into that potential. Let us seek God to take us further and deeper, to increase our stamina and our strength, to make us fitter daily.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of spiritual resetting when we feel we've hit the wall and describe ways to reset. Be encouraged that none of our dry times lasts forever. God always has more for us.
The Father's desire to save the lost is rooted in desperation. His is a severe longing to redeem his creation, and He wants us to feel the same way. Let us pursue from him the same longing to seek and save the lost, the same desperation to snatch them from the fire as we have been saved.
God's Holy Spirit desires to produce good spiritual fruit in his children. Unlike its natural counterpart, this spiritual fruit has no season. God makes it available to us always if we only yield to its production through obedience and discipline.
As we go through life, we will be struck from all sides, even from within. Cracks will appear, and we cannot afford to ignore them or put off addressing them. We must repair them before they spread and cause us to shatter.
When we approach the Lord in prayer, it is not necessarily meant to be a one-sided monologue. Prayer can be a conversation, which means that communication should flow in both directions. Let us honor our intimate prayer time with God by not only speaking to him but also waiting for him to speak to us.
The difference between fear and faith is the recognition and acceptance of God's mercy. A mercy which is powerful enough to save a soul certainly can meet any natural need we have. Instead of reacting out of fear, nervousness or anxiety, let us take advantage of the opportunity God gives us to respond in faith by tapping into his mercy.
The power God gives us to take captive our thoughts is the same power we have over the feelings we store in our hearts. Particularly in this world where people are emotionally charged about one cause or another, and so easily offended by God's truth, it is important for us to make sure that we have command over our emotions. We cannot afford to let our feelings be in command of us.
There is one more supper Christ will be attending. Will you be there? Will you be ready?
We come before God with filthy rags, poor and dirty. He gives everything so that we can gain everything, and then He rewards us for the work He himself has done through us. He does it all, then He gives us eternal reward in return. How rich we are!
Let us focus our prayers on order being restored in this world, on the idolatry of creation being replaced with true worship of the one true God, on mankind awakening to the value of mankind and the reason for that value. The originally intended natural order of this world will return completely one day, but we can see that in part today and be part of that process of restoration.
Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews of their time certainly had their flaws. Yet, God used them in a mighty way, and we are still talking about it today. For them, the question was simple. Would they be willing to face death individually and corporately in order to try and save themselves from annihilation? They would be. Would we be willing to do the same?
We serve a God who is a creator, a builder. It is no surprise that He calls us to build as well. If we are wise, we will follow the Lord's counsel to build on the solid rock. Not only that, but we will build with good spiritual stones and not with grains of sand. After all, no sand castle ever lasts.
Are you all-in? Are you maybe in for a little here and a little there but not fully committed anywhere? Are you straddling the border and thinking that life simply must be that way in this imperfect world? Let us consider once more what it means to be all-in with the Lord and what it takes to sustain that.
We have been freed. The chains are gone, the doors are open, and we have been shown the way. Those who are wise would appreciate that freedom and do whatever it takes to keep it. Yet, so many of us willfully walk back into bondage. Let us ask God to show us how we have imprisoned ourselves again so that we can break out of the pattern.
The truth is simple; we were made for one another. No one can go it alone. There is no such thing as a 1-on-1 relationship with God yet without his people. His word does not leave room for that. In God's kingdom, you must be part of the Church to be part of him.
Let us learn a lesson from Judah. There will come a day when repentance no longer is available. Our Lord will come like a thief in the night, so we must be ready today. Make today the day you change.
We serve a God who will quench our thirst for him, but that really depends on us. We can have a little thirst for him, or we can thirst for him like the wandering Ibex searching for a stream in the wilderness. How much of God do you want? How thirsty are you?
As we walk out our salvation with fear and trembling, we have a responsibility to make sure that we have subscribed to the truth. We do not take the words we hear in teachings and simply accept them. We are to take what we are taught and compare it to the word of God to see whether it is true. Let us be sure to discern between the truth and the lies so that we are not deceived by false teachings, by false gospels and man's own ways. The Spirit reveals the truth of the scriptures to us if that is what we are really pursuing.
What do we say when asked the simple, foundational, yet controversial truths of our faith? The answers will tell us what we really believe and who we really follow.
The Lord will have his way. The scriptures are clear that He one day will set all things right for eternity. In the interim, while we still reside in this fallen world, God also will move justly in response to our prayers. We do not always see the result of our requests for God's justice, but we can be sure that He will answer us. Let us not lose heart but have the faith always to contend for justice with expectation.
Pilate asked the Lord, "What is truth?" Only the word of God reveals the answer. Every question of fact that matters, every truth of any real and lasting consequence for our lives, is found in the Lord.
1 Tim. 6:12-16
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.
God loves us and calls us just as we are, broken and fallen, but his plan is not to keep us that way. The soldier must be trained and transformed before being ready for battle. Let us not frustrate the process but take proactive steps to be changed more into the image of Christ daily.
We cannot look back at our pre-salvation lives with fondness. No matter how difficult this walk becomes, no matter what we think we have lost by choosing Christ, no matter how much our flesh tries to convince us that there was something good in that time of bondage, we cannot desire to be slaves to sin again. The Lord wants us to look forward to everything He has waiting for us in our new freedom.
When we yield to God's will and take the steps He desires, events do not always unfold the way we expect. We might find ourselves on his ordained path wondering why things have turned out how the have. We might even question whether, given the choice again, we would make the same decision. If we know that we have followed his path, and that his will is perfect and for our good, then we should be confident in what we have decided.
We do not need to reap a great harvest before shouting and dancing for joy at the Lord's provision. In many ways, He gives us a daily harvest. Whether spiritually, financially or physically, He provides all. Let us choose to respond with praise rooted in joy.
When you think that this fallen world is too much to bear, don't pray to be taken out of it. There is a real, perfect, renewed Earth to come when Jesus restores ALL things. Focus on that future place, and ask God to show you your role in getting us from here to there.
Let us remember those who have given this life in service to God, and let us pray for those future martyrs preparing now to share in Christ's ultimate suffering.
Although God's forgiveness is full and final, it does not mean that the consequences of our sins are taken away. God's hand of correction redirects but allows or even brings the consequences necessary for our improvement. When his correction is difficult or painful, let us remember that it is rooted in God's love for our good.
Just because it is "old", it does not mean that it is over. Many prophecies in the Old Testament have yet to come to pass, and we live in the shadow of those promises. Perhaps we should use these prophecies as opportunities to pray for God's promises to be fulfilled for his people, that salvation would come to Israel and Judah once and for all.
We have seen proud or self-centered people fall far in this life. We also have seen similar people seem to coast through life and end on a high note. Yet, the word of God tells us that every proud and haughty person will be brought down. This is still the case regardless of what we see in people's lives, and there is a foundational truth that requires it.
It is critical for us to discern whether the shepherds who lead us here on Earth lead us in Spirit and in truth. We can look at the example of our good shepherd as our measuring rod. Those who are led by him will lead like him.
There is a way that seems right to man but only leads to death. Many will live their lives making decisions based on emotions and the whims of their hearts. They do not accept that our hearts are inherently wicked to the point of deceiving even ourselves. Let us live with more wisdom, following not our own desires but the commands and desires of the Lord, not yielding to the sin that remains within us.
I remember a professor of mine who hated when her students answered questions sheepishly. She wanted us to speak our answers boldly and with confidence, sure in what we were saying. That is how God wants us to represent him. When it becomes difficult to speak up for God, He will give us the courage to proclaim his truth proudly and with confidence.
If we know what it is to worship in Spirit and in truth, then the Son of Man will find faith when He returns.
In our search for truth and wisdom, we must be careful to find these in God and his word first. It is too easy to get caught up in Christian culture trends, in the new greatest message or messenger. They might be good learning tools, but they are not our source. Do not let yourself be led astray for lack of true knowledge and wisdom gained directly from the Lord through his Spirit.
As the Lord plants good seed, the enemy plants his weeds. While we must navigate life today with this infiltration of evil, we can rest on the promise that the future day of harvest will banish those weeds forever.
This Christian life is about surrender, which will require that we give everything to God. This expectation of generosity and willingness to let go should not make us nervous or bring thoughts of scarcity and need. God's abundance is revealed when we abundantly surrender all to him.
Some of us wait too long for the Lord to gives us clear confirmation after clear confirmation before taking that step. Faith just might require us to move much sooner than that. Let us pray for a change in us, that we would create opportunities to serve and honor God instead of waiting for them to come our way.
There is an abundant life awaiting us on that Day, but we also have an abundant life to live now. Regardless of what you see or how you feel, regardless of how long you have been waiting for prayers to be answered and life to change, press in and learn to live in God's abundance now.
The word is clear. If you commit your ways to the Lord, He will establish your plans. He did it for me. He can do it for you. The book that has been on my heart to write is now complete because of him. Just like that, He made a way. You can check it out at the link below.
Mosaic: a man in pieces
Where do you place your trust? Whether life is going well or has become an utter nightmare, where do you find your security? If we think for a moment that we are sustained by any of our worldly possessions or achievements, we should think again. Those have never paved the way to everlasting life.
Our hope is not in this life or in this world, but do we all have the same measure of hope in our future promise? Do the circumstances of this life guide our measure of hope? Do they change how willing we are to let go of this life? Should they?
They got it right. The shedding of innocent blood cannot stand. But this battle is not yet over.
The joy of the Lord is to be our strength, but what is it? Have we experienced it? Can we define it? We certainly need his joy in this world, and if it is a source of our strength, then we must know how to find it.
Where do we hang our hope? Who do we seek in our need? What fuels us to face our days with purpose and honor? What gives us our sustenance and support? Is there not one place, one person to fulfill all these? Do we not already have all we need in him and his kingdom?
The story of Samson and Delilah is short but compelling. We will encounter many people, things and ideas in this world which might seem good to us in one way or another but really have seduced us for our harm. Let us pray to have more discernment than Samson, to see the seductress for who she is and flee her.
Jesus is the Lion of Judah. He is the original lion, but there is a counterfeit on the hunt. He went after Job, and he will go after us. The question is whether we are conscious of this daily battle and prepared for it.
We come before God with filthy rags, poor and dirty. He gives everything so that we can gain everything, and then He rewards us for the work He himself has done through us. He does it all, then He gives us eternal reward in return. How rich we are!
Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior, but this was not the beginning of his work. That birth does not mark the beginning of our salvation story. The victory already was secure before the foundations of the earth were laid. The eternal Christ has been ready and able to save since the beginning.
We do not need to reap a great harvest before shouting and dancing for joy at the Lord's provision. In many ways, He gives us a daily harvest. Whether spiritually, financially or physically, He provides all. Let us choose to respond with praise rooted in joy.
God has allowed us to be stewards of some valuable resources. It is not just money but time, energy and many other things. It is our choice how we use those temporary treasures to store up eternal treasure. It might look like we do not have much at times, but God honors even the small acts of stewardship which can amount to a great heavenly prize.
Esther, Mordecai and the Jews of their time certainly had their flaws. Yet, God used them in a mighty way, and we are still talking about it today. For them, the question was simple. Would they be willing to face death individually and corporately in order to save their people from annihilation? They would be. Would we be willing to do the same?
To pursue God and his kingdom is about more than what we can gain. Blessings, treasures, gifts, mercy and eternal life are great. Who would not want them? However, pursuing God is about pursing holiness in us as well, a transformation only He can bring. If we are not pursuing the development of godliness within us, we are not pursing God.
The story of the tortoise and the hare teaches us that slow and steady wins the race. Spiritually, there is a similar call to slowness, to deliberation in how we comport ourselves. Let us learn how to take the time to act and speak in a way that shows temperance and honors God.
Church unity means a lot of things. If the Church is really united, we can walk into any number of buildings on a Sunday morning and be among God's people worshiping him together in Spirit and in truth. It should be like family even if we never have met them. I pray that we all have that.
We have covered this general idea recently, but there is a specific delusion among us resulting from people's desire to identify with anything other than God. As the Church, I believe our job is to pray against the deception and wickedness which leads to God releasing this delusion. He ultimately gives them what they want, but we can pray that they would want the truth. Let us pray for those under the crisis of human identity to have their eyes opened and their souls saved.
It should have been that the arrival of Messiah would save Israel and bring the nations to jealousy and a desire to know Israel's God. Instead, Jesus was rejected by those He came to save, and the Gentiles were grafted in as a way of provoking Zion herself to jealousy. Let us pray that the fruit of our salvation indeed draws Israel to return to her Lord.
You can measure a man by his words. After all, the bible tell us that the one who can bridle his tongue will be perfect. Sometimes the wisest words we can say are no words at all. This is restraint that only the Holy Spirit can teach us.
The gospel message and our testimony in Christ are priceless treasures. While we are to share the good news and make disciples of all the nations, we also must heed the bible's warning against laying our treasure before those who will only trample it. Let us ask God for the discernment to know when we should stay quiet.
God loves us and calls us just as we are, broken and fallen, but his plan is not to keep us that way. The soldier must be trained and transformed before being ready for battle. Let us not frustrate the process but take proactive steps to be changed more into the image of Christ daily.
The blind man of John chapter 9 set the example for us. The blessings of God may result in opposition from others or attacks from the enemy, but we should desire and chase those blessings all the same. He blesses us to his glory even if the blessing comes with suffering. To suffer for him is a blessing all its own.
We hope now for the promises which are to come, visions of his word which will be reality. We are not left merely to hope. One day, we will have all we await. Hope will be fulfilled and no longer have a place.
We hope now for the promises which are to come, visions of his word which will be reality. We are not left merely to hope. One day, we will have all we await. Hope will be fulfilled and no longer have a place.
Each has a life to live, a race to run. Not every course, however, looks the same. Let us put aside our own expectations and welcome the course God has for each of us, even if it looks very different than what we see in others.
Each has a life to live, a race to run. Not every course, however, looks the same. Let us put aside our own expectations and welcome the course God has for each of us, even if it looks very different than what we see in others.
There is one more supper Christ will be attending. Will you be there? Will you be ready?
There is one more supper Christ will be attending. Will you be there? Will you be ready?
The truth is simple: we were made for one another. No one can go it alone. There is no such thing as a 1-on-1 relationship with God yet without his people. His word does not leave room for that. In God's kingdom, you must be part of the Church to be part of him.
Worldly encouragement is not the same as the encouragement we are to have for one another in the truth. A kind word and a pat on the back is so much less than we should be able to offer the brethren. We need a lot more from one another than that as we wage this war.
Forget about the superficial cures. Forget about the counterfeit remedies. Let us get to the heart of the matter by allowing the Lord to truly treat that which ails our spirits. Let us lead those who are spiritually hurt, broken and dying to the great physician, the only one who can save a soul.
Our hope is not in this life or this world, but do we all have the same measure of hope in our future promise? Do the circumstances of this life guide our measure of hope? Do they change how willing we are to let go of this life? Should they?
Before the return of Christ, a great apostasy will occur. Unpleasant but necessary, this is a stage of the Church's purification that we cannot ignore or dispel as some future event too removed in time from us. The warning is there for all that great deception is ahead and that all are vulnerable.
Eras, seasons and times. That is what we expect to experience in this life. Or perhaps life is just one long yet brief season. Or perhaps it is both.
Each of us is in a race, and it should be our desire to finish and finish well. God sets the course, but we must do the running. Let us seek not only the ability to run but the discernment to see the course ahead because each has his own race.
As the Lord plants good seed, the enemy plants his weeds. While we must navigate life today with this infiltration of evil, we can rest on the promise that the future day of harvest will banish those weeds forever.
The word is clear. If you commit your ways to the Lord, He will establish your plans. He did it for me. He can do it for you. The book that has been on my heart to write is now complete because of him. Just like that, He made a way. You can check it out at the link below.
Mosaic: a man in pieces
What do we say when asked the simple, foundational, yet controversial truths of our faith? The answers will tell us what we really believe and who we really follow.
I've heard it said that if you say something enough times people will start to believe it. Unfortunately, this method of teaching has been used in the Church for centuries. We have adopted traditions that fly in the face of scripture, and that is unacceptable. Let us reassess what we think we know by letting the Holy Spirit reveal the truth of God's word to us.
There is a way that seems right to man but only leads to death. Many will live their lives making decisions based on emotions and the whims of their hearts. They do not accept that our hearts are inherently wicked to the point of deceiving even ourselves. Let us live with more wisdom, following not our own desires but the commands and desires of the Lord, not yielding to the sin that remains within us.
Where do you place your trust? Whether life is going well or has become an utter nightmare, where do you find your security? If we think for a moment that we are sustained by any of our worldly possessions or achievements, we should think again. Those have never paved the way to everything life.
The bondage of sin was not only a master-slave relationship for us, but it was an addiction. This process of sanctification is very much like the recovery of an addict. It is a process of learning to live differently, to depend on what is good instead of what is bad, and to understand how to manage the desire to return to that addiction.
We have the option to live in the flesh or live in the Spirit. Individually and corporately, it is critical for us to eschew the flesh and choose the Spirit. Let us review some practical steps to have our minds renewed so that we live in the Spirit for the Lord.
I remember a professor of mine who hated when her students answered questions sheepishly. She wanted us to speak our answers boldly and with confidence, sure in what we were saying. That is how God wants us to represent him. When it becomes difficult to speak up for God, He will give us the courage to proclaim his truth proudly and with confidence.
It is critical for us to discern whether the shepherds who lead us here on Earth lead us in Spirit and in truth. We can look at the example of our good shepherd as our measuring rod. Those who are led by him will lead like him.
Test the fruit you see and hear. Seek the Lord in his word for direction and correction, because we are not above being misled. He tells us how we can know when a sheep is indeed a wolf seeking to deceive and mislead. We are accountable for testing what comes our way before we choose to receive and believe it.
Maybe victory is not exactly how we think it looks. Maybe it's enough just to get back up. Maybe it's enough just to take another blow and keep going. Maybe just facing the day is its own victory.
Hurts, pains, wounds, scars. They can serve a great purpose in this Christian walk, but they also can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, experiences we do not wish to relive and reminders we want to turn off. The greatest thing about those wounds and their scars is that God promises that one day they will be no more. They will fade beyond memory, outside the bounds of recollection and never to be revisited again.
God has removed the scales from our eyes so that we can see the world around us with spiritual clarity. One area in which this is crucial is that of life's trials. Let us ask for wisdom and strength that we would see those storms for what they are and address them confidently in the power and authority we have in the Spirit.
We cannot know life until we know both sides of it, the good and the bad, the light and the dark. The trying side of life sometimes can seem like all there is, but our faith tells us otherwise. There will be bright times as well as dark times, and we should remain hopeful that there is value in both.
Donate to Souls Restored Ministries
In our search for truth and wisdom, we must be careful to find these in God and his word first. It is too easy to get caught up in Christian culture trends, in the new greatest message or messenger. They might be good learning tools, but they are not our source. Do not let yourself be led astray for lack of true knowledge and wisdom gained directly from the Lord through his Spirit.
Donate to Souls Restored Ministries
Let us learn a lesson from Judah. There will come a day when repentance no longer is available. Our Lord will come like a thief in the night, so we must be ready today. Make today the day you change.
The only question is whether we live as if we believe what we say when we say that He is our all in all.
Let us revisit a message from very early on in this program to remind us of the cost of our redemption.
Some of us wait too long for the Lord to gives us clear confirmation after clear confirmation before taking that step. Faith just might require us to move much sooner than that. Let us pray for a change in us, that we would create opportunities to serve and honor God instead of waiting for them to come our way.
Seeking God's wisdom is nothing more than seeking His will. The wise choice is the one that line's up with God's desire. Then, once we gladly choose what He would choose, we give him the glory no matter the outcome because we know that it is His will.
As we go through life, we will be struck from all sides, even from within. Cracks will appear, and we cannot afford to ignore them or put off addressing them. We must repair them before they spread and cause us to shatter.
We cannot afford to build temporary riches while neglecting true riches. One can have a dozen zeros to that bank balance and still be bankrupt. The difference is between the fortune we cannot take with us and the one awaiting us in eternity.
If you ever feel like God has forgotten about you, like He just doesn't see you, take heart. Even if you are invisible in this world without an accolade to your name, God sees you and knows you because He made you for his good pleasure.
The same way we have to care for our physical muscles, that is how we must care for our spiritual muscles. Once used, they require rest and rejuvenation. Sometimes God has to get in there to get out some knots or release tightness, and that can be uncomfortable and painful, but it is necessary. Let us ask God to perform this relieving and necessary work in us today.
As one year ends and another begins, I recall a message from last year that reminds us who has taken the lead in our lives. Today might not look the way you expected, and this past year might have been far from what you envisioned, but Jesus is still leading us. Not only that, we can trust him to lead us ALL the way.
Looking at how this holiday season is celebrated in so many different ways in this world, why don't we take a moment to reevaluate how we spend this time? Let us make sure that Christ is the center of all we do in and out of the Christmas season.
We have challenges before us right now that can seem huge, but they are really nothing. Whatever we face today is only a preparation for what will come tomorrow. There is only more work, more suffering, and more warfare. We have to learn to get through today's smaller challenges so that we can make it through the greater ones ahead.
Before we speak, let us check our motives and words. We can speak life, or we can speak death. The choice is ours.
There is joy, meaning, and purpose to so much of life, but the wrong perspective will send us looking for those things in places where we will never find them. Let us seek God for direction on our fulfillment in life.
Well over a year ago, we were in this same place. It has been a long season for the world, the Church, and the individual. Let us continue to seek God for our role and her role in all of this.
Esther, Mordecai and the Jews of their time certainly had their flaws. Yet, God used them in a mighty way, and we are still talking about it today. For them, the question was simple. Would they be willing to face death individually and corporately in order to try and save themselves from annihilation? They would be. Would we be willing to do the same?
The great masters of the arts put their work behind their passion. They could not be sure that their work would create a legacy, immortalize them in our culture, or be tossed aside when the next great works appeared. Beethoven and Rembrandt could not have known that we would be admiring and studying them today. Let us focus not on our legacy but on our work, and let us trust that God will use that work to impact others long after we are gone.
We have been freed. The chains are gone, the doors are open, and we have been shown the way. Those who are wise would appreciate that freedom and do whatever it takes to keep it. Yet, so many of us willfully walk back into bondage. Let us ask God to show us how we have imprisoned ourselves again so that we can break out of the pattern.
We serve a God who will quench our thirst for him, but that really depends on us. We can have a little thirst for him, or we can thirst for him like the wandering Ibex searching for a stream in the wilderness. How much of God do you want? How thirsty are you?
We come to the Father by way of the Son, and we do so gladly. Do we ever consider what it means exactly to approach the Father in this way? Do we remind ourselves of the ways the Son makes our relationship with the Father possible? Perhaps we should take some time to meditate on how He does this.
Recently, God has been reuniting me with people I thought I had lost forever. He is restoring friendships I thought I had ruined hopelessly. Perhaps He wants to do the same for you. Seek him for that restoration today.
There is much imperfection and evil in this world to distract and disappoint us. It should not go unnoticed to the believer, and it should remind us of the great hope we have in the life that is to come. Let us focus on who we will become and what life will be when we get there.
No matter where we have arrived spiritually, we all have so much further we can go. There is unlimited potential for the children of God, and we need to tap into that potential. Let us seek God to take us further and deeper, to increase our stamina and our strength, to make us fitter daily.
We sometimes forget that Jesus is a groom who cannot wait to be united with his bride, the Church. We forget that there is romance in the way He woos us and draws us to him, but there is value in recognizing that aspect of our relationship with the Savior. Let us explore the spiritual romance at play between the groom and his bride.
This message was published almost two years ago, and its relevance has only increased since then. As the world continues to diverge more and more from God's standards, the Church will be targeted and pressured to conform. We must understand that remaining steadfast will cause us to lose a lot in this world, but He has promised to restored every single loss.
I cannot deserve the love of God, and neither can you. Yet, there it is. It never leaves, it never fails, it never disappointments. We stray and disobey, but He loves us even still. He gives us everything of him and asks for everything of us in return, an unfair exchange of love that leaves us always with an overflow.
In light of what is occurring today on the other side of the world, let us pray for God to transform the lost, the persecutors, the warmongers just as He transformed Saul of Tarsus so long ago.
The power God gives us to take captive our thoughts is the same power we have over the feelings we store in our hearts. Particularly in this world where people are emotionally charged about one cause or another, and so easily offended by God's truth, it is important for us to make sure that we have command over our emotions. We cannot afford to let our feelings be in command of us.
Are you all-in? Are you maybe in for a little here and a little there, but not fully committed anywhere? Are you straddling the border and thinking that life simply must be that way in this imperfect world? Let us consider once more what it means to be all-in with the Lord and what it takes to sustain that.
We do not always see where we are spiritually. We sometimes think one fall wipes out all our progress. Other times, we might think we have progressed much more than we have. Let us seek God to know where we really are spiritually and how He desires to make us over today.
When you are on the mountaintop, you are sure of yourself and joyful. The world is a magical place up there. But who are you when you are in the valley? Are you a different person, or do your faith and character remain constant? That is the question.
We are a spiritual army designed to operate as a unit. Too often, some of us try to go it alone only to stumble and fall. If we are to be victorious in our warfare, we must band together and fight as the body God has designed us to be. Each one should be accounted for and protected with no one left behind.
Forget about the superficial cures. Forget about the counterfeit remedies. Let us get to the heart of the matter by allowing the Lord to truly treat that which ails our spirits. Let us lead those who are spiritually hurt, broken and dying to the great physician, the only one who can save a soul.
The blind man of John chapter 9 set the example for us. The blessings of God may result in opposition from others or attacks from the enemy, but we should desire and chase those blessings all the same. He blesses us to his glory even if the blessing comes with suffering. To suffer for him is a blessing all its own.
God desires that we live in freedom, but that might not look the way we imagine liberty in this world. There are many forces that wish to bind us yet have us believe that we are free. The only way to live free of those bonds is to relinquish our will and live within the confines of God's, a freedom with bounds yet offering complete liberty.
Each of us has a story, a history, a thousand reasons why we are where we are spiritually. Sometimes we put expectations on others that we have no business putting on them, and in the process we stunt spiritual growth instead of helping it along. Let us instead practice the love of Christ, loving people where they are and being a positive agent of change for them.
A recent trip out west and my subsequent return trip home have raised a common question. How can someone see so much of God's creation and know so much of his handiwork, yet not see him in any of it? Let us pray for those who view the world this way, that they would come to know our God.
We serve a God who is a creator, a builder. It is no surprise that He calls us to build as well. If we are wise, we will follow the Lord's counsel to build on the solid rock. Not only that, but we will build with good spiritual stones and not with grains of sand. After all, no sand castle ever lasts.
We serve a God of mercy and grace. When He forgives our sin, it is no longer a memory for him. He does not measure us by the transgressions of the past. He does not see in us today the sins which once were. Perhaps it is time to learn to see ourselves as He sees us, to treat ourselves with the mercy and grace our Father extends to us.
Purpose is critical for a fruitful and satisfying existence. We have general purposes as Christians, to worship God and glorify him, to teach the Gospel message. We also have specific purposes, the amazing things He has planned for each one of us to complete during these lives. Our existence here should be exciting, compelling and worth noting. If you don't see that in your life, ask God to show you what your great purpose is.
What God makes available through his word and his Spirit is necessary food for us. Our hunger and thirst for the choice food and drink of this world should pale in comparison to the hunger and thirst we feel for God and his righteousness. If not, it is certainly time to reassess our spiritual appetite.
-C.C.
The Father's desire to save the lost is rooted in desperation. His is a severe longing to redeem his creation, and He wants us to feel the same way. Let us pursue from him the same longing to seek and save the lost, the same desperation to snatch them from the fire as we have been.
- C.C.
If we know what it is to worship in Spirit and in truth, then the Son of Man will find faith when He returns.
Each of us has dreams, visions, circumstances and relationships that appear to have no life. Perhaps these once were but are no more. Perhaps they have been on our hearts but have never comes to pass. For those things hoped for which seem to be beyond hope now, let us seek God for how to speak breath into those bones and bring them to life.
I remember a professor of mine who hated when her students answered questions sheepishly. She wanted us to speak our answers boldly and with confidence, sure in what we were saying. That is how God wants us to represent him. When it becomes difficult to speak up for God, He will give us the courage to proclaim our convictions proudly and with confidence.
When God calls us to the seemingly impossible then helps us bring it to life, it is a valuable reminder of his limitlessness. Let it serve as our encouragement to pursue even greater things with him.
As I sit here once again waiting on God, once again wondering why it seems like there has been so little progress on this road of faith and life, I know I have been here many times before. This message from our first year is a timely reminder of how we can wait productively and take advantage of the faith-building opportunities we encounter during those times of waiting.
Each of us has something that makes us weak in the knees, something that makes us tremble. Some of those fears are completely irrational, and some come from real experiences. Whatever the case, God wants us to be brave and have courage because He does not give us a spirit of fear. Let us learn to walk with even a measure of the courage Christ carried when He gave himself for us.
We know deception is out there. This is no secret to the Church. Many of us, however, have not developed the discernment necessary to distinguish good shepherds from bad ones or true teachers from false ones. It is a critical skill not only for our protection but for the protection of the brothers and sisters we love. No one is above deception, so let us get serious about training our discernment now.
God puts hope in front of us so that we can bring that same hope to others. Sometimes we accomplish this with words and sometimes with actions. Let us ask God to reveal to us the opportunities we have today to be another person's hope.
Our God has no equal, and none are above him. He is the undisputed greatest, which means that those who worship him should revere him in that highest place. The proof of our worship to the one true God is the unique place He holds in our lives, and we must make sure that place always remains set apart for him.
Recently, I have been challenged to evaluate how I spend this time and this life while God still grants me minutes and hours here. There is a lot we could be doing, and then there is a lot we should be doing. Perhaps it is time yet again for us to seek God regarding whether there are a few more minutes or hours we can devote to him and his kingdom, a better way to spend this time.
Hurts, pains, wounds, scars. They can serve a great purpose in this Christian walk, but they also can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, experiences we do not wish to relive and reminders we want to turn off. The greatest thing about those wounds and their scars is that God promises that one day they will be no more. They will fade beyond memory, outside the bounds of recollection and never to be revisited again.
We are in a war, and that war is comprised of many small battles. Each of those fights will test our mettle and our perseverance. Whether we start strong or sloppy, we must endure until the end of the fight. If we do, we are guaranteed the win.
What does God want from us? What would be the gift we can offer which would satisfy someone as great as He? His word tells us that obedience is greater than sacrifice, but that takes submission. On this day of loving gestures, let us recommit to submit to God and his training, his teaching and his molding, but out of love instead of obligation.
The difference between fear and faith is the recognition and acceptance of God's mercy. A mercy which is powerful enough to save a soul certainly can meet any natural need we have. Instead of reacting out of fear, nervousness or anxiety, let us take advantage of the opportunity God gives us to respond in faith by tapping into his mercy.
I have struggled with my own understanding of the Sabbath and what it means to those who have been saved by faith and grace. Perhaps you haven't considered the Sabbath recently or ever, but I think it is worth exploring and considering, worth asking what God's commandment to remember it and keep it holy means for our faithfulness to him.
If we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. He will place his desires there, then call us to help fulfill them. This is ripe fruit for the taking, but we must put in the work to pursue it. Delight in him, ask him to make your dreams a reality, then watch expectantly in faith as He gives life to your heart's desires.
Paul told the Philippian church no to be anxious or worried but to be prayerful. A recent dream had by a friend of mine painted a picture which might cause some to worry, but that same picture caused me to hope. Let me share with you that dream and what I believe the Lord has shown me in it.
Our physical senses allow us to take in the world around us. Before Christ, that was all we had. What we were missing is the ability to take in the things of the Spirit. Now that we have these new senses, now that we can see and effect our spiritual reality, let us take advantage of that. Let us press in and live in the Spirit now, eagerly awaiting an even greater feast for the senses after this world.
The hand of God is in it all. We don't always see it, we don't always feel it, things don't always work as we expect, but God is in it. Jesus is there, and we must remember to stand on that promise regardless of the circumstances. Trust that God has allowed all things for our good.
Many of us might be ready to leave 2020 in the rear view mirror and move on to a better next year. The good thing is that we have hope that God has greater things in store for us in the future. Let us take a moment to thank him for how He has kept us during this difficult year and confess our confidence that the best is yet to come.
We have begun building these houses of worship on the solid rock, the firm foundation. Let us be vigilant about making sure that we remain there with both feet firmly planted in the Lord. Let us ask God to allow us to discern when anything or anyone else tries to take that place, and let us ask for the faithfulness to remain in him.
Words such as commitment, loyalty and accountability can cause some of us to turn and run. Maybe we fear failure and choose not to make a promise we might not be able to keep. When we look at the picture of God presented to us in the bible, we see someone who honors his word, but first He must speak that promise. It works the same with us. If we want to be faithful and trustworthy, we first must be willing to be held accountable through commitment.
Life is full of winding roads, twists and turns, roadblocks and detours. Yet, even though there may be obstacles before us, we can manage the way safely and securely. We only need let the Savior lead us. Let us take a moment to look over our journey and make sure that we have not tried to take the reins from him.
Limited insight and skewed vision through filtered lenses can keep us from seeing the world the way it really is. They also can keep us from seeing ourselves the way we really are. In order to grow and change, let us have the courage and sincerity to ask God to reveal to us what really lies inside.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many of us will take time to remember the things for which we are thankful. Let us go one step further and ask God to show us what thankfulness really is and how we can have grateful hearts in all circumstances.
We know that Jesus is all we need in this life. We likely have confessed that time and again in our prayers and our worship. But have we gotten to the place where Jesus also is all we want? If we really think about who and what He is, how could we think of wanting more than him?
The zookeeper's singularly important job is to make sure that the animals stay where they're placed. The world in which we live is much like a zoo, but the zookeeper is not our friend. There is another who wants to rattle those cages and set us free. Let us go to him not for a taste of that freedom but for every ounce of liberation available to us.
The world will expect us to respond to certain situations and certain people a certain way. Many times God will expect us to respond a different way. Particularly when we are walking in a leadership role, it is critical for us to meet God's expectations and defy the world's, which will be a great testimony to our faith and our Lord.
When we approach the Lord in prayer, it is not meant to be a one-sided monologue. Prayer is a conversation, which means that communication should flow in both directions. Let us honor our intimate prayer time with God by not only speaking to him but also waiting for him to speak to us.
God allows us to be stewards of many things, and the expectation is that we use those things correctly. Whether they are spiritual gifts, finances or relationships, that expectation is the same. This applies especially to God's word, which is entrusted to us for the advancement of his kingdom. We only have power in his word when we wield it as He instructs.
When we seek God for those things which He has in unlimited supply, such as grace, mercy and love, we cannot forget one thing. In this process of sanctification, we are to be transformed in his image. This means that we should be working toward having these same attributes in unlimited supply for others.
As we evangelize we will be faced with tough questions from skeptics and people who are incredibly reluctant to tear down the walls which are designed to keep out God. The bible tells us always to be ready with an answer for this great hope we have. Let us explore a tough question I faced recently and ask God to prepare us for moments like this, that we would be able to lead people to the well successfully.
It can be hard to give the new people in our lives the benefit of the doubt. When we encounter someone who is less than pleasant, whether lost or saved, we may think we first must understand the person before we can find a reason to extend grace for that behavior. However, the truth is that compassion should come first, without qualification. Let us work to practice grace before understanding.
Sin is sneaky. In a world in which we are bombarded with sin from all directions, it is no surprise that so much of our entertainment today is unholy. Whether it is the music we listen to or the movies we watch, we must be careful about the influences we allow in our lives. Let us close the door on even the faintest hint of sin so that we can continue to renew and cleanse our minds as the scriptures command.
When we read the accounts of what our Savior endured at the hands of those He came to save, we see more than hatred and contempt. A main component of his suffering was the shame which the world wanted to thrust upon him. Just as the world tried to shame him, we can expect that the world will try to shame us as well. Let us prepare for this suffering in which we are called to share.
Last year we reviewed some simple but valuable truths about our relationship with God. These truths are so critical to our daily walk, and we should make sure to keep these promises in our back pockets when we encounter strange and difficult times as we have encountered recently. Let us take a moment in the midst of today's chaos to remind ourselves again of these truths.
There is a child-like joy many of us seem to lose once we have grown to know the world as it is. We might find it hard to notice the happiness and excitement available each day in the freedom Christ grants us. Let us pursue the joy of our youth today, that we would live a life free from the weight of this world.
We can accomplish everything God desires of us if we do two simple things. The problem is that those simple things require all that we have. Therein lies the difficulty. Let us seek God's power and revelation to do as He commands, that He would help us simplify the difficult things.
God has removed the scales from our eyes so that we can see the world around us with spiritual clarity. One area in which this is crucial for us is that of life's trials and struggles. Let us ask for wisdom and strength that we would see those storms for what they are and address them confidently in the power and authority we have in the Spirit.
More holiness, more godliness, more growth; these should remain our pursuit. God is calling the Church to progress today, and this message from last year lets me know He has been pursuing our continued transformation for some time. Let this serve as our reminder to invite God to search us and cleanse us again today, tomorrow and the next.
Living in the Spirit and victoriously against the temptation of sin is an issue of the mind. This is a choice that we make to submit that area of ourselves to God's Holy Spirit. Mental renewal and transformation occurs not when the mind is under our control but his control. Let us learn to practice this day by day and moment by moment that we would experience that victory continually.
We used to be slaves to sin, addicted to that which is evil and destructive. Then, Jesus intervened and began leading us through a process of rehabilitation and recovery. Perhaps viewing our Christian walk as rehabilitation from addiction will bring further revelation regarding this thing called sanctification and how we can be faithful in the process.
We come to Christ fired up to take on the world and the enemy. It's a great attitude to have, but success requires preparation. The same way an athlete must prepare and equip before the game, we must do the same if we are to stand a chance in this competition. Let us seek the Lord for guidance on how we can prepare properly so that we taste victory daily.
The world is changing daily, and we have entered a time unlike any we have witnessed in our generation. It might be hard to see God's sovereignty in all this, but it is important to come to that place and recognize that this is not merely chaos. God knows what He's doing, and we must trust that He will work all things out for our good.
During this time when we celebrate our liberty, let us take a moment to meditate on what God's freedom looks like. There is a true liberty to which He is calling the Church, walking in the freedom from sin and from the flesh that is available to us through grace. Let us pursue freedom as God has designed, full and complete.
Many of us are walking around without a right understanding of the power that resides within us, the power to overcome sin and the enemy. This can lead to defeat when there is no reason for us to settle for that. Let us take a moment to unpack what exactly Christ has imparted to us through his sacrifice and resurrection so that we can see greater victory daily.
The bible contains many warnings about the beast we should not approach. It can take numerous forms, often appearing deceptively innocent and giving. The truth is that this beast is shameful and selfish, only looking to destroy our testimony and strip us of our faith. Let us learn to live in a way that renders the beast ineffective, a barking dog with no bite.
We cannot revisit enough the truth that God has no limits. Forget about him calling you to the difficult things; expect to be called to the impossible. Stop assessing the bounds of your abilities and knowledge, and ask God to let you operate in his boundless power to do that which you only dreamed but never really imagined could be.
-C.C.
In our lives, we will encounter the seemingly impossible time and again. God will call us to things we cannot imagine coming to pass. Perhaps we will face unimaginable persecution that seems like it just won't end. In all those circumstances, we must remember that we rest in the hands of the way-maker. When the way is not clear, God will make a way according to his purposes and his will.
When we enter the throne room of God and seek him, it is critical that we approach correctly. Even when frustrated or exhausted by our circumstances, attitude matters. We cannot be demanding or entitled but must be clothed in humility and reverence when we enter his presence. Any bad attitude must be checked at the door.
Gentle dealings are the hallmark of a God who has liberated a people from bondage through the sacrifice of his own Son. Being now under grace and no longer under judgment, much has changed for those of us who follow Jesus. One of those changes should be how we deal with each other because our actions speak volumes about whether we honor and appreciate that which God has given us freely.
-C.C.
When it comes to sharing the good news of the kingdom of God, our freedom cannot come without discernment and wisdom. Let us explore a critical lesson in sharing our faith with some and even withholding our faith from others.
-C.C.
This earthly life gives us glimpses of things to come, greater things that God desires to show us and share with us. This shadowy vapor may be quick and unfulfilling, but this is not all there is. Let us thank God for the illumination He provides and ask him to reveal that to those in desperation.
- C.C.
A portion of this week's songspiration lyric reads:
So I need to talk to you And ask you for your guidance Especially today When my mind is so cloudy Guide me until I'm sure I open up my heart
Let us meditate on this as we delve into the life worth living, the one lived for God.
- C.C.