Archive for the ‘Christians’ tag
It’s not my battle.
Whose Battle Is It?
by Rick Warren
?But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord?s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem . Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!? 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)
*** *** *** ***
In today?s passage, God is talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They?re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites.
Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how his people could defend themselves in such a battle, but God knew exactly what Jehoshaphat was thinking. He said, ?You will not have to fight in this battle.? Now, that?s the kind of battle I like!
What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage, and what he would remind us today, is this: ?The battle is not yours; it?s mine. You don?t have to fight in it.?
In other words, it?s God?s problem. Let him solve it.
The fact is if you are God?s child, then your problems are his problems. And he?s much better at fighting your battles and solving your problems than you will ever be. Your job is to trust him to work it all out. Perhaps the reason we have so many tired, fatigued, and discouraged Christians is because we think, ?It all depends on me.?
The day you resign as General Manager of the Universe, you?re going to find that it doesn?t fall apart. You can relax in faith, trusting that God is able to run things without your help.
Twice in this passage it says, ?Don?t be afraid,? and ?Don?t be discouraged.? When you face a seemingly impossible situation, don?t be afraid and don?t be discouraged. Has God ever lost a battle? No. He doesn?t lose battles.
There?s an important phrase in verse 17. God tells Jehoshaphat, ?Take your positions and stand firm.? What does it mean to stand firm? It means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. It is never God?s will for you to run from a difficult situation. I?ve discovered that when I run from a difficult situation, inevitably God always brings it back around and gives me another chance. Why?
Because God wants us to learn ? and he wants to teach us through experience ? that in every situation he is sufficient. He is competent and capable and he will meet our needs in that situation. Don?t be afraid; fear is the opposite of faith.
You stand firm on two things:
The character of God ? He?s faithful. He does not bring us this far just to let us down. He doesn?t bring you out on a limb and then cut off the limb. Have faith in the nature andcharacter of God.
The truth of his Word ? God?s Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.
Stand still. Remember Who the battle belongs to. Trust that he is able to deliver you. And then watch him do it!
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.
I just love the part about not being the general manager of the universe...so true!
by Rick Warren
?But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord?s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem . Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!? 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)
*** *** *** ***
In today?s passage, God is talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They?re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites.
Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how his people could defend themselves in such a battle, but God knew exactly what Jehoshaphat was thinking. He said, ?You will not have to fight in this battle.? Now, that?s the kind of battle I like!
What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage, and what he would remind us today, is this: ?The battle is not yours; it?s mine. You don?t have to fight in it.?
In other words, it?s God?s problem. Let him solve it.
The fact is if you are God?s child, then your problems are his problems. And he?s much better at fighting your battles and solving your problems than you will ever be. Your job is to trust him to work it all out. Perhaps the reason we have so many tired, fatigued, and discouraged Christians is because we think, ?It all depends on me.?
The day you resign as General Manager of the Universe, you?re going to find that it doesn?t fall apart. You can relax in faith, trusting that God is able to run things without your help.
Twice in this passage it says, ?Don?t be afraid,? and ?Don?t be discouraged.? When you face a seemingly impossible situation, don?t be afraid and don?t be discouraged. Has God ever lost a battle? No. He doesn?t lose battles.
There?s an important phrase in verse 17. God tells Jehoshaphat, ?Take your positions and stand firm.? What does it mean to stand firm? It means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. It is never God?s will for you to run from a difficult situation. I?ve discovered that when I run from a difficult situation, inevitably God always brings it back around and gives me another chance. Why?
Because God wants us to learn ? and he wants to teach us through experience ? that in every situation he is sufficient. He is competent and capable and he will meet our needs in that situation. Don?t be afraid; fear is the opposite of faith.
You stand firm on two things:
The character of God ? He?s faithful. He does not bring us this far just to let us down. He doesn?t bring you out on a limb and then cut off the limb. Have faith in the nature andcharacter of God.
The truth of his Word ? God?s Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.
Stand still. Remember Who the battle belongs to. Trust that he is able to deliver you. And then watch him do it!
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.
I just love the part about not being the general manager of the universe...so true!
Can anyone help me,I am seeking a James Gang group?
Hi,My name is Steven.I reside in The Bronx,NY. I am about 2 months sober. I have been around 14 yrs almost.I had 6 yrs at one point from 1995-2001 -the last 7 years has been a roller coaster.I have not been able to get consistent Clean time again. My last slip was with Marijuana.I also am a sex addict as well but alcohol and crack cocaine nearly killed me.I am an evangelical Christian and Love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Dick b has a website on the Christian roots of AA.Dick B on his website stated there are some groups called "The James Gang",inasmuch as early AA'ers used the Book of James,Sermon on the Mount from Matthew's gospel,and 1st Corinthians 13 on Love.I have been discouraged by AA today where you cannot even mention Jesus Christ or even God without being alienated.Plus,there arer a multitiude of "dry drunks" in AA dry from alcohol but miserable and acting out on other addictions.I want to meet people who are in AA or another 12 step who are on fire Christians and Love The Lord Jesus and can direct me to James Gang groups in my area or online.Grace to you,Steve
Hurting first time to site
Need support badly. Binge drinking husband 2 sons 24, out of home 19 at home.
Married 24 years. First years both in recovery (me al anon) and Christians. About 8 years into marriage husband becomes dry, begins verbal abuse towards me primarily. He slowly began drinking again 2 to 3 times a year. I stayed because I have no family, and still wanted to pretend. Also, I wouldn't have been a good single mother. The boys would run all over me. I continued church but, boys activities hampered my meeting attendance. In 2007 I knew I would have to leave when the last one graduated from H.S. One last attempt I got us to The Meadows for intensive week (I would not recommend this place) and he promised to attend one AA meeting a week which he never did. My contract to myself is if he drank again I would leave. Well.... here I am 3 months later living in an RV at a campground. He says I'm crazy, bringing it on myself, the boys don't talk to me and I feel I've wasted the last 24 years. I really didn't have any major expectations except I didn't think the boys would ignore me. I am grieving big time. I've started going to an abusive d wives group which I think is helping more than Al Anon I think his thinking has gotten sicker over the years
Any feedback helpful
Married 24 years. First years both in recovery (me al anon) and Christians. About 8 years into marriage husband becomes dry, begins verbal abuse towards me primarily. He slowly began drinking again 2 to 3 times a year. I stayed because I have no family, and still wanted to pretend. Also, I wouldn't have been a good single mother. The boys would run all over me. I continued church but, boys activities hampered my meeting attendance. In 2007 I knew I would have to leave when the last one graduated from H.S. One last attempt I got us to The Meadows for intensive week (I would not recommend this place) and he promised to attend one AA meeting a week which he never did. My contract to myself is if he drank again I would leave. Well.... here I am 3 months later living in an RV at a campground. He says I'm crazy, bringing it on myself, the boys don't talk to me and I feel I've wasted the last 24 years. I really didn't have any major expectations except I didn't think the boys would ignore me. I am grieving big time. I've started going to an abusive d wives group which I think is helping more than Al Anon I think his thinking has gotten sicker over the years
Any feedback helpful
Reach Out
You are reading the daily devotion from NotReligion.
November 17, 2008
Key Passage: Acts 9:19-31
Topic: Christian Living
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple (Acts 9:26, ESV).
If you only read this verse by itself, you might wonder who the disciples were afraid of? And what would cause these Christ-followers to be fearful?
At that time, persecution had begun against the Church. And believers were being scattered across the world. Jesus' disciples, however, remained in Jerusalem.
Then a man showed up claiming to have become a believer. Not an ordinary man. This guy was well-known for persecuting Christians.
The disciples' fear was understandable. They didn't believe him; they thought he'd come to trap them. To say he'd become a believer, gain their trust, learn the names of other Christians and arrest them all.
The man's name was Saul--later he was known as Paul. He wrote much of the New Testament. But fear almost caused the disciples to turn away one of the men most used by God in the Church. Imagine the blessing and insight we'd lack today if Paul hadn't been allowed to be part of the early church!
If we allow fear to be our guide instead of the Holy Spirit, we could turn away from someone God wants to use mightily.
That rough-living teen who attends our church, the ex-convict who's allowed Christ to begin changing him, that young mother who's made a multitude of mistakes--we might hesitate, a little fearful of believing a lie. Or of embracing someone we can't identify with. But we might miss a blessing if we do.
Has fear been keeping you from accepting someone?
NotReligion - Home
November 17, 2008
Key Passage: Acts 9:19-31
Topic: Christian Living
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple (Acts 9:26, ESV).
If you only read this verse by itself, you might wonder who the disciples were afraid of? And what would cause these Christ-followers to be fearful?
At that time, persecution had begun against the Church. And believers were being scattered across the world. Jesus' disciples, however, remained in Jerusalem.
Then a man showed up claiming to have become a believer. Not an ordinary man. This guy was well-known for persecuting Christians.
The disciples' fear was understandable. They didn't believe him; they thought he'd come to trap them. To say he'd become a believer, gain their trust, learn the names of other Christians and arrest them all.
The man's name was Saul--later he was known as Paul. He wrote much of the New Testament. But fear almost caused the disciples to turn away one of the men most used by God in the Church. Imagine the blessing and insight we'd lack today if Paul hadn't been allowed to be part of the early church!
If we allow fear to be our guide instead of the Holy Spirit, we could turn away from someone God wants to use mightily.
That rough-living teen who attends our church, the ex-convict who's allowed Christ to begin changing him, that young mother who's made a multitude of mistakes--we might hesitate, a little fearful of believing a lie. Or of embracing someone we can't identify with. But we might miss a blessing if we do.
Has fear been keeping you from accepting someone?
NotReligion - Home
God than Drugs
I found God, and then within a year started my drug habbit.
I feel guilty about this --- i did it all in the wrong order --- but most of all I cannot make sense of it in my head.
Anyone else go in the wrong order??
How does it make sense in your head.
PS I've been well bible versed on this by christians, and well basic texted by na --- so the less quotes the more i'd appreciate thanks
I feel guilty about this --- i did it all in the wrong order --- but most of all I cannot make sense of it in my head.
Anyone else go in the wrong order??
How does it make sense in your head.
PS I've been well bible versed on this by christians, and well basic texted by na --- so the less quotes the more i'd appreciate thanks
The (SOLID) Rock Bottom
I came across a wonderful daily devotional by Joanie Yoder in the "Our Daily Bread" publication and thought I would share it. I hope this inspires you all as it did me!!
I was in my early thirties, a dedicated wife and mother, a Christian worker at my husband's side. Yet inwardly I found myself on a trip nobody wants to take, the trip downward. I was heading for a certain sort of breakdown that most of us resist, the breakdown of my stubborn self sufficiency.
Finally, I experienced the odd relief of hitting rock bottom, where I made an unexpected discovery: The rock on which I had been thrown was none other than Christ Himself. Cast on Him alone, I was in a position to rebuild the rest of my life, this time as a God-dependent person rather than the self-dependent person I had been. My rock-bottom experience became a turning point and one of the most vital spiritual developments of my life.
Most people feel anything but spiritual when they hit bottom. Their misery is often reinforced by Christians who take a very shortsighted view of what the sufferer is going through and why. But our Heavenly Father is well-pleased with what He intends to bring out of such a painful process. A person who knows the secret of the God-dependent life can say, 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn Your statutes' (Psalm 119:71)"
-by Joanie Yoder
"When a Christian hits rock bottom, he finds that Christ is a Firm Foundation."
I was in my early thirties, a dedicated wife and mother, a Christian worker at my husband's side. Yet inwardly I found myself on a trip nobody wants to take, the trip downward. I was heading for a certain sort of breakdown that most of us resist, the breakdown of my stubborn self sufficiency.
Finally, I experienced the odd relief of hitting rock bottom, where I made an unexpected discovery: The rock on which I had been thrown was none other than Christ Himself. Cast on Him alone, I was in a position to rebuild the rest of my life, this time as a God-dependent person rather than the self-dependent person I had been. My rock-bottom experience became a turning point and one of the most vital spiritual developments of my life.
Most people feel anything but spiritual when they hit bottom. Their misery is often reinforced by Christians who take a very shortsighted view of what the sufferer is going through and why. But our Heavenly Father is well-pleased with what He intends to bring out of such a painful process. A person who knows the secret of the God-dependent life can say, 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn Your statutes' (Psalm 119:71)"
-by Joanie Yoder
"When a Christian hits rock bottom, he finds that Christ is a Firm Foundation."
