Made Right With God Through Faith

"Yet we know that a person is put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ, never by doing what the Law requires. We, too, have believed in Christ Jesus in order to be put right with God through our faith in Christ, and not by doing what the Law requires. For no one is put right with God by doing what the Law requires."

Galatians 2:16

Good News Translation

The scripture tells that we could only be made right with God through Jesus Christ. Notice the word "only", that means we can't be made righteous by doing good works or by obeying the law. Doing good works and obeying the law or scripture is the outcome of our faith in Jesus Christ. A person is made righteous only by believing in Christ not by doing good works or by obeying the law. For if righteousness could be attained or gained by keeping the law, then there was no need for Jesus Christ to die. Because Christ died on the cross for the people to be saved and be made righteous with God. Christ's death on the cross is the only way for us to be saved and gain righteousness through faith in Him.

Through Faith and Patience

Through Faith and Patience

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"...imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises"
(Hebrews 6:12, NKJ).

Did you know that in the Bible, David was 17 years old when he was anointed to be king, but yet he did not take the throne until he was 30? I’m sure during those 13 years there were plenty of times that David was tempted to think it wasn’t going to happen. I’m sure he was tempted to get frustrated or even feel like a failure, thinking “God, did I hear You? I thought You said You were going to do something great with my life, but nothing is going my way.” Here he was being faithful, but all those years he saw no sign of the promise coming to pass.
I’m sure David had to fight the same negative thoughts that we do; thoughts that were telling him “It’s not going to happen. David, you didn’t hear from God. Just accept it.” The battle was taking place in his mind just like our battles take place in our minds. During those times when it seems like you aren’t getting any closer to seeing your dream come to pass, remember, the scripture tells us that through faith and patience we inherit the promises of God.

What God Forgets

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more"
(Isaiah 43:25, NIV).

Did you know that the very moment you repent of your sin, God does not remember it anymore? Why is it that so many people constantly focus on their past mistakes and wrongdoings? Let me challenge you today—stop remembering what God has already forgotten! Start receiving His mercy and let the past be the past.
In order to receive the new things God wants to do in your life, you have to let go of the old. Once you ask for God´s forgiveness, quit dwelling on your mistakes and failures. As long as you´re looking back, you will never be able to move forward. Maybe the past just keeps coming back to your mind, but do you know who keeps bringing it up? The enemy. He´s called the accuser of the brethren. His goal is to keep you focused on your past, feeling guilty and condemned. But Romans 8 tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Don´t follow the enemy down the path of dwelling on your failures. Let the past be the past. Receive God´s mercy today so you can move forward in the life of blessing He has in store for you!

"...If God be for us, who can be against us?"
(Romans 8:31, KJV)

So often when difficulties come, people tend to feel overwhelmed, unequipped, or outnumbered. They shrink back or look for an easy way out or a place to hide. But that’s not God´s best for us. He never intended for us to be consumed by our challenges; He intends for us to overcome our challenges!
If you´re facing a difficulty today, it´s time to dig your heels in, stand strong, and show the enemy what you´re made of! Remember, you aren´t alone in the fight; God is with you. He´s promised to never leave you nor forsake you. Just like the scripture says, if God is for you who can be against you? Friend, you and God are a majority. There´s no weapon, no enemy, no challenge, no disease, no failure, there´s nothing that can overtake you when God is on your side!

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
--Romans 8:28

If you are a Christian, you've probably heard the concept that God has a specific plan and purpose for your life. But do you really trust Him to accomplish it?
D. Elton Trueblood, the noted 20th Century American Quaker and theologian, wrote, "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation."
For you and for me, there are times when we can't fully understand all that's going on in our lives. There are things that don't make sense to us. There are painful times that make us question God's plan for us.
But it is in those times that we must fully trust God. To have a faith that is without reservation!
And how do you do that? By understanding the truth of Romans 8:28-29: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
We get the word synergy from the word work in this passage. God is working synergistically in your life, taking the forces and circumstances and situations of your life and working them all together for your good. That's why you can fully trust God even when things are not going as you had hoped.
Yes, God does have an incredible plan for your life and that plan is your purpose. Trust Him today to work everything together for your good and to accomplish that purpose!
WRITE OUT OUR SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR TODAY AND PUT IT ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR OR BATHROOM MIRROR FOR DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT.

"But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:29, NKJ).

Are you living in the fullness of His blessing? God’s blessing is His supernatural empowerment. It is His favor. And we’ve all seen a measure of His blessing, but I believe there is a whole new level He wants to take you to. God has promises and opportunities in store for you that you haven’t even thought of yet! What you’ve seen in the past is only a fraction of what God wants to do in your future.

Understand that God likes to outdo Himself. He wants to open doors for you and bring out talents and abilities you didn’t even know you had. Remember, the God we serve is a God of abundance. He is the God of more than enough. Not only does He want to meet your needs, He wants to give you enough to bless other people. That’s living in the fullness of the blessing. Don’t settle where you are. Your destiny is not determined by the economy, by your past, or what anyone else thinks or says. Your destiny is determined by Almighty God. He wants you to tap into a greater measure of His blessing and live the abundant life He has in store for you!

You Are Equipped

You Are Equipped
Today's Scripture
"…I have equipped you…" (Isaiah 45:5, NLT).

Do you feel like you are facing something that is over your head? You may be facing something big today, but that is a sure sign that you have a big destiny. You may feel small, you may not see how it´s going to work out, but you´ve got to remember who you are: a child of The Most High God. You have been created in His image, and you are equipped to overcome.

When times get tough and you don’t see a way out, don´t allow yourself to get discouraged. Dig your heels in and have the attitude, "I’ve come too far to stop now. This may be extraordinary, but I know I´m an extraordinary person serving an extraordinary God."

Every morning when you wake up, remind yourself that you are equipped. You are empowered. You are anointed. You are strong. You are talented. You are creative. You have been armed with strength for every battle. There is no challenge that´s too difficult for you. No sickness that can hold you back. Keep standing, keep believing because you are equipped to live in victory in every area of your life!

Showers of Blessings

In Ezekiel 34:26, God is speaking, and He says, " I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing."

In this passage, God is certainly speaking of natural rain when He talks about the showers He will send. Those are rains He promised to Israel which would water the land and cause it to increase and be fruitful and bring an abundant harvest. But, more than that, when God says there will be showers of blessing, He is talking about bringing blessings into the lives of His people. The rain symbolizes the good things that God wants to bring into the lives of those who serve Him.

God wants to bring showers of blessings into your life. Not just a blessing or two, but showers of blessings, an abundance of blessings. God's people will have a spiritual plenty of all good things. No matter what it may seem in the natural. They shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land. Showers of blessings has come upon the people of God.

Three Trees
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.
The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”
Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.
“Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.
“Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.
But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.
The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.
“What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...”
Many, many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.
But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.
“I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered.
The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said.
And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake.
Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.
The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.
And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her.
She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything.
It had made the third tree strong.
And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

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.

2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

This scripture tells us that we have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. The word used here does not just mean staying aive as a biological creature (or physically), but rather a fulfilled spiritual life that changes our thoughts and actions in the direction of contentment and godliness. God doesn't just provide our needs as a biological creature, like food, shelter, cars and clothings but also He has bestowed or given us all things so that we will have a fulfilled spiritual life. This includes a life filled with faith. This includes a life brimming with hope.

God has provided everything we need to live a life that pleases Him, to grow in a contentment and godliness. You might not feel the truth of that promise - but God's promises are true, no matter what you feel.

Living a Satisfied Life

"I will restore the years that the locust has eaten and I will bring you out with plenty and you shall be satisfied."

Joel 2:25

God wants you to live a satisfied life. He has promised to restore all the things and in all areas of your life. God can restore your health, He can restore your finances, and He can restore every aspect of your life. Whatever it is that needs to be restored, God can do it for you. But we've got to do our part, and develop a restoration mentality. We must be strong-willed and determined, and do everything we can to recover those things. Remember, obstacles are simply opportunities for advancement. If you'll do your part to have a restoration mentality, God will take every obstacle that comes into your life and turn it into a stepping-stone that will take you to a place of greater blessing.

Get Your Hopes Up

"But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith."

Galatians 5:5

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

What are you expecting in life - Good things? Big things? Little things? Or anything at all? Whatever it is that you are expecting from God, He wants you to get your hopes up. The Bible says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for."(Hebrews 11:1). One definition of hope is confident expectancy.

Your expectations set the limits for your life. Your life is limited based on your expectations. If you never expect anything good, you're never going to receive anything good. If you don't expect things to get better, then nothing will get better. God promises to meet you at your level of expectancy. That's why Jesus said in Matthew 9:29: "According to your faith be it done unto you." One translation simply says: "Have what your faith expects."

Make the decision to expect he favor of God in your life. Start expecting God to meet all your needs. Start expecting to overcome every challenge you encounter. Live every day of your life expecting God's blessings over your life. Don't give up all your hopes. Let us not become weary in waiting for our hopes and expectations be fulfilled. For at the right (proper, due) time we will receive everything promised to us through faith.

God's Plan of Salvation

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 Jn. 5:11-12

This passage tells us that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, Jesus Christ. So in order to have an eternal life you must believe and receive the Son of God, Jesus Christ as your savior. In other words, the way to have eternal life is to have God's Son. As it is written in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household."

Acts 10:43, All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

For whosoever believe in Him will not perish but have an everlasting life.

How can a person have the Son of God? It is written in Romans 10:9-10, That if you confess with your mouth "JESUS IS LORD" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Change Your World by Changing Your Words

Today's Scripture
"Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'" (Joel 3:10)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Your words have incredible creative power! God says, "Let the weak say, 'I'm strong.' Let the poor say, 'I'm rich.' Let the troubled say, 'I'm free.'" Get your words lined up with God's Word. When you learn to think and speak about your future like God does, you can't help but be excited and hopeful! If you have a lot of obstacles in your path today, say, "I am strong in the Lord and the power of His might. No weapon that is formed against me is going to prosper. God always causes me to triumph." When you speak the words of victory, you'll live a life full of victory. And when you're faced with something that is bigger than you, just remember how small it is compared to God! That will give you a positive and powerful word to speak throughout the day.

God didn't bring you this far to leave you now. God didn't bring you to where you are right just to abandon you, as it is written in Hebrews 13:5, "He will never leave you nor forsake you".

God has an abundant life in store for you , which includes victory over the little things in your life that may seem big. Nothing can prevent you from being all that God wants you to be.