You are not going through this alone

"... but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning."  Hebrews 4:15 AMPC

No matter how alone you feel, how afraid you are, how unsure your situation, or how difficult it is to make a decision, remember this:  Jesus is with you, He has been through this too, and He is holding you all the way through.  He was able to make it through without sinning, and so can you - you are His precious child, and you can do this!!  Therefore, if you are unsure of what to do, then wait on peace to fill your heart before making a decision.  If time is not an option, and decisions must be made, then do your best to make the decision that you think Jesus would make.  I sometimes feel that when we are unsure of what to do, it is Jesus's way of saying, "Go ahead and make the decision you want to make, and I will make sure it turns out to be the right decision.".  

So, remember, you are never going through anything alone, Jesus has been through it all, and has had to make the same decisions that you do - if He was able to go through it without sinning, then you have His power to go through them without sinning as well.    Yes, life is hard, but God is above life, and that means that you are able, you are strong, you can, and will, overcome, and God will see you through to the end.  My friend, hang tight, and know that you are going to come out of this just fine, and more blessed than you were before.

You will be the victor

"For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering]." Hebrews 2:18 AMPC

Yes, your hurting, you are having a hard time, things don't seem to be going your way, and the world around you seems to be falling apart, but take heart, God is with you.  He is working through the pain and making it into blessings beyond comprehension; blessings that will hit you when you least expect them to.  Remember, God went through exactly what you are going through, and He did it just for you, so know this: He has a plan, He is with you, He loves you, and He is going to be glorified through the darkness; God wins, He will not bow down to Satan, and He will be your vindicator.  

My friend, stand strong, wait on Him, and know that you are loved, you are blessed, and when all is said and done, you will be the victor in these tough times. 

There is only One way to victory.

"... But you remain the same, and Your years will never end nor come to failure." [Ps. 102:25-27] Hebrews 1:12 AMPC

Money, friends, status, employment, etc., will all come to an end, so we mustn't focus on them for our security.  There is only One that is secure from here to eternity - His name is Jesus - and if we want victory, then He is the only One to focus on.  Therefore, stop focusing on your bank account, your title at work, your circle of friends, your accomplishment, and your goals - instead, focus on Jesus.  When you do, your bank account will grow, you will be promoted beyond your wildest expectations, you will have blessed friends that you can trust with your life, you will accomplish the impossible, and you will exceed goals that you once seemed unattainable.  

Friends, God is the way to victory in all things - so, if you want it, focus on Him, and victory will be yours for the taking.

Do what you know you need to do.

"... do what is fitting and required and your duty to do." Philemon 8 AMPC

You know what to do; you know the right thing to do; you know what your heart wants to do; you know what God has called you to do - So, do it!!

Be a difference maker for good,not evil

"Remind people to be submissive to [their] magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be prepared and willing to do any upright and honorable work, To slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle, and conciliatory), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody."  Titus 3:1-2 AMPC

Friend, take these words as my reminder to you.  For me, as I read them today, I realized I've been falling short, and I ask, with all sincerity, for the forgiveness of God.  So, if you, like me, have been falling short, repent and begin anew; let's be difference makers for good and not for evil.

Calm, cool, and steady

"As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship... ", (II Timothy 4:5 AMPC), because the Lord is standing with you, ready to deliver you from every hardship, assault, and evil that the world tries to throw your way.

God won't let you down, so give your hardships, worries, and fears to God, and focus on enjoying the journey you've been called for.

Persecution - trials and tribulations

“… persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”

II Timothy 3:11 AMPC

Yes, all of us believers will have trials and tribulations, hard-times, but with firm faith in Christ, He will deliver us out of them all.  He will make the impossible possible, and the hardships will become heaven-sent.

No nonsense

“But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.” II Timothy 2:16 AMPC

Empty words only take you down dead-end roads – stay away from them.  Your life is too precious to waste on such nonsense.

Stay away from the nonsense

"But refuse (shut your mind against, having nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels." II Timothy 2:23 AMPC

Set yourself apart from strife, quarrels, bickering, and controversies - be a vessel that God can use to change such nonsense, and an example that man can use to change the course of their lives.

For God did not give us a spirit of fear

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” II Timothy 1:7 AMPC

Fear is from Satan, not God.  Therefore, use the words of this verse, (…  He has given us a spirit of power… love, and of a calm and well-balanced mind… discipline and self-control),  to fight back the attacks of the devil. These words are your weapons and your key to victory.

Friend, you are filled with power, love, balance, discipline, and self-control - the Spirit of Christ.  So, receive them in, and know that with Christ you can conquer any attack of the enemy.

 

Irreverent babble

“… Turn away from the irreverent babble and godless chatter…” 1 Timothy 6:20 AMPC

It amazes me of the conversations, words, that come out of people these days… utterly pathetic at times.  So, do yourself a favor and refrain from joining in them.  However, if you have times that you must, then change the direction of the conversation with the words that you speak and the actions you display.  

 

Friends, dare to be  different with your words – dare to make a difference with your words.

Fight the good fight of faith

"Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned ..." 1 Timothy 6:12 AMPC

You have been called,by God, to eternal life, so while on this earth, you must fight for it in all faith!!  Your level of faith is in how much you stand on God's Word and your sensitivity to God's voice, and in order to deepen your level of faith, you must spend daily, quality time with Christ - just you and Him.  Hence, the more faith in Christ, the stronger you are to stand in this world, to stand against the flesh and against Satan himself.   

My friend, now is the time to become a fighter - a fighter of faith, knowing that you are going somewhere, you are called, and God's glory is within you to take you places that no flesh can stand up against. 

Earthly and eternal destiny

"... Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit].  For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is yet to come." 

1 Timothy 4:8 AMPC

Maintaining your physical health is very important for our longevity, and our quality of life while here on Earth.  However, maintaining our spiritual health in Christ, is not only important for our longevity here on Earth, but our eternal life in Heaven as well.  Friends, when this life is over, there will be a whole new, eternal, life to be lived - make sure it is one seated in Heaven with Christ; forever with Him is something not one of us will ever want to miss.  Therefore, read, pray, learn, obey, trust, and walk out the Word of God - It is the Key that holds your earthly and eternal destiny's.

Everything God has created

“For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” 1 Timothy 4:4 AMPC

This applies to you.  God created you! You are important, you are worthy, and you are blessed.  Think nothing less of yourself, and, no matter how bad it may seem in your life right now, God has a plan, and you, my friend, are the forefront of that plan.  Therefore, put your shoulders back, lift your head, and walk out the good walk that God has created you to walk.

Leadership

If you are called to lead your home, your social network, your job, your city, your church, or even your country, then aside from what the world says, here are the necessary qualifications written in God's Word (which, if followed, means you cannot go wrong, and which, if followed, will always surpass what the world says):

So, to be a blessed leader, one

"... must have no grounds for accusation but must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, circumspect and temperate and self-controlled; [he must be] sensible and well behaved and dignified and lead an orderly (disciplined) life; [he must be] hospitable... a capable and qualified teacher.  Not given to wine, not combative... not quarrelsome but forbearing and peaceable, and not a lover of money...He must rule his own household well, keeping his children under control, with true dignity, commanding their respect... and keeping them respectful." 1 Timothy 3:2-4 AMPC

Follow these guidelines, and none of your leadership roles will fail you.

Pray without anger, quarreling, resentment, or doubt

“… that in every place men should pray without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their midst], lifting up holy hands.” 1 Timothy 2:8 AMPC

How do you keep anger, quarreling, resentment, and doubt out of your life, out of your thoughts, out of your prayers?  By not letting them in from the get go.  The moment any or all of those emotions begin to entice your mind, flood them out with prayer and thanksgiving – hand them over to Jesus.  Not only will He ease your mind, but He will turn those dark thoughts into thoughts of love, mercy, compassion, and joy.

You are forgiven

“But I obtained mercy for the reason that in me as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might show forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and patience for an example to [encourage] those who would thereafter believe on Him for [the gaining of] eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:16 AMPC

No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or the road on which you may be walking now, it is never too late for God to come in and take over your life.  How?  Invite Him in, repent for your wrongs, and open your heart to Him.  The moment you do, He grabs hold of you, forgives you, and your life starts anew.  A new dawn begins to shine and the bleak future you once thought before you becomes a journey filled with peace, joy, blessings, fearlessness, and, most of all, God's undying love... a perfect love that will shine through your most darkest of dark hours.

 

Do the right thing.

“And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening].” II Thessalonians 3:13 AMPC

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but doing the right thing in spite of how hard it may be, or how long it may take will bring God’s glory shining through your life in more ways than you can fathom.  So, keep on doing the good and God-like, (right), thing, and soon you will notice breakthroughs, blessings, and rewards that can only be God breathed into your life.

Comfort, encourage, and strengthen your hearts.

"Comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them [make them steadfast and keep them unswerving] in every good work and word." II Thessalonians 2:17 AMPC

How do you comfort and encourage your hearts?  How do you strengthen your hearts and make them steadfast in every work that you endeavor upon or word or speak?  By one man - Jesus Christ; by one book - The Bible.  

Without prayer and diving into the Word regularly, it is so easy to get sucked into the darkness,  but prayer and meditation on God's Word are almighty lifters of the darkness surrounding us; with prayer and time spent in the Word, you can feel Jesus surrounding you and lifting you up to new levels. Therefore, make a point to pray unceasingly - speaking with your mouth and your heart, as well, take time to read God's Word daily.  When you do, you can feel your heart soften, your breath become steady, and a new energy building on the inside.  Yes, when you do, you become comforted, encouraged, strengthened, and determined to do right by God in every word your speak,and work you undertake.

Your Defender and Vindicator

"...since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with distress and affliction those who distress and afflict you..." II Thessalonians 1:6 AMPC

God will defend you in whatever wrongs are done against you, but you have to let Him!  So, before you fall into sin by repaying wrong for wrong, walk away and allow Him to do so.  Otherwise, you may just find yourself on the wrong side of the road when God's blessings and glory come to shine through for those that know that know how to wait on Him for their vindication.

Be thankful

“Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstance may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].”  1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC

Be thankful for everything, no matter what the circumstance.  Yes, I know, easier said than done, but God’s will is for us to be blessed, and when we can look beyond the circumstance and know that God has a good plan, I believe His blessings begin to pour down.

So, open your heart and hands to God, let Him know how thankful you are, and, in turn, I believe He will open your eyes to a whole new way of looking at your circumstances – you will be able to look at them through the eyes of God instead of the eyes of the flesh.

 

Encourage and edify

“But we belong to the day; therefore, let us be sober and put on the breastplate (corselet) of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation… encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another… [acknowledge and encourage and respect them all]…” 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 11-12

As children of God, we are called to be different: steady, full of love, hope and we believe in our salvation.  As well, as children of God, we are called to build up those in the world, and be lifters of light in the darkness.  Therefore, stand strong in God.  Wear faith, hope, and love at all times, be encouraging and do your best to build up one another -  be one that brings those lost in the dark to the doorway of Light,  Jesus Christ.  From there, He will take them where they need to go.

Dependent on God

But we beseech and earnestly exhort you brethren, that you excel to make it your ambition and endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing!  Adapted from 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12

First off, work hard to take care of you and yours, and count on no one in this world to take care of your responsibilities for you.  Secondly, pursue peacefulness in all your endeavors, and let no mortal man rule your heart.  And most importantly, be completely dependent on God, because with Him no middleman is necessary - He will provide your every need.