TRUTH

God's words and commands

A slave to sin or a slave to God?

"...for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him... " (2 Peter 2:19)

Therefore,

"... be on guard, so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall away from your secure position." (2 Peter 3:17)

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Don't drop your guard

"But don't drop your guard.  Use your head..."

- Revelation 17:9-11 MSG

Guard up equals God up

Guard down equals devil up

You choose!

Thank you for this link @ sheannahg.wixsite.com

 Guard up

Important advice for daily living.

Advice to reflect upon for today:

Take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Love each other. Be generous with your gifts: words, help, materials, money, possessions, etc.  

Trust God - he knows what he's doing, especially when you don't.  Be content with who and where you are - God's strong hand is upon you; he'll promote you at just the right time. So, keep your guard up and a firm grip on faith; stay out of YOU and stay in HIM.

And remember to turn away from worldly rubbish, it is a waste of your time.  For in due time and in all things, painful or not, God always gets the last word; yes, he does.

-Adapted from 1 Peter chapters 4 & 5  MSG

Live to give!

Give constant encouragement, lifting spirits and charging others with fresh hope, saying: "No more crying, there is life in you yet.  Accordingly, finish what God started in you, always be on your toes, staying awake to the temptations of darkness (Satan).  Yes,  stay awake and keep up your guard, for as you know, Satan roams around like a lion seeking anyone he can slaughter, (the vulnerable, the tired, the sleeping, and the glutton).  So, listen to the voice of God and keep His Words in your heart so that he can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need. And, finally, always remember this: You're will be far happier giving than getting."  

~ Adapted from Acts 20

LIVE SO THAT GOD CAN SHINE TO THOSE LIVING IN DARKNESS!  

LIVE TO SHARE LIFE, LOVE, AND JOY.  

LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WORD.  

LIVE TO HEAL AND BE HEALED.  

LIVE TO GIVE!

LIVE SO THAT YOU CAN TRULY LIVE!

Guarding your heart

Guard your heart 

Time for a little personal inventory. What is your passion? What are you chasing? What are you thinking about just before you fall asleep? What is your most valuable possession? What would you dread most to lose? What do you have the burn for? 

You probably have quite a bit of sales resistance. You need to or you would go crazy in our materialistic and marketing-mad world. You know not to believe the pitch for every product and service that comes at you. 

Realize that Satan is going to look for any opening or crack in your armor to push or pull you away from Christ. Use your sales resistance on Satan. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Learn to distinguish his tempting voice. See his promises as lies; see his threats as empty; see his pleasures as what they really are--bribes to induce you to commit spiritual suicide. 

Guard your heart by filling it with the gospel. Claim and celebrate and prize God’s unconditional love. Think often of Christ’s full and free forgiveness of your sins. Fuel up with the Spirit’s fire. When the wellspring of your heart is healthy, all your relationships and possessions will be in the right place. More God, less Satan.

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I'm reading the @YouVersion plan 'With God's Help: Devotions from Time of Grace'. Check it out here:
http://bible.com/r/KI

If you don't stand in faith

“If you don’t take your stand in faith, you won’t have a leg to stand on.” Isaiah 7:9

When you take big, bold steps of faith, God will always be there to keep you from falling.  However, if you do take a big, bold step of faith and you do fall, it’s God’s way of giving you a learning experience you’ll never ever regret learning from.

You are blessed ~ Believe it, live it, embrace it!

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What happens when you call on God?

Here's what happens when you call on God:

Psalm 91The Message (MSG)

 1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
    I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

14-16 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
    “I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
    if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
    I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
    give you a long drink of salvation!”

______________________________________________________

Here's what happens when you call on the world:

Nothingness, emptiness, darkness, loneliness, fear... death.

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Life image copied from https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi4yfvfm5PRAhUG0mMKHQMlC2MQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.playbuzz.com%2Fmelidr10%2Fhow-much-do-you-value-life&psig=AFQjCNEGi0Tzepln_qd_8H-7rnCt7u2u5w&ust=1482888350831453

Death Image copied from https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjlh9-km5PRAhVO7mMKHYPIAk4QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhalloweentreat.tumblr.com%2F&psig=AFQjCNHv-Ap37jas7Y7eZcCHLrVO3I8MFw&ust=1482888034535135

Words

“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,  but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3

Boy, I need this today!  My mouth has been non-stop about people that I’ve been less-than-happy with lately.  Think it is time for me a mouth make-over - God help me. Ever had these kinds of days? 

Feel free to join me if you need a mouth make-over, and let God be our strength!

Vigilantly guard your souls...

"Stay alert... stay strong and steady... Hold tight to God..." and "... vigilantly guard your souls: Love God, your God..." Joshua 23: 4-13, The MSG

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On guard for God

"... Don't let down your guard lest even now, today, someone - man or woman, clan or tribe - gets sidetracked from God, our God, and gets involved with the no-gods of the nations; lest some poisonous weed sprout and spread among you, a person who hears the words of the Covenent-oath but exempts himself, thinking, "I'll live just the way I please, thank you," and ends up ruining life for everybody.  God won't let him off the hook..." Deuteronomy 29: 14-21, The MSG

One wrong move, one wrong motive, one wrong word, or one wrong thought could be the beginning of the end of the great life God has planned for you.  So, stay the course - make life easy for yourself - and let the goodness that God has planned for you overflow, and overfill, your precious life.

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Corruption

“Carefully guard yourselves so that you don’t turn corrupt…”  Deuteronomy 4:15-20, The Message

Carefully guard yourselves so you don’t let the power of money, fame, or fortune steel your soul like so many leaders in this country. 

Yes, carefully guard yourselves so you can stand up and help bring America back to its original foundation based on our Constitution and our faith in God.

Stay vigilant

“Stay vigilant.  Don’t let down your guard lest you make covenant with the people who live in the land… and they trip you up.”  Exodus 34:10-12, The Message

In today’s terms:  Stay vigilant in Christ.  Don’t let your guard down for a second, otherwise the devil may come in and steal your soul.

 

Keep yourself in the love of God

But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith… Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), [which will bring you] unto life eternal…” Jude 20-21

If you stay out of the world and stay focused on God,  you will avoid many a hurt, many an argument, and many unnecessary struggles; you will avoid dead-end roads, wasted time, conversations, and actions that are an utter waste of time and energy.  

 

In essence, you will avoid distractions that keep you from the favor of God over your life!

Beware of the leaven.

“… Look out; keep on your guard and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod…” Mark 8:15 AMP

In other words, be on guard against hypocrites (wave makers, con-artists, cheats, fakes, phonies, frauds, pretenders) of this world!  As well, and probably most important, don’t let yourself become one of them!

 

Be on guard!

"Be on guard against men [whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God]..." Matthew 10:17 AMP

Notice those whom you associate often with. What are their words and actions like?  Do they speak words of life to those around them (loving, gentle, patient, kind, helpful, positive, etc.), or do they speak words of death (negative, critical, harsh, offensive, repulsive, rude, etc)?  If you are around someone long enough, you should be able to pick up on signs. As well, God will give you warning signs of those whom you should keep your [heart and soul] distance if you ask Him. However, as a child of God and one called to be a light in a dark world, be careful not to alienate anyone because you think they are evil. Instead, make a point to speak words of life around them, and pray that they, too, will follow suit, and begin to hold themselves accountable for words and actions they shouldn't say or do.  BE a living example for them.  

My friend, you and I are called to make a difference in this world.  Even if it is to help only one person come to Christ in our entire lifetime, then that is what we should do.  Constantly ask yourself what your actions and words are like to those around you.  If they are anything less than God-approved, repent and change them.  This world needs us! God needs us to help change this world.  He wants every single person to end up in Heaven, and it is our duty to help make that happen.  So, keep your heart guarded at all times, but, always be forgiving and merciful.  Make a commitment to be a life changer for God!  Not only will you change the lives of others, you will notice blessed changes in your life - one right after the other, thanks be to our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prepare a way

“Shake yourself from the dust, arise, sit; loose yourself from the bonds of your neck… for the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Behold, my Servant shall deal wisely and shall prosper; He shall be exalted and shall stand very high.”...”  Isaiah 52:12-13

LOVE these verses!!!  Makes me want to take on the world!  

God is saying, “This is your time to shine!”,  He knows the bad breaks, heartaches, hurts, pains, and hard-work you’ve been through; He knows, and hears, all of your prayers, thoughts, and questions, and He is getting ready to answer, exalt, and bring you glory!  So, lift your head, raise your hands, and glorify God, because your time of victory is coming in a mighty big way!!

~Hallelujah~

Arrogance and pride: two ways to self-destruction

“And I, the Lord… will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease…” Isaiah 13:11

 As humans we need to be constantly on guard against the temptations of becoming prideful and arrogant by regularly staying in the Word of God and being in constant prayer and devotion with the Lord, both of which lead to more of His wisdom, knowledge and strength.  However, if we refuse to refrain from being arrogant and prideful, then there is no doubt that God will put an end to our ungodly mannerisms in His way, and friends, life won’t be fun; 'humbled' will be a gentle way of describing the events that will undoubtedly take place in our near futures.

Therefore, stay gentle, be loving and compassionate, and never forget who is in control.  Instead of fighting back in arrogance and pride, fight back with the strength found in God and in His Word, and you will always come out on top of any, and all, circumstances that happen to you in life.

A good way to fail

“He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3

Wealth won in haste or unjustly or … for vain or detrimental use will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase.” 

Proverbs 13:11

Yep, a big mouth and selfish desires are two good ways to make sure you do NOT succeed in life.

 

Thank you for the fun, awesome, images +www.kingjamesbibleonline.org and iamadaughterofthemosthigh.blogspot.com