SUSTENANCE
SUSTENANCERomans 8:11 The Message
Have you ever thought about the power God has put in you? You are weak on your own but with God inside you, you are a strong spiritual person. After all, the bible says that it is the same Spirit inside you that raised Jesus from the dead. Have you ever thought about that? All the power God used to bring Jesus back from the dead is available to you. That is a pretty mind-blowing thought. It means you have the power, in God, to live a life full of the Holy Spirit, seeing your prayers answered and seeing people healed, just as Jesus did when He was on earth. The conditions are that you are committed to following God, to seeking His will and trusting in Him. Then He will be able to release the Spirits power through you. He needs people who are faithful and trustworthy and who really are in love with Him. So if you feel weak today, remember the strength you have in God. Think about the Holy Spirit in you and all that God can do through you.
Going Deeper: Read Ephesians 3: 14-21 which is about the strength you have through the Spirit.
Prayer: Come before God, spend time with Him and allow His strength to rise up in you.
Romans 15:13 The Message
That is how I would love to live - brimming over with hope! What is the hope that we have as Christians? Why can we be so positive about the future? Hope is really the divine dream that we have, it is knowing that one day we will be in complete peace in heaven with God. But it is also knowing that while we are here on earth God is with us, He loves us and He wants to have a deep relationship with us which affects every single thing that we do. God has saved you from hell and from the devil. ffb Not only that he has given you power to live a worthwhile life that's going to impact many people around you. But how can you be brimming over with hope? By getting alone with God, letting him fill you with dreams and hope for your life. Hope is an inner image of yourself put there by God - a dream of who He wants you to be and how He wants to use you. Let yourself dream with God and be filled with His hope.
Going Deeper: Read Hebrews 6:13-20 about God's promise to Abraham and the hope that He had.
Prayer: As you settle down in worship, let God give you His dream and all that He hopes for you.
Philippians 4: 13 The Message
Don't Quit!! Have you been in the situation recently where you've been going along great in God - things seem really good and suddenly it's like you hit a brick wall. The pressure is on, things are falling apart and you can't feel God in it at all? He is there you know, but why doesn't He answer you? Why doesn't He do something? You need to get hold of this verse in Philippians and not give up. Pin it on your mirror, repeat it out loud to yourself, let it get down inside you so that you really believe it. God is faithful, even if you don't feel Him. Just keep going, tall Him you love Him, read the bible, pray and God will help you over the brick wall. It's like running a marathon. Athletes get to a point where they can't go on, they 'hit the wall', but it isn't the end. If they carry on running and push through the pain they get a second wind and suddenly go faster than before. So keep remembering that your strength comes from God and He'll help you whatever it is that your facing.
Going Deeper: Read 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 - it's all about athletes running the race.
Prayer: If you are facing a difficult time then run into God's arms. He's there to help. Keep running to Him and let Him hold you close.
1 Peter 2: 2 The Message
Have you ever been in a room full of babies? They all cry at once, they all need feeding and they need nappy changes!! It is very hard work. They are all dependent on other people. It is a bit like that when you first become a Christian. You are very dependent on other people to teach you, show you stuff and help you walk in the new life He has for you. But after a while you get the hang of it a bit more and just like a baby learning to walk you become more independent. God understands that it takes time to grow but He doesn't want you to stay a baby Christian for very long. He wants you to start discovering things for yourself, talking to Him about your life and generally becoming more mature in Him. Like a baby drinks from it's mother, so God wants you to go to Him, and drink in everything He has for you. He has so much for you; love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, understanding and lots more good things that you need to grow strong in Him. Don't be satisfied with being a baby in God. Reach out and drink in all God has and He'll mature you.
Going Deeper: Read Ephesians 4: 11-16 about growing up in God.
Prayer: Drink in God's love, kindness peace and joy. Put on some Christian music and enjoy being with Him. Drink in his presence. fd2
Matthew 4:4 The Message
The Bible is God's word and when we feed on it, it's power makes us strong and healthy spiritually. It is important that we continually feed on what it says. You need to eat food every day and in the same way you need to read God's word every day. You can't just eat one meal and then feed on the memory of it for a week! You need food EVERYDAY. Hopefully you have got your bible out while you are reading this, but if not then get it out and READ IT!! You may find yourself reading words that you have read before but ask God to give you a new insight into them. You'll probably find they tell you exactly what you need to hear about a situation you're going through right now. Put the words into your heart and let yourself feed on them and digest them. They will do you good! They will refresh you, encourage you and help you through today.
Going Deeper: Read John 6: 48-58 about the Bread of life.
Prayer: Pray using the bible. Meditate on a verse that helps you in a situation that you are facing today and ask God to strengthen you through those words.
Hebrews 2:1 The Message
Do you find it easy to drift off? It is so simple to get busy and to forget everything we know about living a Godly life. It is easy to get caught in the trap of going along with the people around us and forgetting that we're different, that God is Number One in our lives. So what is the answer? How can we keep close to God every day? The answer is not to get casual about God. Don't think ' I know all that, I'm doing OK, I don't need God today'. BIG mistake! That is exactly what the devil wants you to think . He'll catch you slacking and he'll throw all sorts of bad stuff your way. It takes time, it involves sacrifice, but if you read the bible and come to God every day, you will stay on firm ground with Him. Once you start slipping it is easy to fall. So be serious about God, after all He's pretty serious about you.
Going Deeper: Read Hebrews 10:26-39 about persevering in God and not throwing it all away.
Prayer: Agree with God to spend time with Him every day. Tell Him you love Him and He is first in your life.
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