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FOUNDATION STONES – 16

Christian Life,

BE JOYFUL, PRAYERFUL, AND THANKFUL

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
[16] “Always be joyful. [17] Never stop praying. [18] Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Three stones in our foundation that should be cemented together to provide stability and strength.

These stones are all about attitude.

What is attitude?

Meta AI defines attitude as…

“… A person’s feelings, disposition, or mindset towards a particular situation, person, or thing. It encompasses their emotions, beliefs, and behaviors, influencing how they perceive and interact with the world around them.”

Attitudes can be positive, anticipating good outcomes… negative, pessimisticly expecting unpleasant situations…fixed, refusing to change for the better… or flexible, willing to view life from a different perspective.

Attitude is like the weather. When our circumstances are sunny and calm, we launch into our activities with a positive attitude…no wind or rain to curb our plans…no cloudy sky to cast a gloom over our outlook for the day. Stormy circumstances can easily change our mood to restlessness or insecurity.

Unlike the weather, we can choose the outlook, mood, and attitude that will influence our thoughts and actives for each day and each situation. Think of it this way. If we get out of bed already anticipating trouble for whatever reason, our mood will be sombre and our expectations coloured with thoughts of conflict, hurt, or whatever the circumstance might threaten to be.

What if, instead, we choose to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful despite any situation we may face. I listen to fellow believers speaking of “stress” when they see problems on the horizon that may never happen. Did Jesus offer His followers rest, only to be frustrated by the expected or unexpected situations we face each day?

First, be joyful. Joy is not dependent on our circumstances. Rather, our joy leans on our connection to a faithful, unchanging Father who is always with us, always in charge of our lives, and always working for our good in all our everyday circumstances. Paul counsels us to “rejoice IN THE LORD?” Joy is the solid, immovable stone under our feet based on our relationship with our heavenly Father. Tying our joy to anyone or anything else will eventually lead to anything other than joy.

Second, be prayerful. Jesus said, “Remain in me.” When our attitude is to stay connected to Jesus in all circumstances, we choose to let Him carry our burdens and straighten our path. Through constant communication, i.e., prayer, we choose to stay in touch with headquarters and get our directions from Him, not from the world around us or the mood within.

Third, be thankful. A thankful heart is a trusting heart. Why should our mood be sombre and our outlook gloomy when we have a Father who loves us unconditionally, knows us perfectly, and lives in us powerfully by His Spirit?

Paul asked a rhetorical question and answered it with a resounding and irrefutable declaration…

Romans 8:35, 37-39 NLT
[35] “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?…
[37] No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. [38] And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. [39] No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Whatever catastrophes are on our horizon or lie in our pathway, we stand immovable and unshakable on God’s reliability and faithfulness. We can afford to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful, no…it is imperative that we are always joyful, prayerful, and thankful in all circumstances because there is no other way to overcome IN the situations that threaten to overwhelm and destroy us.

These attitudes are not automatic and they don’t come easy. We cultivate them by trial and error. We practise by choosing to be joyful in the Lord, prayerful, and thankful to the Lord in all circumstances because He is the buffer between us and everyday life’s ups and downs.

When you build these stones into your foundation, you will always be…

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
[58] “… strong and immovable… working enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

A SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH THIS YEAR

Bible Study, ,

A SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH THIS YEAR

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col. 3: 15-17).

Another year is on its way. However, yesterday was no different from today, and today will be no different from to tomorrow. Each day stands as a unit and a clean page yet to be written, but it will become what we make of it. What appears on each page will remain, indelibly written in our book of life. Will we write a story of peace and harmony or will we blot and stain the pages of our book with words, deeds and attitudes of which we will be ashamed when our book is opened?

In this beautiful chapter of Colossians, Paul shows us how to write a personal and family history of which we will be proud if we all, as God’s children, write an interconnected story of love and peace.

Step 1: Your old self has gone. Live as though it no longer exists. Leave your baggage at the cross where Jesus destroyed it once and for all.

Step 2: Put on your new self like dressing in brand new clothes. Act like a son of God and you will be one – a true reflection of your Father.

Step 3: Listen to the referee. He is in charge of your game of life. His peace in your heart will guide and confirm your moment-by-moment choices. As long as His peace rules, keep on going. When He blows the whistle, you have overstepped the boundary. Go back and check where you erred. Put it right immediately and get on with the game.

God’s peace is a powerful force in your life, given to you at the moment when you believed that Jesus Christ is Lord, and turned your live over to Him. His peace stands on two legs which give you balance and security as you walk through life.

  1. We have peace with God. Jesus’s death and resurrection made it possible for us to be reconciled to the Father. We are no longer enemies. He has forgiven our sin and removed the barrier of guilt and shame that made us afraid of Him and of punishment. We have been justified – declared ‘Not guilty’ and our record book wiped clean of all debt.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5: 1-2).

  1. We have the peace of God. His peace guards us from worry, doubt and fear if we play open cards with Him. Life is full of uncertainties. There is no guarantee that we will emerge unscathed from the troubles that infect this world. God did not promise us a trouble-free life but He did promise that good will come out of every adversity if we trust His love.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29

Instead of harbouring our anxieties and fears, let’s be honest. Let’s confess them to Him and in exchange, He will guard our hearts and minds with His peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).

Step 4: Fill your mind with His word. Let His word guide your thoughts and attitudes instead of the anxieties and fears that will intrude if you let them. Be encouraging and positive towards your family in Christ. Build them up; don’t tear them down.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly …

Step 5: Be thankful and keep on being thankful; all day, every day, all the time, in every circumstance, just keep being a grateful person.

“….Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Step 6: Do everything for and with Jesus, no matter how big or small. Get out of bed in the morning for Jesus. Go to work for Jesus. Do your work for Jesus. Live in your home for Jesus. Love you family for Jesus.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

What a simple prescription for a prosperous and successful life!

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Safe Passage Through 2015!

Bible Study, ,

A SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH 2015

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col. 3: 15-17).

We stand at the beginning of a new year. Yesterday was no different from today, and today will be no different from to tomorrow. Each day stands as a unit and a clean page yet to be written, but it will become what we make of it. What appears on each page will remain, indelibly written in our book of life. Will we write a story of peace and harmony or will we blot and stain the pages of our book with words, deeds and attitudes of which we will be ashamed when our book is opened?

In this beautiful chapter of Colossians, Paul shows us how to write a family history of which we will be proud if we all, as God’s children, write an interconnected story of love and peace.

Step 1: Your old self has gone. Live as though it no longer exists. Leave your baggage at the cross where Jesus destroyed it once and for all.

Step 2: Put on your new self like dressing in brand new clothes. Act like a son of God and you will be one – a true reflection of your Father.

Step 3: Listen to the referee. He is in charge of your game of life. His peace in your heart will guide and confirm your moment-by-moment choices. As long as His peace rules, keep on going. When He blows the whistle, you have overstepped the boundary. Go back and check where you erred. Put it right immediately and get on with the game.

God’s peace is a powerful force in your life, given to you at the moment when you believed that Jesus Christ is Lord, and turned your live over to Him. His peace stands on two legs which give you balance and security as you walk through life.

1. We have peace with God. Jesus’s death and resurrection made it possible for us to be reconciled to the Father. We are no longer enemies. He has forgiven our sin and removed the barrier of guilt and shame that made us afraid of Him and of punishment. We have been justified – declared ‘Not guilty’ and our record book wiped clean of all debt.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5: 1-2).

2. We have the peace of God. His peace guards us from worry, doubt and fear if we play open cards with Him. Life is full of uncertainties. There is no guarantee that we will emerge unscathed from the troubles that infect this world. God did not promise us a trouble-free life but He did promise that good will come out of every adversity if we trust His love.

Instead of harbouring your anxieties and fears, be honest. Confess them to Him and in exchange, He will guard your heart and mind with His peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).

Step 4: Fill your mind with His word. Let His word guide your thoughts and attitudes instead of the anxieties and fears that will intrude if you let them. Be encouraging and positive towards your family in Christ. Build them up; don’t tear them down.

Step 5: Be thankful and keep on being thankful; all day, every day, all the time, in every circumstance, just keep being a grateful person.

Step 6: Do everything for and with Jesus, no matter how big or small. Get out of bed in the morning for Jesus. Go to work for Jesus. Do your work for Jesus. Live in your home for Jesus. Love you family for Jesus.

What a simple prescription for a prosperous and successful 2015!

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.