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December
December 28
Resolutions?
Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? What was it? According to a number of recent polls, over 50% of Americans make the resolution to spend more time with family and friends. It’s probably similar for Canada. When you think about it, it’s really quite sad. Each one of those people knows they do not spend enough time with their family and friends, they do not show enough love to their fellow man, yet they wait until New Years to attempt to make a change.
1 John 14:21 tells us, “The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.” (The Message) If we are to affirm that we love God, then we must also love our family, our friends and all people. We cannot love them simply by making a statement. We need to do something that shows our love, that makes our love concrete.
What do you do to show your love? For family, this would include spending time with them, doing things with and for them and accepting them as they are, forgiving them without question. The same could be said for your friends or fellow man.
We don’t need to make a New Year’s resolution to make a change in our lives, we just need to decide to do it and make our lifestyle follow that decision.
December 21
Coming Down With the Flu
I woke up one day last week not feeling the greatest and with a dry, raspy throat. My wife could hear the rasp in my throat and asked me how I was feeling. I almost said, ‘I think I’m coming down with something’, but then I caught myself.
Too often we speak illness into our lives without realizing it. I cannot deny that my throat was not as it should be but instead of speaking illness over my throat I should say, ‘my body is fighting something and I am going to win!’
In part of Psalms 103:2 and 3 it says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul … who healeth all thy diseases.”(KJV) Why should I speak illness when God heals all my diseases? I need to stand on His Word and confirm that no disease will succeed in overwhelming my body. I may have symptoms, the doctor may give me a diagnosis, but those are not what I choose to stand on. I choose to stand and affirm that I will stand on God’s promises and not give illness a foothold into my life.
In Luke 9:1 it says “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.” Jesus also gave me authority over these diseases, I need to stand up and affirm that authority in my life.
December 14
But God
‘But God’ is my favourite phrase in the Bible. There are many instances where someone is going through a tough time and there seems to be no hope or chance of success. David begins Psalm 73:26 (KJV) by saying “My flesh and my heart faileth.” When he seems to be at a low point he continues with, “but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
There are many times in the Bible where the phrase ‘but God’ is encountered. There are also times where it is not said, but can be inserted. David was ready to fight an insurmountable foe in Goliath, but God intervened and guided the stones. In Acts there is a man who sat at the gate for 40 years asking for alms. His hope had completely vanished, but God healed him. The thief on the cross beside Jesus was destined for Hell, but God saved him.
No matter what your situation may be, no matter how desolate the future looks, no matter the depths of despair in which you find yourself, you can always affirm in your spirit, this is where I am now, but God can and will deliver me.
December 7
God, Where Are You?
King David penned many beautiful psalms that declare the glory, wonder and mercy of God. They talk of God’s love, provision and protection. To read many of them it seems obvious that he had special walk and relationship with God.
Then there is Psalms 22:1-2. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” (KJV)
King David had times when he felt abandoned by God. Even during those times he continued to praise Him. He seemed to know that it was a season that would pass, that he would again feel the presence of the Lord. His Presence was with David all the time. David just could not feel it.
If you feel abandoned by God, or feel that He is not listening, you are in good company. Even the mightiest men of God have felt that way at times. The important thing is to continue to praise Him, even when you don’t feel Him. Later in Psalms 22:22 David affirms “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (KJV)
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Ray's Column