1 John 5:1-5 NLT
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
John 3:16 NLT
”For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
”…, and we achieve victory through our faith.”
How do we know if our faith is is the real deal?
1. We love and obey God’s commandments.
I can’t explain this well but the desire to get to know the Lord gets me up and out of bed every day at 3:30 AM.
Mark 1:35 NLT
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Before I start my day in the world, I spend about 2 hours in God’s Word. Please understand, I don’t say this to say look at me; I say this because by being in God’s Word every morning, the Spirit is working in me to create a desire that I can’t explain.
Some people ask me if I am tired at the end of the day? I can only say that God provides me the energy to accomplish the things I need to get done if it takes me until midnight. But when my head hits the pillow, I am out like a light. Ask my wife; she says she has never seen anything like it. I roll over and… out. And sleep is a deep kind of sleep.
Most nights, I want to stay up because of the joy I experience with Jesus Christ-centered in my heart.
2. My focus has been shifting from my needs to the needs of those around me.
”And everyone who loves the Father loves His children too.”
For anyone who has known me for any length of time, this has been evident, and it has been brought to my attention, which only creates a deeper desire for me to continue to do it.
Interestingly, as I get more involved with those around me, the Bible starts to speak to me more deeply, offering me the words I need to help those around me.
3. The Spirit keeps me in line with the consistent study of God’s Words.
I find that with consistent study, I am more sensitive to the prompting of the Spirit in two ways.
One that I am quick to see when I am wandering from the path. When I see this happening, I immediately go to the Father to ask Him where my thinking had gone astray and when I get into the Word of God, it is soon made evident to me, Amen!!
Two, it keeps my mind sensitive to the needs of others.
Psalm 86:5 NLT
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Colossians 3:13-15 NLT
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
I find that I am more open to stop and listen to the challenges that others are struggling with. This hasn’t always been so for me; I used to be one who couldn’t be bothered; I was too busy to be bothered by what others had going on.
I am finding that the more time I spend helping others, the more time I complete what I need to get done.
Quite frankly, the people who come to me with their problems is the work that God wants me to help with. This is a fresh revelation to me as of this writing. Amen!!
Joshua 1:7-9 NLT
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word; I pray for the continued desire to get to know You more and more.
I am grateful for the opportunity You have presented to me. I pray for courage, strength, and energy to get Your work done, knowing that if I keep my eyes fixed firmly on You, You will provide everything I need to get it done in Your glorious Name.
I pray for the hearts of those around me that You soften them in a way that they want to come to know Your saving grace.
I pray for a continued willingness to serve You with my thoughts, attitude, and actions.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
