New Creation in Christ.
Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) God has done something
Consuming fire.
For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 (NKJV Fire tests and reveals the true nature of a thing. 1 Peter 1:7 Precious metals like silver and gold are
Not ashamed of the Gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for
Overcome evil with Good.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21(NIV) The world says you fight fire with fire. The ancient code of Hammurabi dictated “an eye for
A Healthy Self Image.
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of [fearless] courage. And Gideon said to him, O
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NKJV)
We can choose what to think and decide how we think. It’s not true that we can’t help what to think about. Thoughts are like birds; you may not prevent them from flying around your head but you certainly can stop them from building a nest in your head! Our Lord Jesus admonished us saying “take no thought saying” Thoughts are words not yet spoken. Just as we can choose what words to speak and decide how we speak or talk we can choose what thoughts to run in our minds and decide how we think. God says he knows the thoughts he has towards us. That they are thoughts of peace, wholeness, wellbeing. It means God is intentional and deliberate in his thinking. He intentionally thinks peace, wholeness, wellbeing, prosperity towards us. We have the mind of Christ which is the mind of God. 1Corinthians 2:16. We can intentionally choose to think peaceful, wholesome, prosperous thoughts. We can choose not to be anxious, troubled, fearful, discouraged. The Word of God is his thoughts. When we choose to meditate on it, we are intentionally, deliberately and purposefully think God thoughts. We are thinking as God! Remember as a man thinks in his heart so is he! Proverbs 23:7. Think life, peace, hope, wellness, victory as you think on the Word of God! Think on God’s love, goodness, faithfulness to you.
Student of the Word.
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if
The constant Companion.
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because GOD, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let
A book of remembrance
Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who
So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Galatians 3:11 (NLT)
Four times the Bible says the just or righteous shall live by faith. Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38.
Faith is trust. Who or what you have faith in, you trust.
God is the source of all good things. James 1:17. He’s the source and sustainer of existence and life.
Therefore, living by faith is trusting in this God who’s the source and sustainer of life and every good thing.
It is looking to him expectantly everyday knowing that he supplies whatever we need. Psalms 145:15-16 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
You can only have faith or trust in someone or something you clearly and closely know. Faith in God is the automatic result and response to knowing him intimately. For instance, because we know God loves us we believe in him, we trust him.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (NKJV). John says we have known and believed. In other words, knowing God results in believing or faith in God. It’s the very same exact truth Paul affirms in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Therefore, living by faith is living by the knowledge of God. Not mere head knowledge or crammed religious facts about him but rather personal intimate acquaintance with him. For example, it is waking up every day, going through the day handling our responsibilities and tasks with the assurance that God is our heavenly Father who unconditionally loves us, cares for us, will never leave us, an ever-present help, guiding and enabling us.