God's math is not our math. Small provisions from him are multiplied to meet the need. He provides for us daily rather than give us everything we will ever need all at once. This leads us to learn to trust him consistently. God can use even small gifts.
The best person to learn patience from is the Lord Jesus. We must heed the command to be patient, worship Christ the all-patient one, and grow in patience. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. When we do not display it we are not being loving, which is sin.
We cannot trust in the resources around us or in our own strength, but in God alone. He guides us through his word, his peace, and our circumstances. His leadings are intensely personal but to understand them, we first we have to be quiet and listen.
God looks at time different from us. While we can plan for the future, it is more important to decide how we will live today. Since we do not know how much life we have, spend time in devotion to God each day. Serving Him is the only thing that will last.
Spend time with God. It is best to do it both in the morning and at night but make it a regular custom in your life. The spiritual battle will fight against you but a healthy devotional life will lead to a heart that is increasingly devoted to Christ.
Elijah knew that when the world threatens, God is still on the throne. Even when under attack, we are meant to show the world who the real God is. We need to spend time alone with him every day. Be encouraged. God will not leave us to fend for ourselves.
Like a boat with no engine or sail, we will drift without putting energy into our faith. We will drift from the truth if we do not abide in God’s word. Care enough for others to help them in their walk. Pray for them, love them, and comfort them.
Prayer must not only be consistent and continual, but fervent! Lukewarm prayers are not effective. For our intense prayers to be heard, we need to pray with the correct motives after first being made right through Jesus Christ and not through ourselves.
The call to sing a new song is a daily prompting to apply to your current situation. Whether joy, sorrow or fear, whatever the emotion, the psalmist says to bring it to the Lord in song. Even our complaints (or laments) are valid and welcomed by God.
Put your hope in God for He is your portion and the answer. Your relationship with Christ is where that hope gets built and it is an anchor that keeps us from being lost. Even our troubles are a doorway of hope if you seek God in them and flee to Him.
We all have different gifts, but whatever they are, we must use them for the body of the church. If you don’t take initiative to ask for prayer or to offer to pray for others, you will miss the blessing. Prayer works to bring hope and healing when we ask.
Do not be shy about asking the elders to pray for you when you are sick. This applies to mental and emotional problems too. Illness is not usually the result of individual sin but it is a result of the fall. The ultimate healing will come in heaven.
Pray continuously using Jesus as your example. He prioritized the Father's will over his. Being close to God gives us a better knowledge of his will. We need to pray when in trouble and when happy and sing songs of joy even when we don't feel like it.
If you can control your tongue, you can control your whole body. The main reason for a controlled tongue is unity. The problems with an uncontrolled tongue are many, especially gossip. The blessing of a controlled tongue is to build others up.
If we always speak the truth there is no need to swear on anything else.
Since we are all called to be soldiers in God’s army, we must expect to endure suffering. If we are patient in the in midst of suffering it shows we are anticipating the end of our trials. God’s purposes are only fulfilled after we persevere the pains.
Patience is a fruit of the spirit and the first characteristic of love. We are called to be patient not just for a time but until the coming of the Lord. The rains will come in His timing. The harvest will come if we continue doing good and living in Him.
Is it wrong to be rich? God gave Solomon riches, so no. The problem is with the heart, not the coin. Being excessive or frivolous flaunts wealth and shows where our hearts are. Earthly riches do not last. Put your faith in God and seek His kingdom first.
Do you ask God to show you His plan or just ask Him to bless yours? Seeking profit rather than His righteousness is not His plan. To know God’s will, you have to desire and seek it. If we know the good we are supposed to do today and don’t do it, we sin.
Before judging others, we should first consider how we have committed the same offenses as those who have offended us. A person who is quick to judge another is not humble and pushes God aside. Superficial, harsh or unforgiving judgement is always wrong.