#290. Choose Jesus

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 6:20

Jesus Christ alone is to be my one desire - His life, not mine. I am to love Him above all else, above all others. And when choices are to be made, I am to choose Him above all others. After all, Jesus is Lord. He is God. He is to have preeminence in my life.

#289. Transfers

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:12

Why did Jesus allow Himself to be counted among sinners? There were many reasons. First, by doing so, He could better serve as their advocate. Our Lord Jesus was also numbered with the transgressors so that their hearts might be drawn towards Him. Wasn't Jesus also listed on the roll of sinners that we might be listed to the roll of saints?

He was holy and was recorded as being holy. We were guilty and listed guilty. He transfers His name from that list to ours and our names are taken from the guilty roll and added to the roll of acceptance. Jesus has taken our stituation upon Himself and all that Jesus possesses is now ours. His righteousness, His blood - this is our dowry.

#288. Glory In Suffering

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered
Hebrews 5:8

The Captain of our salvation was "made perfect" through suffering. Our master's experience teaches us that suffering is necessary.

The true-born child of God should not try to escape it - even if he could. But there is one very comforting thought in the fact of Christ's being "made perfect through suffering." He can sympathise fully with us. We can draw a sustaining power from Christ's sympathy.

Believer, grab onto this thought in your times of agony. Let the thouht of Jesus strengthen you as you follow in His steps. Find a sweet support in His sympathy. To suffer for Christ is glory.

#287. Depths Of Love

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19

The love of Christ goes beyond human comprehension. Where can we find the words to describe its sweetness, greatness and faithfulness?

To begin to get an idea of Jesus love, we must understand the glory He came from - and how far He came to pour Himself out in shame upon the earth. But who can tell how great His majesty was? He reigned supreme over all creatures, God over all, blessed forever.

And who can tell how low He descended? To bleed, to die, to suffer - these were unthinkable for the very Son of God. To suffer such unparalleled agony, to endure a death of shame and desertion by His Father - this is a depth of love our minds cannot begin to grasp. Let this love fill your heart with adoring gratitude.

#286. Be Magnified

#285. It's Good To Remember

Think about the times that you felt close to God, when love and joy pulsed through your veins. Dwell on these times, especially when life isn't easy and trouble seems to compete for your attention. Any situation can be improved if you remember to remember God.

#284. Your Love Never Fails

#283. In Order To Move Forward You Must Open Yourself To New Experiences

There is no failing, only results. Be courageous and push yourself to new heights. Besides, what is going to happen if you make a bad decision? - You will learn from it. The more results you make, the faster you will reach your destination.

Yes, what will happen to me if I failed? I learnt, embrace and move on to become better!

#282. A Person's Walk

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
1 John 1:6

The first fruit that gives evidence of a genuine faith is a person's walk. A Christian walks the way Jesus walked, ordering his or her behaviour accordingly. Jesus is the light of the world. He did not walk in darkness - and neither can those who are His true followers.

#281. God Is There For You To Hold On

Hold on to what is good, even if it's a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it's a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do, even if it's a long way from here. Hold on to your faith, even if it's easier to let go. Hold on to God's hand.

#280. Thanksgiving

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

The act of thanksgiving is a demonstration of the fact that you are going to trust, to believe God. Thanksgiving is where faith comes in. And what is the end result? Peace instead of anxiety.

#279. You Are Unique And Precious

When you try to value yourself for being the best in something, you are bound to fail. Even Olympic champions are the best only for a few years. You are precious to God not because there is no one better than you, but because you are a unique creation of mind, body and spirit, - there is no one like you, - and that is exactly what makes you so indescribably precious.

#278. You Belong

Christians, you are part of a community: people of faith. Worship with others, share with others, experience God with others. You are not in this alone; you have an entire family of Christian believers out there.

#277. Live By God's Word

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34

Dear friend, don't be anxious in the midst of today, and don't become anxious thinking about tomorrow. God, who rules over today, rules over tomorrow. He neither slumbers nor sleeps, so He's there at the stroke of midnight, ready to care for you.

#276. Look First To God

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6

The moment anxious thoughts invade your mind, go to the Lord in prayer. Look first to God. Rehearse His character, His promises, His works. Remember His names, His attributes and how they apply to your situation. You will see the cause of your anxiety in a whole new light.

#275. Anxious For Nothing

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6

The world will tell you that it is natural and normal to be anxious. Well, anxiety may be natural and normal world, but it is not to be part of a believer's lifestyle!

#274. You Are So Faithful / You Still Be Faithful

#273. Kindness Doesn't Go Unanswered

Even though it seems like thanks and acknowledgments for good deeds are in short supply, God notices them. When you feel like giving up because gratitude eludes, remember that God is delighted in your efforts. Don't stop showing kindness because you feel unappreciated, the author of good things appreciates you very much.

#272. Turn To Jesus

Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die?
2 Kings 7:3

If you are still unsaved, my heart yearns for you.

Of those who refuse to look to Jesus for salvation, no one escapes damnation.

The fact is, without His mercy, you have no hope at all. If you seek the Lord, you will find Him. Jesus turns away no one who comes to Him. You will not perish if you trust Him.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will embolden you to get up and close to Jesus. It will not be in vain. When you yourself are saved, broadcast the good news to others. Don't hold back. May the Lord save you before the sun goes down today.

#271. Tough Love

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
Matthew 5:43

Perhaps you are saying, "I'd like to love my neighbors, but whenever I do anything, they return ingratitude and contempt." Well, that gives you more opportunity for the heroism of love. Love is no feather bed; it's a battle. The one who dares the most will win the most. If the path of love is rough, treat it boldly.

Love your neighbors through thick and thin.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In (Romans 12:20)doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Heap "coals of fire" on their heads (Romans 12:20), and if they're hard to please, then just try to please your Master.

Even if they spurn your love, your Master does not spurn it. Love your neighbor, for in that way you are following the footsteps of Christ.

#270. The Nature Of Sin

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
Romans 7:13

Beware of light thoughts of sin. It is sadly true that even a Christian may grow callous by degrees, so that the same sin that once startled him does not alarm him in the least. So we throw a cloak over sin. We call it by dainty names. Christian, beware of this. By thinking lightly of sin, you may be falling little by little.

How can sin be a little thing? It may seem little but it is capable of great destruction. This "little" thing circled our Savior's head with thorns; it made Him suffer anguish.

If you could weigh even the smallest sin on the scales of eternity, you would run from it as from a serpent. Look on all sin as that which crucified the Savior, and you, too, will see that it is "utterly sinful".

#269. Intoxicated With Pleasure

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
Psalm 30:6

Let a person march through this world with braced nerve and a brilliant eye, living happily, What will happen? Immobility. When the way is rough, thank God for it.

If God always rocked us in the cradle of prosperity, if we were always dandled on the knees of fortune, if there were never clouds in the sky, if there were never any bitter drops in the wine of this life, we would become intoxicated with pleasure.

Let us bless God, then, for our afflictions. Let us thank Him for our changes. If He did not chasten us like this, we would feel too secure. Continued worldly prosperity is a fiery trial.

#268. God Is Eternal

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Have you ever found yourself distracted - so busy pursuing earthly things, earthly pleasures that it has dulled your interest for eternal? It's not worth it, Beloved, for the temporal is just that - temporary - and it can disappear in a moment. But the eternal will last forever.

#267. Life Is An Occasion For Prayer

You don't need a special place or special time to pray. You don't need to be in a special mood to pray. Praying is like breathing, - continuous, essential, life-giving, - praying is the conversation with God you start with birth and continue into old age. Praying is your celebration of God, - everything you do, everything you think, everything you say is another word, another sentence of your prayer.

#266. A Steadfast Spirit

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

Can you change whatever is robbing you of joy? Turn it around? Rectify it? Live without it? If there is nothing you can do to change it, then be obedient, walk in faith and forget those things which are behind and press on toward the prize of your high calling in Christ Jesus.

#265. Hillsong - All Of My Days

#264. Chris Tomlin - I Lift My Hands

#263. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2

If I am going to run the race set before me, I must never take my eyes off the goal - and I must run in my lane. What God asks, does, or requires of others is not my business, it is His. I am to be faithful to His calling on my life. He's the one waiting with His reward at the finish line.

#262. In Fiery Trials

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10

Comfort yourself with this thought. Let affliction come - God has chosen me. Whatever may happen to me in this valley of tears, I know that He has chosen me.

Remember this: You have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. You can't see Him, but you can feel the pressure of His hands. Don't be afraid, Christian. Jesus is with you. In all your fiery trials, His presence is both your comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen as His own.

So take hold of Him and follow where He leads. Even in the valley of the shadow of death He says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

#261. You Have To Pass Through A Dark Night Of The Soul

Everyone does, including you. A time comes when what you have always believed is true melts away underneath you. When you cast in doubt even the most obvious, the most simple. When it seems that dark night is all around, and you are all alone. Take heart, this journey through abyss is the final barrier before your emergence into the heavenly light of a new synthesis of your being. God is waiting for you on the other side.

#260. Strength Is Available

I didn’t have a good start for the day.

I was weak, down and lost emotionally.

Until God told me…
When you are at your weakest, God is strong. When you are down, God can lift you up. When all seems lost, God will help you win. Strength is available when you need it. Believe it, embrace it and rely on it.