Choose your weapon!
by Heather Hart
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:4
When you have a problem, where do you turn? Do you talk with a friend, or pick up a book? Maybe you go on-line. While all of those things can be helpful, they are all worldly weapons, and we are fighting a spiritual battle. We need spiritual weapons to truly win the war. There are so many strongholds the devil can have on us, we usually just write them off as having a bad temper or not handling stress well. But the truth is that we are fighting a spiritual war, and those are area's that need reinforcements!
Think about it, would you try to clean the toilet with a screwdriver, or how about trying to study for your math test using your science book? How well would that work? Probably not very well. It's the same thing with when we have problems. If we are stressed out, frustrated, angry, or worried, we need to not look to earthly things, but we need to understand that those are spiritual warfare. The devil can use all of those things against us. We need to look to God to bring us through those things. We need to turn to our spiritual weapons: our Bibles, prayer, fasting. Only spiritual weapons have the power to demolish strongholds in our lives.
Reflection:
Are the Bible and prayer your first choice for tools, or are they a last resort?
Application step:
Today when you have a problem, turn to God first. Pray about it, and open His book to see what He has already said about it.
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for giving us Your Word. Thank you for allowing us to talk to you, and for comforting us in the midst of our battles. You are an awesome God, and I am just so thankful to have a relationship with you. Help me to see things your way. Help me to recognize the battles that I'm in, and help me to choose the right weapon to deal with them. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Encouraging words?
Do your words encourage others, or put them down?
By Kaylee Harris
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
Do any of you have siblings? Well, I have 6... all younger than me. At the end of a long day at school the last thing I want to come home to is "Sissy, will you play Barbie's?" or "Sissy, why is the sky blue and not pink?" My brothers and sisters truly test all of my limits every single day. As much as I want to scream at the top of my lungs "LEAVE ME ALONE" and lock myself in my room... I don't. There are so many times when I want to call them ugly names or be mean... but when it comes down to it, I am their hero...cooler than Mom and Dad but old enough to be the boss too. If I say things that tear them down or hurt their feelings no one benefits.
So, regardless of weather you have siblings or not... Watch your tone and words. Only let joyful things come from your mouth. Remind yourself of the simple golden rule of "Treat others how you want to be treated." (Luke 6:31) Treat others with respect, and respect and joy are sure to follow.
Reflection:
It is easy to say uplifting things to your friends. What kind of things do you say to people you do not like?
Application step:
Today, pretend that the words you say are to God. What would HE think about being called stupid for asking a question in class?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Today help me think about what I say before I say it. I realize words are like toothpaste...once they come out, you can't put them back in. Help me to say words that bring joy to others and make me a joy to be around. Forgive me where I have failed you Lord, and help me to bring glory to You and Your kingdom. I love you Father
By Kaylee Harris
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
Do any of you have siblings? Well, I have 6... all younger than me. At the end of a long day at school the last thing I want to come home to is "Sissy, will you play Barbie's?" or "Sissy, why is the sky blue and not pink?" My brothers and sisters truly test all of my limits every single day. As much as I want to scream at the top of my lungs "LEAVE ME ALONE" and lock myself in my room... I don't. There are so many times when I want to call them ugly names or be mean... but when it comes down to it, I am their hero...cooler than Mom and Dad but old enough to be the boss too. If I say things that tear them down or hurt their feelings no one benefits.
So, regardless of weather you have siblings or not... Watch your tone and words. Only let joyful things come from your mouth. Remind yourself of the simple golden rule of "Treat others how you want to be treated." (Luke 6:31) Treat others with respect, and respect and joy are sure to follow.
Reflection:
It is easy to say uplifting things to your friends. What kind of things do you say to people you do not like?
Application step:
Today, pretend that the words you say are to God. What would HE think about being called stupid for asking a question in class?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Today help me think about what I say before I say it. I realize words are like toothpaste...once they come out, you can't put them back in. Help me to say words that bring joy to others and make me a joy to be around. Forgive me where I have failed you Lord, and help me to bring glory to You and Your kingdom. I love you Father
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Truth about Beauty
From the book Mirror Mirror by Shelley Hitz
Edited by Heather Hart
"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32
What is the truth? Other words for truth are authentic, genuine, honest, or real. So again I ask what is the truth? It's not what others think about us, or even what others want us to be, but being who we were created to be. We were created by Christ, and for Christ (Colossians 1:16). We were created to have a relationship with Jesus. We were created to be co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). We were created to be filled by God (Ephesians 3:19). We were created to display the splendor of God (Isaiah 61:3).
What does it mean to display the splendor of God? It means that we were created to have true beauty, inner beauty. It's sometimes easy to strive for outward beauty, because that's what the world wants, but God wants us to have true beauty.
This is the picture I get of my true beauty: I see my beauty radiating from the inside out. That when I love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind (Matthew 22:37), it will naturally spill over to all my relationships and every area of my life. It's as if God's light and beauty is in my heart. And it is being pumped into every cell of my body, my brain, my muscles, and my organs through my bloodstream. And as long as God's Spirit is living inside of me, I will have that beauty radiating from the inside out. People will see the light in my eyes. They'll be drawn to the joy in my smile. And they'll want to find comfort in my friendship.
Reflection:
Have you been settling for this world's beauty instead of discovering your true beauty?
Application step:
Ask God to help you change your thoughts and desires about beauty. Start focusing more on your inner self then your outward appearance.
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for creating me. Please guide me on my path to finding my true beauty that lies in you. Help me to grow my relationship with you, to be filled by you, and display your splendor. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Edited by Heather Hart
"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32
What is the truth? Other words for truth are authentic, genuine, honest, or real. So again I ask what is the truth? It's not what others think about us, or even what others want us to be, but being who we were created to be. We were created by Christ, and for Christ (Colossians 1:16). We were created to have a relationship with Jesus. We were created to be co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). We were created to be filled by God (Ephesians 3:19). We were created to display the splendor of God (Isaiah 61:3).
What does it mean to display the splendor of God? It means that we were created to have true beauty, inner beauty. It's sometimes easy to strive for outward beauty, because that's what the world wants, but God wants us to have true beauty.
This is the picture I get of my true beauty: I see my beauty radiating from the inside out. That when I love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind (Matthew 22:37), it will naturally spill over to all my relationships and every area of my life. It's as if God's light and beauty is in my heart. And it is being pumped into every cell of my body, my brain, my muscles, and my organs through my bloodstream. And as long as God's Spirit is living inside of me, I will have that beauty radiating from the inside out. People will see the light in my eyes. They'll be drawn to the joy in my smile. And they'll want to find comfort in my friendship.
Reflection:
Have you been settling for this world's beauty instead of discovering your true beauty?
Application step:
Ask God to help you change your thoughts and desires about beauty. Start focusing more on your inner self then your outward appearance.
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for creating me. Please guide me on my path to finding my true beauty that lies in you. Help me to grow my relationship with you, to be filled by you, and display your splendor. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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