My hope in writing this personal note is that I will be able to provide encouragement and inspiration to somebody else. Some of the most motivational people i have ever had the privilege of listening to, have not been ashamed to mention their own flaws and stumbles in their lives. By showing my own imperfections, and sharing my growth, I hope to provide others that same motivation.
I find that one of the hardest things to do as a Christian is to separate myself from the world. Sometimes I find myself getting caught up in what is around me. Often at work I will get surrounded by conversations that I should not be a part of, or I will be watching TV and some new reality show comes on and the contents of the show go directly against Biblical teachings, yet I watch it. Sometimes I hear the Spirit, and I am reminded to remove myself from whatever the situation. Sometimes I hear nothing, and I get so wrapped up that I lose focus on what my life should really be about.
Something I must do is change the way I think about things. I must strive to make it so my thoughts flow in a Jesus driven direction. To do this, I need to go beyond just reading the Bible, and praying. I must incorporate Biblical truths in my daily life. Hour to hour, throughout my day, I must remind myself of the life that Jesus would want me to live. When the temptations of the world are presented to me, I must rely on Jesus, and not my own will to fight against the tricks of the enemy.
Time for the inspirational part I was talking about. Most of the below scriptures were provided by the FB post I mentioned before. They are all picked to provide encouragement, truths to meditate on, and to help us all to grow into mature people of God!
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*John 8:31-32 (NLT) Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
*John 6:45 (NLT) As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
*Luke 11:36 (NLT) If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.
*Ephesians 1:20-23 (MSG) All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
*Philippians 1:27 (NLT) Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.
*Philippians 4:9 (NIV) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
*Philippians 4:12 (NIV) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
*Titus 2:1-3 (NIV) You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
*2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NIV) What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
*2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NLT) But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
*Colossians 1:10 (NLT) Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
*Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT) And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
*Colossians 3:12 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
*Colossians 3:16 (NLT) Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
*Colossians 4:5 (NLT) Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
*1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NLT) Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.
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I hope this provides many people encouragement and perspective, just as it has provided me. I will continue to meditate on this as I continue my life long walk with Christ.
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Thank you Pastor Wally for the post that provided the inspiration I needed to write this.
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