Unforgiveness is the dirty weed in place to poison us from the inside out. Yes you were wronged, yes it hurt bad, yes they should be punished. But with the Lord’s help we can be freed from unforgiveness, it’s one of Satan’s favorite tools he uses against us. Satan will stir up some trouble in another person’s heart and mind, and then send that person to you, who was minding your own business, dropping a serious offense in your lap. Could have been a physical fight, a sexual assault, a bold face lie to you, or someone stole something or someone from you of great importance, basically you’ve been presented with malicious intent and action. Now, you have two options for responding. You could continue holding on to the offense unto bitter unforgiveness, or pull that weed out of your life, which isn’t always that easy thing to do. Without the Lord’s help, in some cases, the offense done to you, could wind up taking you straight to hell. Isn’t that a switch, you were mistreated and because you couldn’t let it go, you get punished. Long term unforgiveness brings sickness in your body. We were never created to handle great stress, or holding on to an offense to the point it controls our life. It’s all you talk about all the time, not a good look for you. Forgive them, so God can forgive you. Being a christian requires living a christian life.

Keeping God’s testimonies is sharing the mighty works of His hands to others. Giving Him the glory about His greatness. To obey God’s laws is to bring joy into our lives. Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with their whole heart. God knows if you’re half stepping with Him. It’s either all, or nothing at all, you have to mean it following the Lord (Revelation 3:16). The bible also speaks of the Lord rewarding those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Being human means having the propensity to be led a stray. We must invoke our will in going after the Lord like a bulldog on a bone, never to let go. God knows we have an enemy down here that wants to kill, steal, and destroy, that’s his job (Satan). But obedience to God’s laws, His teachings and precepts, keeps us in a perpetual safe place from unnecessary attacks. Meditate in His word day and night, and you’ll make your own way prosperous (Joshua 1:8). We have a part to play when it comes to the Lord’s help and to receive from Him. Our faith is the hand that takes from God. So faith is the substance of things we are hoping for, and it’s the proof of life which manifests our expectations. Our joy, not happiness, comes from within us where God is seated on the throne of our recreated human spirits.

Father God gives good gifts, free, large, and full from above. He’s not an Indian giver, nor does He give gifts that backfire. A gift that backfires is a gift that becomes a burden. He gives gifts that we can handle and won’t cause us to fall into temptation. When a father gives his 16 year old child a brand new Lamborghini and the child just got his permit with zero driving experience, that gift is more likely to backfire, and could be the demise of the child. God will only give us what we can handle, and it could be something necessary for our God given purpose. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights. He knows what we have need of before we ask Him. A perfect gift blesses you and will probably have a ripple effect of spilling over to bless someone else as well. The absolute perfect gift of God given to mankind was, He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ so we would have life and have it more abundantly. Without that gift we would be lost, not only in this world but in the one to come. A good and perfect gift may not be what you expect, but what you need.

Some people don’t want to give their money or time, and talents to the Lord, because they don’t trust the local church. God wants us to give from a place of freedom and openness of heart. Not reluctantly or sorrowfully, or under pressure. That’s when you should keep your money, because you’re not giving with the right heart. God loves a cheerful giver whose heart is in his giving. The Bible says give, and it shall be given again unto you (Luke 6:38). Trusting the Lord with your money is a big step for most. Thoughts of how the money is spent by the Pastor is not our business once we’ve released the tithe or offering. Again best not to give if you’re bound by those thoughts. Sowing your seed of money or your talents is a God idea. Our tithe is for the functioning of the local church. We give as a sign of our faith and trust in God. Sowing your seed in good ground is important too. If you know things aren’t right, and we’re talking straight up rampant sin in the leadership, it’s time to bounce up out of there. As we mature in Christ and learn how to hear the voice of God, we will have clear direction when to give, how much to give, and so on. Giving is a sacred thing which must be done with the right heart to bring back the desired harvest. God loves a cheerful giver.

We have been given a particular spiritual talent. To be employed for one another in our God-given endeavors. These particular spiritual talents are like our superpower. But that superpower can only be at full potential as we give ourselves to the source. Giving ourselves to the source of our powers and spiritual talents, is giving ourselves to the word of God. We must learn first where, and how this power is generated. We have nothing of ourselves along these lines but God has bestowed upon us great gifts to be used for His glory and the uplifting and betterment of mankind. As each one helps one there can be equality amongst the kingdom of God and His people. The master plan of God takes all the many parts of the body of Christ (that’s us), functioning properly and successfully together unto the return of Christ. Discovering our gifts and talents is vitally important. Where your heart is, there will be your treasure also (Matthew 6:21). Your gift or talents are usually something that comes easy for you to execute. You love doing it and normally others love the results of it. We must be faithful stewarts of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to us by the Lord. He’s routing for us to walk in that which He has provided.

Develop your love walk, and lose the fear today!

Matured love turns fear out of doors, and expels every trace of terror. Because God is love and He abides in His children, every trace of terror will be expelled from you. As we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, the agape love of God in us grows. To walk in God’s love in our daily lives keeps us on another level of protection as well. There is no law against love, it overrides all offenses and keeps us grounded in the way of the Lord. When we are in fear, it will present thoughts of punishment, and will hold our energies and plans captive for tomorrow’s productivity. All of our thoughts and concerns will not have normal free reign as when free of fear. Fear is an anchor to bondage that can take you so far out to the dark side that you will need help to shake it. God’s love is totally free from dread, and unnecessary concerns and worry. Love lays a bed for the fruit of our recreated human spirits to grow and flourish. Joy, patience, peace, kindness, meekness, faithfulness, goodness, and most importantly self-control. Self-control will keep self inflicted fear away from us. We are in this world but don’t have to be a part of its demonically ruled system. Perfect love drives out fear. Develop your love walk and lose the fear today!

“Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.” The goal in life as christians is to fulfill the great commission which is to go into all the world and preach, teach the gospel. Before we go out we must know what we’re talking about. The world and our enemy knows whether or not we know what God’s word says. It is vital that we study to show ourselves approved rightly dividing the word of truth. Letting the word of God dwell in us richly is the support we’ll need going out to the world with His message of hope. Once we’ve experienced revelation knowledge and gained experience in working the word of God in our personal lives, then we’re ready to witness to others. Going out prematurely developed in our faith, gives room for serious problems. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, but if you don’t know that for yourself, you’ll most likely give up. The word of God has all we need in it to go forth in power and absolute victory. The message of Christ will prevail because it is written. Doing your part is essential to complete the grand plan of God. We all have a part to play that only we individually can’t do. Allow Christ to dwell in you richly in all wisdom and understanding, and then go get’em.

“O GIVE thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!” Thank God His love endures forever. If His love were limited many of us may not have made it to heaven. It could have been God’s love was only in effect this year and next, and then towards a certain point in time His love dries up towards us. Because God is love, He will not change. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. So we give thanks for His love which endures forever. The bible says, come taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalms 34:8). We must taste and see for ourselves. You can’t check a person out sufficiently unless you spend time with them. This is definitely the case with God. We must have an informed opinion about the Lord, and not base our findings of him on what someone else has told us about God. It’s a personal relationship with the Lord that He desires, one on one fellowship with the King must be a priority in the life of His children. We are children of God and must follow His character and integrity. We were made in His image and likeness so we can be like, and in reality we are like God. We act like the devil sometimes because of our earth struggles. But when our faith is totally in Him, we can understand how the Lord is good, and His mercy (which springs from His love), endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good all the time.

“Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);[17] Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];[18] Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].” As we rejoice in the Lord even when we are troubled, it shows our trust in the Lord. To worry while under attack is a sign we’re not trusting God to bring us through. Rejoicing before the battle is over, brings shame to the devil and his crew who inflames our troubles and struggles. Praying continually is the lifestyle we as christians should have. Acknowledging God in all our ways and bringing every circumstance, or bad situation to Him is the pathway to victorious living. Imagine God going before us and making all the crooked places straight in our journey, ordering our footsteps according to His favor and grace. Giving thanks in all circumstances is the way of the mature believer. Giving thanks during a crisis can hurry up the deliverance out of it. But that is totally up to God as He deals with each of us differently, do to our different maturity levels. Circumstances are always coming to us for various reasons, some are self inflicted and some just fall into our laps because of life on planet earth. We can be happy in our faith and rejoice and be glad hearted continually. It is a command, not a request that Paul was giving to the Thessalonians back in the day, so it’s possible. Doing the work is where many fall away from the continued growth of our faith. Rejoice, pray continually, and give thanks even when you don’t feel like it. This is the way.

“Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.” Goodness and mercy and God’s unfailing love follows us all the days of our lives. We go forward in life most of the time not realizing the Lord has gotten us out of many difficulties without our understanding. He’s behind the scenes making many a crooked place straight for us. It is because of His goodness and mercy we have redemption from our doomed fate which was Jesus saving us from an eternal death of punishment. His goodness and mercy helps us here and now but it keeps working after we pass on to the next life. His goodness, mercy, and unfailing love is following us until death, and beyond. Our lives don’t technically end after death. Our spirits never die and we still have all our memories. For those who will be spending eternity in hell, part of their punishment is remembering all the times the Lord sent witnesses to them to get them to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but they turned Him down. So after death there’s no goodness and mercy for them. The Lord’s goodness and mercy here and now will help God’s children have an abundant, and successful life on earth today. But it reaches those still not christians giving them the opportunity for eternal life with God.