January 2009
As the media bombards your
mind with the failing economy, you may question
your faith during these times. You may find
yourself turning to God for answers, unlike
in the good times. May this be your wake
up call for a Happy New Year: learning to
trust in God’s sufficiency. The Lord
says, “My gracious favor is all you
need. My power works best in your weakness.”1
Happy & Blessed
One economist suggests
that you turn off the media, which may help,
but Jesus says, to “…seek first
the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.”2
Isn’t that great advice?
Again, Jesus says, “Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.”3
The word blessed literally means “happy,
fortunate, blissful.” Pastor John
MacArthur says, “Here ‘blessed’
speaks of more than a surface emotion. Jesus
was describing the divinely-bestowed well-being
that belongs only to the faithful. The worldly
idea is that happiness is found in riches,
merriment, abundance, leisure and such things.
The real truth is the very opposite.”
According to Jesus, the
answer is to “seek, hunger and thirst”
for righteousness in the kingdom of God,
not in the kingdom of this world. He is
encouraging us to seek salvation where comes
the full care and provision of God. Whether
2009 will be a happy new year depends upon
where you place your faith.
Hold Fast Your Confession
What comes out of your
mouth is extremely important during these
trying times. Jesus says, “For out
of the abundance of the heart [thoughts,
choices, and feelings] the mouth speaks.”4
As your thoughts, choices, and feelings
come into alignment with God’s Word,
your mouth speaks forth a good confession.
In this content, the word
confession means to “say the same
thing that God says” in His Word.
Anyone can complain about the economy, but
it takes a faithful person to say what God
says about the situation. His Word commands
us to “…hold fast the confession
of our faith without wavering, for He who
promised is faithful.”5
Will you faithfully confess
out loud the following? “He who did
not spare His own Son, but delivered Him
up for us all, how shall He not with Him
also give us all things?”6
“And my God shall supply all my needs
according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.”7 “I
humble myself under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt me in due time, casting
all my care [anxiety] upon God, for He cares
for me.”8
Unfaithfulness Imprisons
Recently, a prominent man
in government was sentenced to prison for
killing several people in an accident caused
by his driving intoxicated. He admits his
unfaithfulness in thought, word and deed.
Many are imprisoned because of their inability
to deal with their thoughts and anxieties
of life. Jesus continued by saying: “For
out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
false witness and blasphemies: these are
the things which defile a man.”9
Sin comes from within ourselves.
It seems the problem is
being unwilling to humble ourselves to God’s
Word. Humility is simply the willingness
to surrender our will, our opinions and
our views to the view and will of God. The
Lord says, “If My people who are called
by My name will humble themselves, and pray
and seek My face, and turn from their wicked
ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will
forgive their sin and heal their land.”10
Stop and Listen
The first step to humility
is to stop, listen, and evaluate everything
that comes out of your mouth. The negative
must be replaced with positive words of
faith, hope, and love. “Examine yourselves
to see if your faith is really genuine.
Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that
Jesus Christ is among you, it means you
have failed the test.”11
The second step is to read
and study Scripture. I suggest you purchase
an easy to understand New Living Translation
Bible. They come with all sorts of guidance,
such as the Recovery Bible for conquering
addictive behavior. The purpose is to renew
your mind through faith in God’s Word.
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the Word of God.”12
Thirdly, it is very important
to find Christian brothers and sisters who
can help you by being accountable. They
cannot only be found at church, but at work,
in the neighborhood, on college campuses,
or almost any place. The fellowship will
empower you through like-mindedness. “And
let us not neglect our meeting together,
as some people do, but encourage and warn
each other, especially now that the day
of Jesus coming back again is drawing near.”13
Lastly, pray. Paul admonishes
us to: “Pray at all times and on every
occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers
for all Christians everywhere.”14
A Prayer For You ...
Our loving Father and heavenly
King, you are always concerned with our
well being. Your name is El Shaddai, the
all sufficient God, Who is able to do all
that you say and promise. Jesus said that
in this world, we would have trouble; but
to be glad for He overcomes the world. We
overcome as Jesus overcomes. Strengthen
our faith to see we have all we need to
overcome all our problems in this world
through our Savior Jesus Christ—in
whose Name we say, Amen..
Scripture References (New Living
Translation):
Acknowledgement: A special thanks
to Sherry for transcribing this months view!
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