How Do We Cultivate an Undivided Heart to God?
God created us for an undivided heart to Him.
But our hearts learned to partly put our trust in other things in this life.
Ever since I gave my heart to the Lord at sixteen, I’ve heard God’s people speak about whole-hearted devotion to the Lord. Also, how committed believers protect their heart from becoming divided.
Because the Lord never meant for the human heart to belong completely to anything or anyone other than Him.
In college, I chose 2 Chronicles 16:9a as my life verse:
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (NASB 1995, emphasis added)
According to Dictionary.com, the phrase to and fro means “a continuous or regular movement backward and forward.”
The Lord is looking for people with this kind of undivided devotion and heart for Him.
So where do we even start and how do we go about it? The Bible is the best place to discover the key to giving our heart completely to God—whole hearted and undivided devotion.
God created us for an undivided heart to Him. But we've learned to have divided hearts from life. Share on XAn Undivided Heart: Love, Serve, Seek
We love, serve, and seek the Lord with all our heart. This is an undivided heart.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV, emphasis added)
Read More…July 27, 2023 at 8:30 am | Uncategorized
Did You Know Hope Has a Name? Jesus
Do you remember the first time you heard the name, Jesus?
While I’m not sure of my exact age, I know I was a child. And when I turned sixteen, Jesus became my salvation, my Savior.
But living the Christian life in this world isn’t easy. Followers of Christ need strength from the Lord, direction, and we need to grow as a believer.
Also, we need hope.
The world offers many forms of hope. Yet, they fizzle and fade away. But, God made big plans to bring Hope to a hopeless people. Hope’s birth took place in a lowly stable. Hope grew and carried out the heavenly Father’s will—even death on a cross.
Hallelujah! Hopeless never gets the last word. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave.
True hope is only found in Jesus Christ. Hope has a name. Jesus.
True hope is only found in Jesus Christ. Hope has a name. Jesus. Share on XLet’s look at 4 ways we have hope in Jesus alone.
H – Hope has a name. Jesus.
Jesus came to die for me and for you—for our salvation and the salvation of all willing to embrace real Hope in the Lamb of God.
God sent Jesus from the throne room of heaven to take our place. Beaten, bruised, and pierced with nails, His blood spilled on a cross. And He bestowed forgiveness on us to cover our sins.
Jesus saves us from condemnation, wrath, ourselves, other gods, and eternal death. But salvation also brings new and abundant life with Jesus as the Savior of our souls and a spiritual way of life.
Jesus is our hope for this life and the next.
Jesus is our hope for this life and the next. Share on X“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:13 (ESV, emphasis added)
O – Overflowing with abundant Hope.
Read More…July 20, 2023 at 8:30 am | Uncategorized
Unashamed Jesus Christ is My Lord
How can we be unashamed Jesus Christ is Lord?
Unashamed. Google defines it as “expressed or acting openly and without guilt or embarrassment.”
Embarrassed about my Lord and Savior? Never.
Oh I’m sure there were instances in the past when I held back or shied away from sharing my spiritual belief, speaking the name of Jesus, and full disclosure of my life in Christ.
But you know what? Not anymore.
Sure, I mess up, fail, and sin. So, I pray for a show-and-tell life. That my words tell others who I worship and my actions show others who I worship.
Still, sometimes we fall prey to the mindset that only at church and Christian events or missions, are appropriate and even expected places for unashamed worship of Jesus.
Unashamed Jesus is in My Life
Instead, it’s about out there in the real world, on the job, on social media, and among unbelievers—some may even be antagonistic toward Jesus and toward us.
Since I’m a Christian speaker, blogger, and writer, I come under attack. Often, this spiritual warfare brings me to a crossroad where I choose to either stop or keep going.
For example, these attacks often happen on social media. But this is nothing new. You see, the posts are about Jesus. Like a post from this scripture, “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:16 (ESV)
Jesus Christ.
King of Kings.
Lord of Lords.
Jesus Christ. King of kings. Lord of lords. Share on XPeople accuse me of saying “dumb things,” of “blasphemy,” and “building a platform” for myself. On another post about Christ, a person stated, “Keep your religious bull**** to yourself.” Then he signed it “God.”
Read More…July 13, 2023 at 8:30 am | Uncategorized
How to Let Spiritual Freedom Ring
In America, we celebrated our country’s independence this week. A day of deliverance and freedom dating back to 1776.
But freedom isn’t free. Instead, blood, sweat, and tears worked together in order for freedom to ring loud and clear across this great land of ours.
Further, not only is freedom not free, but it also must be maintained.
You see, any country and people are at risk to lose the freedoms meant for our welfare. The freedoms we enjoy and hold dear. This can happen when government’s corrupt—no longer “for” the people and “by” the people.
Another danger lurks nearby when our personal choices enslave us either physically (jail, addictions, etc.) or spiritually (sin, idols, etc.). Still, the physical and spiritual realms often intersect when it comes to freedom.
Freedom Maintenance
Look at how the Apostle Paul describes freedom: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV) Share on XNotice the reason Christ sets us free as His people is for freedom’s sake. Why? Because the second half of that verse explains how we can find ourselves in bondage again—lose our freedom in Jesus.
Keeping our freedom intact is a wonderful way to let our spiritual freedom ring. Also, standing firm in our testimony, beliefs, and faith lets freedom ring for others to see and hear.
So here are 4 ways to let our spiritual freedom R-I-N-G.
Let Spiritual Freedom Ring: The Price Paid
R – Remember the price paid for freedom.
Read More…July 6, 2023 at 8:30 am | Uncategorized