Direct Access

Many places of employment, hospitals, daycares, and special offices today are secured with a protection system that requires you to identify yourself with an access keycard or code before entering the building.  This allows the management a layer of security and to know who comes and goes, preventing the intrusion of unwelcome guests.

In a similar way - God has given each of us direct access to the throne of God. We can talk with him whenever we choose. We can cry out to him in times of need, and we can praise him and always know we are heard. We have an open line of communication. There is no card or code to remember. There is no key fob or card to scan. He freely welcomes our access knowing our identity and recognizing who we are in Christ.

Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." According to Hebrews 10:19, it is actually the blood of Jesus that gives us this free and direct access to the Holy of Holies. We now can bring our petitions knowing that God hears and answers our prayers. We do not have to go to the priest or root through our wallet for an access card. We simply have to humble our hearts and cry out to God with our needs. And Scripture teaches that, "we have not because we ask not."

How often do you try to figure out a solution to your own problems? And how many times have you rationalized and analyzed your situation for what you thought was the right response? Get answers to your predicament. Get forgiveness for your sins. Get direction for your confused path. Get healing for your diseases. Get blessing for your financial distress. Get wisdom for your decisions.  

Start today.  Use Your Access keycard.  Go boldly to the throne of grace.

The Fire

Do you realize God desires to change us and purify the inconsistencies in our lives? Sometimes we complain about our difficult circumstances, when often God is doing an amazing work inside us. Malachi 3:3 teaches, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness." 

In order for silver to be purified, it must be melted down under tremendous heat. It is placed in a pot over a hot flame of fire and melted down to a liquid form. It is there in the refiner's pot that the dross (the ugliness, the impurities) begin to float to the top of the pot, where the refiner can skim them away.

When I do not measure up and blemishes or unforgiven sin exist in my life, God will sit as my refiner and purify me. If I will allow Him to put me through the fire, He will change my condition and wash me clean. It does not matter where you have been or how far you have turned away. "If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1Jn 1:9)

Please do not run or stray from God, but allow Him the chance to do the work of the Refiner. He will refine you like gold and silver. Your luster will be renewed and you will be ready for a brand new door of adventure and opportunity.

Faithful

When I think of the word "faithful"- I think of God's faithfulness in all capital letters. Scripture in 2 Thessalonians 3:3 declares, "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."  He is loyal, constant, devoted and without error.  God is faithful and flawless.

Wherever you are in your thought process today, God holds you in the palm of His Hand. He is always watching over you.  He is a faithful friend who has your back through thick and thin, good times and bad.  He always listens.  He always answers.  He never let's you down. He is faithful. 

I have not always had an easy or unflawed life.  Things do not always go my way.  And I regret a lot of bad decisions over the years that I have made. But when I think of the faithfulness, the loyalty and unerring devotion of my God, I have a heart of gratitude that He has seen me through and He has guarded and blessed my life.

I do not know where I would be without Him in my life today. How about you? God stands beside us. He leads and guides us by the power of His Holy Spirit. And He has promised to establish you and guard your heart against the enemy. He is FAITHFUL.

The Prescription

Often, when we are sick we visit the doctor, obtain and fill a prescription, then begin taking the doctor's prescribed "dose" of medicine. We are careful to take the dose several times a day, because we believe that it will bring us healing. Today, I declare and decree that Christ Jesus offers you and I only one dose that cures. Exodus 15:26 shouts, "I am the Lord that heals you".

God also holds a prescription for us.  He desires to bring complete healing and restoration to your life today. Whatever you face, whether sickness, depression, feeling of inadequacy, abuse, or spiritual decay...God is the Lord who healeth thee.  Scripture declares that Jesus is Jehovah-Raphe' (The Lord who heals).

He is compassionate about helping you in your present condition. He offers you deliverance and healing today. So in your moment of weakness and perhaps fear of what tomorrow holds for you, reach out in faith today and accept the healing hand of Jesus Christ."By His stripes, we are healed..." (Isaiah 53:5)

Practice

There is just something significant about practice. If you want to play the piano, you must practice.  If you want to be a great swimmer,  you must practice.  If you aspire to do anything well - it takes much practice. God spoke to us about practicing and ingesting the Word of the Lord.  "To everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock...But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand." (Matthew 7:24,26)

Sometimes we have a lot of knowledge but that does not necessarily make us wise. Education is good but standing alone it is not enough. Wisdom is when we take the knowledge we have learned and put it into practice in our daily lives. There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom.

There are many people in the world who know about Jesus and His teachings. They have heard about the life of Christ and His ministry. Some may even quote the Holy Scripture and be able to recite the stories of the Bible. They know of the sacrifice He made to save their soul and make them apart of the Kingdom. But it's only head knowledge because they have failed to put their knowledge into practice.  Jesus calls them foolish like the man who built his house on the sand and the storm came and destroyed their house.

The man who puts biblical knowledge into practice is considered wise. And when the storms of life arrive the heavy rains beat down and the strong wind blows but that house stands because it is built upon the Rock, Christ Jesus. Put your knowledge into practice. Begin today and be a wise builder.

Forgiveness

The forgiveness of God is grace upon grace. Colossians 2:14 shouts, "And you, being now dead in your sins and uncircumcised in your flesh, hath He quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances which was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross."

Perhaps, you are in need of a LifeChange. God can enable you to nail your sins to His cross, but you must ask God for help realizing you are insufficient without Him.  We all tend to be extremely independent when God strives to help us depend more and more on Him.

Once you repent of your sins, they are nailed to the cross of Calvary and you are forgiven. Some individuals struggle daily with the pulling of sins and habits on their hearts and minds, when they need to simply leave it at the Cross with Christ. He has already paid the price for your sins, so leave them there. Give them to Christ and walk away as far in the opposite direction from your sin as possible. Christ has freed you from the bondage of sin.

Sweet Joy

There is nothing quite like walking in the sweet joy of the Lord.  Proverbs 17:22 declares, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” This verse is packed with wisdom and shares with us that a cheerful heart is one filled with joy and is very good for us. 

Sweet joy is good for our health, our general well-being, our relationships, and our spirit but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. The crushed spirit is one that is devoid of joy and will sap our strength, remove our vitality, and strip us of any motivation.

Joy is not just a fleeting emotion or moment of rejoicing. Joy does not come and go with the ups and downs of life, but joy comes from deep inside and is this unshakeable certainty that no matter what happens, we are held close and secure in the loving arms of a caring Savior.

The prophet Habakkuk proclaims, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:18). This joy is a divine gift, a fruit of the Spirit that God plants in our hearts.  In John 15:11 Jesus tells us, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”  

It is possible - We can walk in divine joy.  This verse in John 15 is a promise from Jesus. He is our joy. The same overflowing joy that Jesus has in His relationship with the Father, can also be in the joy we experience each day as we walk in fellowship with God.

Convicted

The word "convicted" is one that makes you think of a man standing before a judge in the courtroom, the gavel goes down, and the judge sentences the man to the crime for which he has been accused. In John 16:8, Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes..."He will convict the world of sin." When the judge makes his ruling and the sentence resounds through the courtroom, the verdict is final. Reality then sets in and the man understands the seriousness of his crime.

Jesus has charged us to live above sin. He paid the sentence for you through the blood of the cross, though you were guilty. He did it so you could walk away a free man, without penalty. In John chapter 16 we are taught that mankind is running around without rules and restrictions, racking up penalties for crimes with no sense of remorse for how we are living spiritually. But in the quiet hour, the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin.

When we lay our head down on our pillow at night, the Holy Spirit will whisper in our ear. When we step into the confines of the Church, the Holy Spirit will arrest our heart. When we pause at the red light, the Holy Spirit will convince us and reveal to us that there is in fact sin in our lives that requires repentance. It is in those quiet moments that we will know that the gavel is going down and the sentence will soon resound, if we fail to pray and ask God for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is ours for the asking. The price has already been paid by the perfect Lamb, Jesus. We need only repent, turn from our current direction in life, and follow hard after Christ. Scripture teaches, "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes unto the Father, but by Him." Your freedom from the sentence cannot be settled any other way. And today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time. You have no guarantees that you can settle your account tomorrow. Tomorrow may never arrive. Be ready today.

Living Free

The truth of God's Word brings freedom to our lives. By reading it and ingesting it into our spirit, we have life. Coupled with a relationship built on Jesus that is acquired through confession and repentance, there is no limitation to your future with God.

While in sin, I walked in bondage and captivity. I was bound to the things and the pleasures of this world. My actions were tied to an old life of sin. It was only my acceptance of the blood of Jesus Christ and my eyes being opened through the Word of God that I experienced freedom in Christ.

I am no longer a slave to sin and bondage, but I now walk in dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ. And the daily Truth of God's Word enables me to be strong and continue to walk in this freedom. John 8:32 & 36 declares, "And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore, shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

Experience this freedom for yourself today. Read John 3:16 about how Christ died for you.  Repent and ask God to give you spiritual freedom in your own life. He desires you walk in freedom.

Your Old Self

Disobedience is actually an obstacle of sin.  It is one that no one wants to discuss or even admit.  However, we all must stop circling this mountain and make a decision to allow God to make a change in our hearts. Scripture teaches, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things pass away, and behold all things become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)  

Every believer's new position in Christ is with Christ in heavenly places. The believer is now dead to the world.  He makes a choice to PUT OFF the old self and PUT ON the new self, created in righteousness and holiness by God.  It's a decision to walk in newness. When we come to God, He offers us new life.

We then must constantly set our heart on things above and put to death the practices of the old life of sin.  Daily we are to ask God to position us in our new nature and we must refuse to live a life where the old nature dominates any longer.  We are no longer to be enslaved by the sin of this world, but are to choose to walk in obedience to Scripture.  

Choose today to stop circling the mountain of disobedience. Walk side by side with God and ask Him to be your help.