FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS

2 Peter 1:5-7 CEV Do your best to improve your faith by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love.

There are instructions with everything and if we do as they say, whether it’s putting a piece of furniture together or cooking a new recipe, we will have the desired result. In the same way the Bible is God’s instruction manual for life and if we’ll follow the Maker’s instructions we will have the good result God wants us to have.😊

For instance, when we follow His instructions for peace which we find in Philippians 4:4-8 then peace will follow but if we’re not prepared to do as He says we sabotage ourselves without realising it.

God never tells us to do something for the fun of it but for our own benefit, and when He says to cast down imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:5), He means for us to stop imagining bad scenarios that steal our peace, that disagree with what God says. When demons come to torment us with the ‘what ifs’ we need to obey God’s instruction and cast them down!

The secret is in putting something different in our minds, to deliberately think of something that lifts our spirit. Maybe you’re upset about a family member and how they’re behaving, so start seeing that person the way you would like them to be. Speak the promises of God over them by faith and ask Him to turn them around and thank Him for a good outcome because the Lord is able to do the impossible.

If your work place is difficult, bring it to the Lord and ask Him to bless it and the people in it so much that the whole atmosphere of the place changes for the better. Speak joy, peace and prosperity into it.😊

And if we’re struggling with depressing, fearful thoughts, bring them to the Prince of Peace and ask Him to make you strong in your spirit to resist those demons and dismiss them. Declare what God says, that you are more than a conqueror, a victor not a victim, that you have the mind of Christ and He is not depressed or afraid!

Let’s follow the Maker’s instructions this week and commit it to Him, believing His promise to surround us with His favour, and rest in His steadfast love for us because it’s all about you and Jesus doing it together.😊 Amen.

BLESS THE LORD

Psalm 34:1-3 CEB 

I will bless the Lord at all times; 

his praise will always be in my mouth. 

I praise the Lord—let the suffering listen and rejoice. 

Magnify the Lord with me! 

Together let us lift his name up high!

I don’t know if you’ve read Psalm 34 recently but try reading it in different versions like The Message or CEV and others, it’s so encouraging.😊 It’s written by David who we know had experienced every kind of stress and distress imaginable but had remained steadfast in his faith in his God. 

When we find ourselves under pressure, or things seem to be all wrong, we may have a tendency to complain or mutter and even ask God where He is in it all! But God hasn’t gone anywhere, He’s right in the thick of it with us!😊

David discovered the secret of praising God when life was hard, even when his life was threatened, because he knew his God would not just hear his prayers, but would come to his rescue. He had proved it time and time again and he constantly reminded himself of what God had already done for Him and how mighty He is to deliver. We can do the same and remind ourselves of when God has come through for us before, when He forgave us, delivered us and never gave up on us.

David chose to bless God, to thank and praise Him because of who He is and because he knew his God would not let him down. His praise came out of a trusting, thankful heart, regardless of what was happening around him.

He wanted us to know praise defeats the enemy. Satan can’t stand being around people who are praising God for His goodness, faithfulness and loving kindness especially when we know we don’t deserve it, or things are going pear shaped!

So let’s be encouraged today to release our praise and bless the Lord, our wonderful Saviour, for all His goodness, for always hearing our prayers, and coming to our rescue.😊

Psalm 103:1 NKJV Bless the Lord O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Amen.

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash