Beloved…
We all want to have a happy, radiant and productive life. We all want to be a blessing to our loved ones, right?
Well, the first step is to know that this is what God created us for, that this is in great part what we were created for.
1- God created us for us to be happy.
How do we know that? In the next Bible passages that argument comes to life…
Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
That famous passage helps us see, first how much our Heavenly Father loves us. And it is logical to think that if God gave what He loved the most, out of love for us, what cost Him the most, then that eternal life must be somewhat extremely special, and coming from the Creator of the Universe, defined as LOVE, because God is love, then that life must be full of love, joy, happiness, in short, everything good, because it comes from God the Father, and He would not pay so much to give us an eternal life which would be miserable, full of sadness, fears, deficiencies and diseases. Reading the next passage...
Jn 10:10-11 The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Jesus reaffirms, in that passage, that the life He came to bring to us is a life of abundance. Abundance of life in all aspects; we know that this life of abundance doesn’t mean we will have no problems & difficulties in life. Receiving the Life that God gives to us through Jesus, besides meaning blessings in all aspects, also means rejections & difficulties, facing opposition from the world.
Jn 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
So when we are born again, we are born into the Kingdom of God, which of course is a world of love & beauty, where we are heirs together with Jesus. Jn 3:3-8, Gal 4:6. We then receive the power to overcome the sinful nature that we received when we were born in this spiritual world & become servants of righteousness. Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered. 18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
Through the renewing of our minds we come to understand that everything God asks us to leave behind & forsake is only for our good & wellbeing, & we receive not only the healing & salvation of our souls but also the healing of our physical bodies. Rom 12:1-2, Luk 9:23
1Pe 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
So then, the difficulties that we face in this world, which is a fallen world, where there are countless demons, devils, misery, diseases, evil, etc., those difficulties & problems turn out to be for our good, as we get strengthen by them as we learn to fight them in the Power of the Spirit God has given us.
1Jn 4:4 You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Why do we see Christians living dissatisfied, melancholic, afflicted, and unable to inspire love, faith, joy and happiness to those around them? Let's see…
In order to enjoy all that God wants to give us, it is important to follow the instructions that God himself gives us in his Word.
And… what is the main thing that God requires from us?
2- Let’s believe God.
The main thing that God requires from us is that we believe that He loves us and wants to bless us, more & much better than a father on this earth who loves his children. Mat 7:11
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
In other words, if we distrust Him, then we cannot please Him. That is why many people do not receive answers to their prayers, because when they ask for something they don’t believe that God wants to give it to them. If you don’t believe, is best not to ask…
Jam 1:6-7 But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For do not let that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;
Mar 9:23 Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say to you, all things, whatever you ask, praying, believe that you have receive them, and you will have them.
3- Let’s get filled with the Good
It’s easy to understand that we can only give that which we have, right? That is why it is vital to fill our souls with good things, so that we can give from what we have inside. And what I mean is, for example, if we don’t eat good, clean food, our physical body will suffer for it, right? God’s Word is specific in this respect.
Phil 4:8 Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.
We have to realize that when we read a book, watch a movie, or a TV series, we are listening & feeding our souls with the thoughts, ideas, concepts & philosophies, etc., of the man who wrote them. So if the author is not a man of God, but rather a man of the devil, we will be feeding our souls with polluted nourishment for the soul, which in the short or long term will directly influence our spiritual state.
It is easy to notice this in our children. If they watch a horror movie, they will have nightmares, right? I had a nightmare when I was 5 years old & was taken to the cinema to watch the first Disney movie I watched, Snow White, that night I had an awful nightmare with the witch, my dear mom came into my room & hugged me, kissed me & comforted me that night.
Books or movies of terror, fear, hatred, violence, pornography, perversion, stupidity, homosexuality; what do you think they are going to generate in us?
If it’s not true, honest, right, pure, lovely, of good report; virtuoso, worthy of praise, it is stupid of us to sit down & eat poisonous spiritual food. Efe 4:27 neither give place to the Devil. Reading or listening to Satan's propaganda is extremely damaging to the soul.
And to mention main stream media TV news; they are a package full of lies programmed to deceive, manipulate and destroy families.
95% of the news presented in those news chains are half truths manipulated to make people believe what the criminal leaders of the world want people to believe. If you want to be filled with faith, & peace, TURN THE TV OFF!
That is why God emphasizes in his Word the importance of reading, and memorizing his Word, because it is all full of love, truth, honesty, justice, purity, of everything kind, of good name, of all virtues, of praise. In it, in the Word, we are commanded to think, meditate, reflect, etc., and it is the Word of God that generates Faith in us.
Rom 10:17 So then Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Filling ourselves with the Word of God is equivalent to living in communion with our Heavenly Father, which is something that immediately transcends to the people around us, since the fruits of the Spirit of God become evident in our lives. A person who communes with God transmits love, joy, peace, patience, longsuffering, goodness, faith, kindness, gentleness, & self-control Gal 5:22-23.
Unlike someone who is sad, confused, dissatisfied, selfish, angry, grumpy, discouraged, envious, etc.
Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Reading the Bible once a week is equivalent to eating lunch once a week and thinking that we are going to have the energy needed to compete in a race. We have to spend time in the Word EVERY DAY!
It is actually easy to know what are we filling our soul with, when we consider our state of being; do we have peace? Or are we fearful & confused? This doesn’t mean that a person who communes with the Lord will never sin, or lose his control, at some time, but when he/she does, it’s much easier for them to get up, clean up their act, & sooner recover their peace. And the more they grow & mature the less those falls will happen.
1Jn 2:1 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Music…
I talked about when we read books, or watch movies, but the same goes with the type of music we listen to.
All human beings have a musician within, so listening to good music with good lyrics is just as important, since music tends to stay with us. So if we listen to songs of heartbreak, betrayal, hate & negative feelings, etc., well, that will stay with us. Whereas if we listen to good music, not only good instrumental music, but songs about love, encouragement, conquest, praises, etc., hallelujah!!! That will be an encouragement for our souls. By the way, there are also “Christian” songs, which fill you more with feelings of condemnation and a twist of false humility, which generate anything but faith. So let us ask the Lord for discernment, what is also one of the gifts of the Spirit. 1Co 12:10
4- Let's forgive, keep moving forward and leave all condemnation behind.
One of the most effective tools of Satan to weaken our faith is that of "condemnation", he is called the accuser of the Saints for good reasons, Rev 12:10
In other words, the devil accuses us of everything he finds at hand to do it, and the main reason is because as Children of God we have not understood well what God has done for us through the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.
Let’s read the following Scriptures & ponder in our heart what they reveal.
Heb 10:9-14 then He (Jesus) said, "Lo, I COME TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD." He takes away the first so that He may establish the second. 10 BY THIS WILL WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE FOR ALL. 11 And indeed every priest stands daily ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right of God, 13 from then on expecting until His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For BY ONE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOREVER THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED.
2Co 5:21 For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Rom 5:8-11 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For IF WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES, WE WERE RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, MUCH MORE, BEING RECONCILED, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE. 11 And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.
In other words, when Christ comes to us and we accept his lordship over our lives, we become new creatures, holy and reconciled to God.
2Co 5:17 So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Being aware of this great truth is what we need to cast out all those thoughts of: I am no good, I am useless, I cannot, it is that I committed this and that sin; it is that I have this weakness, etc. Listen… If God has already forgiven all your sins, past, present and future, the day Christ came into your life, then why can’t you forgive yourself too, and forgive all those who have caused you harm in the past? This is the only way that the bitterness within you will dissipate from your life; otherwise bitterness could leave you fruitless in life. Why not fill your soul with the truth of God that will set you free. Hallelujah! If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Jn 8:31-32
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
There are some who think that Jesus only forgave the sins they committed before their conversion, but that from then on their salvation depends on their obedience. If it were so, we would all lose our salvation. Read well… Heb 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
Otherwise we would be saying that the Sacrifice of Jesus was not enough and now we have to complete His work with our works...
Gal 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. Rom 11:6 But if by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it is of works, then it is no more of grace; otherwise work is no more work.
We have to understand that after “we were reborn by God’s grace through faith”, God is now the one who motivates us to do good works and please Him with them.
Phil 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
All the glory is for God, otherwise I would have part of the glory also because I could think that I did this or that… not of works, lest anyone should boast.
So let’s FORGIVE… Mar 11:25-26 And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive it so that also your Father in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses.
5- Choose our companies well.
I think that as we can deduce from the above, we have to learn to surround ourselves with people who know the love of God as well, since walking in the company of negative people, who are looking for faults to criticize not only you but others, it is like listening to the enemy through them. People who like to criticize, accuse, reproach, reprove, murmur, etc., are harmful to the soul; So whenever possible, let’s look for the company of people who are leaders, people who are walking towards success, people who are enthusiastic, people who want to live, to love, who have faith, it is these type of people who will inspire us to give the best of ourselves, with these kind of friends we can go far; On the other hand, if we surround ourselves with negative, mediocre, critical people, selfrighteous religious people, then we will remain stagnant.
2Co 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 17 Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you 18 and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2Co 7:1 Then having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
6- Our Words
Let us remember that our words build or destroy our own life and that of those around us.
The Bible admonishes us to: Eph 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but ONLY SUCH AS IS GOOD FOR BUILDING UP, as fits the occasion, THAT IT MAY GIVE GRACE TO THOSE WHO HEAR.
Pro 18:20-21 From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Jesus strongly admonished us regarding our words.
Mat 12:36 But I say to you that every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the Day of Judgment.
You also need to realize that there are sermons that almost all they do is remind the listeners that: their sins this & their sins the other, & what they do most is plunge the listener into their sins instead of pulling them out of their sins & the hole where the devil wants to have them. It's like saying: let's look at the giants in our promised land, instead of remembering that the ALMIGHTY dwells in us, 1Jn 4:4
Remember the 12 Israeli spies in Numbers 13. Yes there were giants in the land that God had promised them, but out of the twelve spies only Joshua & Caleb reminded the whole assembly that Yahweh God, was greater & more powerful than all their enemies, and because they believed God, they were the only ones from the 12 who received the promise. See it? Talk about how Great God who dwells within you is, & not how great your problems are.
If you sit down to suffer those kinds of sermons, you will not be able to accomplish much for the Lord.
Every good leader knows how to inspire their listeners to believe and expect the best from them.
A father or a mother can edify their children by correcting them with love, with words of love, or they can destroy the confidence that they may have in themselves and make their walk in this life much more difficult.
7. Be Thankful
How important it is to always give thanks to God and be grateful.
...1Th 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 8 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Surely you must have noticed how uncomfortable it is to be near a person who is always complaining about everything. That negative attitude doesn’t help them, nor those around them either. Instead it is much better when there is a person who is always thankful, who can see the good even from the bad situations, because within his heart he is praising & thanking the Lord, because he trusts Him.
One of the first Christian slogans that I learned says: Praise is the Voice of Faith! So decide to praise the Lord at all times, & thank Him from your heart, you will see how much better you feel, & you will pass that joy that comes from within you to all those around you that may need a bit of encouragement. Let us remember that Jesus has left us HIS JOY, through his Words.
Jn 15:11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
8. Cleanliness and Order
It is also important to live in a place that is clean and orderly.
1Jn 1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
Living in a clean and orderly place, as well as the care we give to our body: being clean, smelling good, taking care of our appearance, with simplicity, but with care, is extremely important if we want to represent God well. What would you think of someone who comes to tell you about God, but who has not combed his hair, who does not smell good, who has dirty and wrinkled clothes? Do you think you could pay attention to what he wants to say to you?
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
God made everything beautiful and orderly, dirt invites insects and microbes. A clean and orderly place will inspire us to feel better.
Luk 16:10 He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
Finally, some important passages to improve our attitude towards life; Let us remember that each one of us is body, soul and spirit;
1Thes 5:23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Phil 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice! 5 Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Pro 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Pro 25:28 He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a broken down city without a wall.
Blessings… Alejandro
If this reading has been a blessing to you, please don’t hesitate to share it with the world. We need to be a blessing to others today, tomorrow may be too late. John 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day. Night comes when no man can work. Also as you may have noticed, all our material is there for you totally free. If the Lord leads you to give a donation to help us continue to share the Word with the world, there is a link to our Pay Pal account in our Home page. We will be forever thankful... Blessings in Jesus Name..!!!
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