Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Psalms

Your Relationship with God

by

God’s love and mercy for us comes free of charge. We can’t do anything to deserve it any more or any less. The fact is we don’t deserve it at all. Still, the love of God is such He gives it to us anyway. We cannot work harder to be more deserving or earn more favor. He has already given everything on our behalf. Regardless of what we do or don’t do, He sees us as having unsurpassable worth and loves us unconditionally.

your relationship with God,God relationship,Jesus relationship,love,commitment,priorities,Psalm 139:7-12,where can I hide from God,you are there,Psalm 119:151,God is near,Hebrews 13:5,I will never leave you,Deuteronomy 31:6,never forsake you,Proverbs 18:24,closer than a brother,love,selfishness

image © kieferpix via Fotolia

No matter how much we may want it to be otherwise, none of our efforts will change these facts. However, when it comes to our relationship with Christ, we have a very direct influence on how close we are and how much our lives look like Jesus to those on the outside looking in.

[Read more…] about Your Relationship with God

Finding Your Identity

by

At least in the Western world, we tend to allow our lives to be defined by what we produce or consume. We measure our success in comparison to our friends and neighbors, whether it’s by how far up the corporate ladder we’ve climbed or how many toys we’ve collected. If our neighbor buys a new car, chances are good we’ll suddenly feel compelled to do the same.

finding your identity,love,mission,purpose,identity,Psalm 139:13,you knit me together,Jeremiah 1:5,I knew you before I formed you

image © Marina P. via Fotolia

If our friend and coworker receives a promotion, we’ll likely tell someone else the reasons we deserved it more than they did. When our identity is defined in relation to someone else, it’s easy to let these kinds of ugly reactions occur in our lives.

[Read more…] about Finding Your Identity

Personal Savior

by

Jesus is a personal savior. This isn’t news for any who grew up in church. We’ve heard all our lives how we need to accept Jesus as our personal savior. But how often do we take the time to marvel at what that actually means? Why is a personal savior better than any other kind of savior? As long as we’re saved, who cares, right? The difference comes down to love. Jesus is a personal savior because of how much love He has for you, for me, and for every single other soul on this planet.

personal savior,a.w. tozer.tozer.love.Ephesians 2:10.works He created you to do,grace vs. works,Psalm 8,Psalms 8,who am I that God should be mindful of me,just for you,Jesus loves you,Jesus loves me

image © LoloStock via Fotolia

This means while Jesus died for the entire race of humanity – past, present, and future – He would have died for you alone. That’s pretty crazy. Even if no one else mattered, you would have mattered enough for Jesus to give up His life. That definitely puts the personal in Him being a personal Savior for us.

[Read more…] about Personal Savior

Being Thankful

by

It’s Thanksgiving day in America. While I recognize a good number of readers are not Americans, being thankful is something to which we can all relate. So whether you celebrate Thanksgiving in your culture or not, I suggest we all take some time today to reflect on all our blessings. Even if you are struggling in this season of life, I am confident you can find some things for which to be grateful.

being thankful,Thanksgiving,thankfulness,thankful,Matthew 6:25-34,consider the lilies,God cares for your needs,Matthew 7:9-11,son asks for bread gives Him a stone,God gives good gifts,Psalms 46:1,ever present help in trouble,John 3:16,God so loved the world,gave His only Son

image © stcom via Fotolia

Something amazing happens when we pray prayers of gratitude. Our attitude changes. Our physical countenance improves. Most of us forget how truly blessed we are and take much of our lives for granted. But today, just for a little while, let’s reorient our focus on simply being thankful for everything God has done for us.

[Read more…] about Being Thankful

Prepared to Die

by

As someone who has longed to meet Jesus for a long time now, I was particularly struck by a quote I read from one of the early church fathers named Irenaeus. He said, “The business of the Christian is nothing else than to be ever preparing for death”.  The statement also reminded me of Francis Chan’s latest book, “You and Me Forever”, in which he espouses the primary role of the husband is to make certain his wife is well prepared for Heaven.

prepared to die,Francis Chan,you and me forever,Matthew 25:14-30,Psalm 144:4,Job 7:7,Psalm 39:5,life is a vapor,life is a breath,unprepared to die,unprepared,not ready to die,five finger death punch

image © Philip Audrion via Fotolia

Our entire lives should be spent preparing ourselves and others to meet Christ. This profoundly impacts the decisions we make and activities we engage in every day of our lives.
[Read more…] about Prepared to Die