“Do not give in to sinful desires.”    Romans 6:12 (NLT)

 The Apostle Paul writes: “So you should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.  Instead, give yourselves completely to God. . .”  (vv. 11-13 NLT).

Self-denial is a battle within itself.  As children of the Most High God, we must make every effort to deny the sinful desires of the flesh.  Trying to accomplish this in our own strength is impossible for us but it is by the power of God through Christ Jesus that we are enabled to do it.  When faced with temptations, the Apostle Paul says “we are not to give in to sinful desires.”  Therefore, to take control of our sinful and fleshly desires we must relinquish control to the very One who can handle it for us.  Turn to God in weakness and He will strengthen you!  Practice self-control by giving yourself completely to God.  Then you can walk in confidence knowing God is in control.

Matthew 9:37 (NIV) Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

All over the city is a sign that reads, “Help Wanted”.  Employers have stated that although there is plenty of work, there is a lack of laborers.  In Matthew’s gospel Jesus saw a multitude of those who had needs.  He told his disciples that, “the harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few”.

There is a need for people to work for the Kingdom of God.   Will you accept the position?  The only previous qualification is that you have received the gift of salvation through faith.  The benefits are eternal life.  If interested pray to the Heavenly Father the CEO.  All serious applicants should apply for immediate hire.  There are plenty of work in the position as a laborer in the Kingdom, but very few workers.

1 Samuel 17:45

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied (NIV).

There is no battle or situation that our Giant cannot defeat.  God is our Giant who is powerful than anyone, anything, or any situation.  Sometimes we find ourselves facing these little giants such as: fear and doubt.  Although they may appear to be powerful, they are no match to the power of the almighty God.   Fear is caused by the belief that the situation is impossible to handle.  Doubt is the uncertainty that anything positive will come from what appears to be impossible.

David was a shepherd, who came face to face with a giant.   David did not trust in his ability, but the power of the Almighty God. There were those who doubted that David could defeat the giant.   The giant appeared to be more powerful then David.  David stood firm in his belief in the power of God, and defeated the giant Goliath.

When we are faced with giants in our life, we must have confidence in God’s ability to help us defeat the giants. Like David we may have those who may know our situations and have determined that things will not get better.  Instead of looking at the situation in determining the outcome, we should look at the power of our Giant (God).    It is then that we can have victory!

These giants are no match to our Giant (God).

 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27 NIV).

¹If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel say—²if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us…  Psalm 124:1-2    (NIV)

What a joy to know that God is on your side!  Knowing that God is on your side brings comfort to a fearful soul.  When the enemy attacks, God is on our side fighting the battle for us.  As God’s children we deal with spiritual enemies but we can take courage because the Sovereign Lord is on our side.  The Lord declared to Israel through the prophet Isaiah, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me (54:17).”  This was not to say they would not have any trouble or face enemy attacks but it was to assure them that God was on their side to give them the victory.  This promise is for you today.  As you face trials and it seems like you are being defeated, remember God will not allow the weapons that are formed against you to succeed.  God delivers us from those who seek to destroy us.  So, remain faithful to God and obey His commands and you can declare as David; If the Lord had not been on my side.

My help comes from the Lord. . .      Psalm 121:2

Every Christian can be assured that the Lord will provide whatever help they may need.  God is a Spirit and yet we are to trust He will provide our every need.  How does God provide for all of our needs?  God is the creator of everything.  God is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient.  Putting our trust in God calls us to believe and know that God cares enough to send help for His sons and daughters.  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2).  When the children of Israel needed food while in the wilderness, God provided manna for them to eat. When Jonah was thrown overboard, he needed help. He needed someone to rescue him from drowning.  God provided a fish for Jonah’s survival.  Naaman was covered with leprosy and in need of healing.  God provided a young girl to give instruction of where he could go for help. When David, as a young boy needed help against an attack by a bear, God provided David with strength to overcome the bear. While Peter was in jail, God provided an angel to deliver him without harm. No matter what we may encounter, we can depend on God for help.  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).  God is aware of our needs.  I challenge you today to not stress over your problems or situations but look to God for help.  All our help is from God.

Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.   Psalm 16:1  (KJV)

How safe is it in this world today?  The increased violence and senseless murders in our communities renders cause for alarm.  Many people are living in fear of leaving their homes.  Some may ask why are Christians afraid?  The truth is, life’s circumstances can sometimes cause the faithful to lose confidence and heighten their concern for safety.  David, a man after God’s own heart came to understand that in the midst of trouble God would be his shelter.  David prayed to God for covering.  Asking God to preserve him expresses David’s desire for God to keep him safe.  Just like David, we too must put our trust in God who is able to keep us.  When I think of preserving, I am reminded of how my grandmother would preserve fruit and can fresh vegetables.  She would use the old fashion mason jars.  After filling the jars with fruit or vegetables, she would tightly seal the jars to keep its contents fresh.  These jars remained covered.  As long as the jars remained covered and tightly sealed, its content was preserved in order to be used later.  Once the time came to open a jar, we thoroughly enjoyed the great taste of the fruit and/or vegetables.  Likewise, ask God to preserve you so you can celebrate and enjoy life even in the midst of trouble.  God can preserve you from the enemy’s attack, sin, self and from dangers.  Let God cover you!

Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer. . .

We are constantly in spiritual warfare.  We live in a culture where gun sales are steadily increasing.  This is, of course, a result of the ongoing civil unrest in this country.  It has been reported that U.S. gun sales in the first four months of 2021 surged 31% to 15,966,389.  People are very much concerned about the safety of their families.  As they should be.  However, as believers in Christ Jesus we must be mindful that we are to cast all our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).  Prayer should be our first priority.  Our weapon against any and every situation we encounter in life is prayer.  It has been given to us; it is a gift.  Prayer is simply communicating with God.  The disciples continued in constant prayer while gathered together awaiting the promise of the Father.  At the appointed time, God answered.  They received the Holy Spirit.  We read in Luke 18:1 man ought to always pray and not faint.  Make prayer a priority each day.  Prayer can change you, your family, your situation and your enemy.  We do not have to be defeated when we have prayer as our spiritual weapon.  Continue in constant prayer!  And watch God work it out!

1 Peter 2:21 NIV To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

As a child, did you ever put your feet into your father’s or mother’s shoes?  I’ll assume that each of us have done this.  No matter how big those shoes were, you tried to take as many steps as possible just to see what it was like to walk in their shoes.  What joy to feel as though you were walking in your parent’s shoes.  As a child this experience was a lot of fun and self-gratifying.  Can you remember the joy shared as your father or mother watched you attempt to walk in their shoes?  Perhaps you fell as you tried to make steps in those “too big” shoes.  As I read 1 Peter 2:21 I was reminded of those times.  Peter says . . .leaving you an example, you should follow in his steps.  Christ is our ultimate example.  “This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind. . .Christ lived.  He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and. . .how to do it, step-by-step.  He never did one thing wrong, not once said anything amiss.  They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back.  He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right” (vv.21-23 MSG).  We can in no way fill the shoes of Christ but we can follow in His Steps.  Even if we fall, Christ understands and is willing to pick us up to allow us to begin again.  So I challenge you today to take it one step at a time, step-by-step to follow in His steps!

I Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love. 

You may ask how can everything be done in love?  We leave in a world where corruption is widespread.  Racism is very prevalent in our society.  We hear of senseless murders committed every day in our country.  Many American adults have resolved to carrying concealed weapons to protect themselves and their family.  Divorce rates are just as high among Christian couples as it is among non-believers.  Families living at poverty levels causing a struggle to feed and clothe their households.  Many of us live in neighborhoods and don’t know our neighbors’ names. Yet, we are to do everything in love, you say!  How can this be done?  How are we expected to do everything in love?  Paul directs the Corinthian believers how they were to act.  They were to “Be on guard, stand firm in the faith; be men of courage, be strong (v. 13).”  We are to abide by these same guidelines.  In order to do so, we must have a change of heart.  That change of heart requires self-denial while allowing our thoughts, actions, inactions, to be governed by Godly love towards God and others.  We are responsible for our own actions regardless to how others and this world treats us.  Let all that you do be done in love.  Ultimately, God sees all you do and He will reward you for your faithfulness and willingness to uphold His word.