Q. What one thing can you change that will change everything else in your life?

A. Your mind!

Let this mind be in you, 
which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:5 KJV

Always remember you are only one decision away from living the life of your dreams! If you don’t like what’s going on in your life, you can make the decision to change it. This year does not have to look like last year.  When you make a decision to change, everything else will adjust to accommodate that change!  You are one decision away from a different and new future. When you change, everything else will adjust to accommodate that change!

Regardless of where you find yourself today God is never too far away and prayer and praying will enable you to close any gap, distance, separation or even isolation that you may presently be experiencing.

Every day offers you a chance to begin again. Make a decision today not to focus on the failures of yesterday.  Allow yourself to possess the courage to start over and  fill your mind with positive thoughts and expectations, I call this possibility thinking! 

Remember, happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely upon what you think.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he

Proverbs 23:7 KJV

 

Can We Trust  God in All Circumstances?

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Dictionary.com  defines  trust as: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.  

If you have ever experienced trust issues you are not alone.   Increasingly it is becoming difficult to trust those around us especially with sensitive information about ourselves or our loved ones especially if we feel our trust may be mishandled or misplaced. The dread or fear of being betrayed can become immense.  So how can we resolve this? 

How To?

The best way to learn about trusting the Lord in difficult times is to go to the promises of God.  When was the last time that you spent time studying The Word of God?  God’s Word is replete with His promises that teach us about having faith in Him even through the difficult and hard times.  The book of Proverbs tells us that we must trust  with all our hearts, leaving no room for gaps or doubt.  

The Word of God tells us not to worry but this is not always easy to do.  Furthermore we are instructed to pray and to do so with regularity! Prayer will not only help to change the situation you face but it will also change the way you look at your situation. 

Yes, you can trust God, He will not fail or betray you and, as an added bonus, He will give you peace even when everything around you is in turmoil.  Allow yourself to trust God and you too will experience the peace of God.   

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your 

hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 JANUARY 2023

 Lamentations 3:22-24. 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

23 

They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

24 

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

    therefore I will wait for him.”

Despite all that has and is taking place around us we are blessed and privileged to have the opportunity to experience another New Year.

The Prophet Jeremiah was an individual who was going through one of the darkest periods of his life but he never gave up on hope as we see in Lamentations 3:21. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. 

Just like Jeremiah we sometimes need to remind ourselves about the truth of God's Word and the facts of life that we are faced with on a daily basis and the differences between what is true and what is factual.  Often what God has promised us and said to us does not match what is actually happening in our lives.  

In the quoted verses above The author had to remind himself about what was true, because his own circumstances offered no hope. Jeremiah stated that his “soul was bereft of peace” and his “hope from the Lord” had disappeared (Lam 3:17–18). Jeremiah had to make a decision to believe God (verses 22–24) and he used The Word of God to restore his hope. I want to encourage you today to do the same.  

When you are feeling low and think God is absent, deaf or unconcerned about your predicament  use The Word of God to remind yourself about these truths:  

God’s love is steadfast and steady. 

God and Word cannot be stopped.

God’s mercies are ongoing, new every morning, ceaseless, generous and abundant.

God is faithful and great in his faithfulness. 

God has given Himself to you.  God is your portion

If you have God you have access to everything He has access to. 

Remind yourself today - no matter what you are experiencing right now or going through begin to rehearse these truths - they are just as staggering as they are sustaining  and have the ability to strengthen you wherever you may presently find yourself right now.

Activate the truth of God’s Word in your life today by meditating on it and repeating it to yourself and the atmosphere surrounding your life. 

Pastor Avis