Breaking Free

I remember a time whitewater rafting when I was thrown under the water, a raft was over top of me, the rushing water tossing me against the rocks and it seemed so long before I was able to come to the surface, catch a breath of air and see the light. Knowing there was help along the shore and vest on my body wasn’t really enough to quell the anxiety I was feeling in the moment and the moment seemed to last for a very long time. While you struggle to break free of something from your past, some present desire that you know is not in line with God’s will, or some great fear of failure or loss you can become filled with anxiety or sink into the dread of hopelessness, “I’ll never get out of this.” You know you must break free, but you can’t seem to overcome that barrier in your heart & mind. It always comes down to faith empowering your fight.

1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

You can do it. God is on your side!

Lifting Others Up!

Our world has gone crazy with attacks and accusations flying everywhere and against almost everyone! How sad it is that civilized people can’t seem to listen without being offended and neglect to speak with courtesy and concern. The selfishness and hatred that seeks to see another suffer and fall is nothing less than the way of the devil himself. Everyone would do well to remember the truth of Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Christian, we may expect this from the unsaved of this world but such behavior has no place in the Believer’s life and communications. Instead, we are told to lift others up not push them down nor celebrate when others fall.  We will reap what we sow.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

Saying things that will hurt another, passing on some gossip you have been soiled by, cheering the failure of others is the opposite of Christ-like. Bearing another’s burdens, lifting another up requires that we remain clean of these offences and that we try not to miss opportunities to encourage others in righteousness through our words and our deeds.

Jay

The Better Life

FRESH HOPE

The Lord's Side