Posts with the tag “desires”

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." - 1 John 2:15    It’s easy to get caught in the chase. You think, "If I could just have a little more, then I’ll be happy." A little more money, a bigger house, the latest TikTok shop trend, more clothes, more success.  The problem is, “more” never ends. You buy something you’ve bee...  Read More

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28   Do you ever feel in the midst of heartbreak and pain like your world is falling apart and that there’s no way out of the mess you’re in? You might wonder if anything good can come from your suffering, or if this is the end of the road. But remember, God sp...  Read More

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4   Yesterday, we discussed the idea that God wants to give us the desires of our hearts. But we have to be careful we don’t focus only on the promise that God will give us these desires. We must not overlook the first part of the verse: "Delight yourself in the Lord."  Before God fulfills our deepest desire...  Read More

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11   We have all heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” But this isn’t just some catchy phrase, it is the truth. And while we often can think about things we haven’t verbalized, there are things we have communicated strictly through ...  Read More

"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." - John 14:21   While God's unconditional promises are a testament to His unwavering faithfulness, His conditional promises remind us of our role in the divine partnership between God and humanity. Sometimes, God gives us promises that ...  Read More

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9   Living in today's fast-paced world, where everything seems instant and at our fingertips, it's easy to adopt a microwave mentality even in our faith journey. We want blessings, answers, and rewards right away, and we can become discouraged when they don't come as quickly a...  Read More

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." - Joshua 24:15   Life is filled with moments that require us to make deliberate choices—decisions that shape our character, define our priorities, and determine our destiny. Whether it's choosing forgiveness, taking action on a command from God, or simply obeying His Word, our response of...  Read More

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'" - Matthew 16:24    In our journey of pursuing God's best, we've explored the importance of seeking it and the necessity of waiting for it. But there's another aspect to consider: the sacrifice required to obtain it. God desires to give us His best, but often, it comes a...  Read More

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31    In the hustle and bustle of life, patience is often in short supply. We live in a world of instant gratification, where waiting feels like wasted time and delayed desires can lead to frustration. But when it comes...  Read More

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33    Life is full of choices. Some are big, some small, but all with the potential to shape our future. And in a world that offers so many options and opportunities, it can be tempting to settle for what seems good in the moment, rather than holding out for God's best. But I want you...  Read More

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26    The word "hate" can be jarring, especially when we hear it in the context of our relationships with others. But when Jesus tells us to hate our family members and even our own lives, He's not advocating for actual hatred....  Read More

"You shall have no other gods before me." - Exodus 20:3   Let's talk about priorities. We all have them—those things that take precedence in our lives, that occupy the top spot on our to-do lists and in our hearts. But here's the question: is God truly your #1 priority? It's a question worth thinking about, isn't it? Because here's the truth: God doesn't share His place. He doesn't settle for seco...  Read More

"Today, if only you would hear his voice, 'Do not harden your hearts.'" - Psalm 95:7-8   In the midst of our busy lives, God is a constant communicator. His messages, like gentle whispers, resonate through our existence. The challenge lies not in God's willingness to speak but in our ability to listen. Today, let's heed the call to attune our hearts and not miss the profound messages God is speaki...  Read More

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear." - Isaiah 59:2   Sin, a term that encompasses our disobedience to God's commands and our departure from His holiness, is far more than a mere moral transgression. It possesses the profound ability to erect formidable barriers between us and God, effectively separating us from Hi...  Read More

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." - Matthew 26:41   In the midst of life's challenges and temptations, you possess a powerful strategy: prayer. Jesus Himself emphasized the significance of prayer as a means to resist temptation and stay aligned with God's will. Matthew 26:41 captures this truth: "Watch and pray so that you wil...  Read More

"Then Jesus said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" - Luke 9:23   Surrender is a concept that can be both profound and challenging. It calls us to yield control and acknowledge that God's plans are superior to our own. Yet, surrender is not a sign of weakness; rather, it's an expression of trust in God's wisdom and sove...  Read More

"For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)   In our journey to level up and reach new heights in life, it's essential to recognize that sometimes the reason we cannot progress yet is that it is not the right time. As humans, we often desire immediate progress and instant results, but God's plans are intricately woven with divine timing. ...  Read More

Romans 6:1-2 (NIV) - "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"  God's grace is truly endless, covering our mistakes and offering forgiveness when we fall short. However, as recipients of this boundless grace, we must be mindful not to abuse it. Instead, God desires that when we mes...  Read More

Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) - "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!"   In our journey of faith, there are times when we find ourselves in a season of waiting. We often ask, "Am I waiting on God?" But have you considered that it might be the other way around? Sometimes, it is actually G...  Read More

 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10   Sin entices us with alluring promises, whispering lies of fulfillment and happiness. But beneath its seductive first impression lies a stark reality: sin cannot deliver on its enticing claims. Let's uncover the deceptive nature of sin and discover the abundant life fo...  Read More

 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23   Sin often presents itself as enticing and pleasurable, promising fulfillment and satisfaction. But beneath its seductive allure lies a hidden truth: sin takes a lot more from you than it gives back. Let's explore the deceptive nature of sin and discover the abundant life that comes from ...  Read More

“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." - Psalm 145:16   In our search for satisfaction and temporary relief, we often turn to various things in the hope of finding fulfillment. But deep within us, there is a longing that can only be satisfied by God. Let's reflect on what we are turning to for temporary pleasure and remind ourselves that true satisfaction can only be f...  Read More

“For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” - Romans 11:36  Not only does everything you have come FROM GOD, but everything you will ever want is THROUGH GOD. I’m talking about what you TRULY WANT, not the sinful desires your flesh wants in a bad moment and then regrets soon after.  I’m talking about the life you really want, the dreams you have, a...  Read More

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” - Proverbs 15:3  If you have been following along with us, you know we have been talking about receiving God’s ultimate blessing. The will of God is His perfect plan poured out in our lives. When we are obedient, we can experience the will of God and all that He has in store for us. But how do we know that God’s pla...  Read More

“’My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” - Isaiah 55:8-9  If you want to receive the blessings of God, you must come to grips with a brutal reality: you are not God. What we want for ourselv...  Read More

“Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ‘I will give it all to you,’ he said, ‘if you will kneel down and worship me.’” - Matthew 4:8-9  As we come to the end of Satan’s three temptation tactics, we continue to look at how Jesus responded to him. Remember, if you have followed along with us the last couple of days, ...  Read More

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” - Mark 12:30  Over the last couple of days, we have talked about obedience. If you want to honor God and live your life for Him, it all starts with obedience. You say, “Okay pastor, I am all in. I want to follow God, I want to obey Him fully and carefully, just as you have said. But now ...  Read More

“For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life— is not from the Father but is from the world.” - 1 John 2:16   Over the last couple days, we have talked about the temptations we face as human beings on earth. The same tricks Satan used to try and tempt Jesus are the same things He uses on us today. 1 John 2:16 gives us three different things, ...  Read More

“For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life— is not from the Father but is from the world.” - 1 John 2:16   If you want to be a faithful disciple of Christ and pursue the purpose He designed you for, you must be wary of the three types of sins this world will throw at you. Satan used these exact temptations with Jesus. As humans, they are d...  Read More

“For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life— is not from the Father but is from the world.” - 1 John 2:16   If we want to obediently live for Christ and submit to His will above our own, we must be aware of things that could compromise our obedience. Yesterday, we asked the question, are you promoting your brand or God’s brand? Well, there ...  Read More

“The man who does not give up when tests come is happy. After the test is over, he will receive the crown of life. God has promised this to those who love Him.” - James 1:12   We have spent the last few days talking about the situations, circumstances, and people God either allows or intentionally places in your life for whatever purpose He might want. What we know by now is that, with God, nothin...  Read More

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” - Psalm 37:4As believers, there is a question we probably do not think about enough. We know if we want to maintain a good relationship with God, like all good relationships, there must be an element of communication. We must pray to Him, we must seek Him. But the question is, what are we praying about? What are we seeking...  Read More

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires” (Psalm 37:4).We love to know that the Lord cares about the desires of our hearts. He is a personable God, and He loves to give good gifts to His children. But we don’t always receive our desires when we want them, and many times, our desires need to be changed because they are not really what’s best for us.When we delight in the...  Read More

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)When you study Revelation 17, you will find a counterfeit Jesus. This is what the anti-Christ is. After three and a half years of the tribulation, the anti-Christ will devour every bit of the world church. The Scripture would say it would devour the world church and set it...  Read More