Sometimes God Makes Us By Breaking Us!

God sometimes has to has to destroy us or what we think we are or what we think we are supposed to be in order that He may make us into what He wants us to be. God told Jeremiah that he needed "to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy" false ideas and customs, in order then "to build, and to plant" right ones.[Jeremiah 1:10] 

The rock in the desert had to be broken before the water could flow out to refresh the people.[Exodus 17:6] Even so we must be broken before God can use us. In fact, God only uses those who have been humbled, broken, melted, remolded and remade -- vessels which have been married in the hands of the Potter and broken, that He may make them better vessels. That's the story of everyone who is any good at all for God's work.

Like God said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.  So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.´" [Jeremiah 18:2-4]

But some of us want to be used just like we are. We do not want to be broken. That is one of the most tragic pictures in all human life: The picture of the man who says with "Invictus" -- "I am Captain of my fate, I am Master of my soul! My head is bloody but unbowed!" If the clay is soft and malleable it can be molded into a beautiful vessel, fit for the Master's use. But if it hardens and becomes brittle, it can only break and become crushed in the hands of the Potter.

God only uses humble and broken people. "Humble thyself therefore in the mighty hand of God and in due season He shall highly exalt thee."[1 Peter 5:6] For "God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble."[James 4:6] Sometimes we say, "Why have You made us like this?"[Romans 9:20] But the point is, if we give Him a chance, He will remake us! Draw nigh to God and trust that the breaking you are going through is part of your remaking process. God loves you and has good plans for you if you will yield yourself to Him!

"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 29:13] "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory."[Ephesians 3:20-21a]

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In Your Patience Possess Ye Your Souls! - Luke 21:19

Hurry is the Devil's business! He's always in a hurry and always trying to make people rushed because then they are most apt to make mistakes.

The answer is never in rushing ahead in our own strength! God told Moses to smite the rock once with his rod and then bring forth water. The Lord Himself was willing to abundantly supply if Moses would only speak to the rock. But Moses smote the rock twice and gave the message with violence and wrath. He did the right thing but in the wrong way and God was so angry that He told Moses, "Because ye believed Me not" -- angry impatience is a sign of lack of perfect faith and rest in the Lord -- "to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel!"--to show a better example of God's Own infinite loving patience with His people and faith in God--"Therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." (Numbers 20:12)

Lord, we ask that You will teach Thy sons and daughters patience and faith, which takes time. Teach us never to get in such a hurry and not to push ourselves so hard, as though we had to do it in our own strength. Help us to learn, Lord, how to lean on You and know that You're going to take care of it somehow. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit," says the Lord Almighty.[Zech 4:6]

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The Power of Positive Praise is Terrific!

There is always plenty for the Devil to pick on and he really tries, but when discouragement strikes, look up. We have to make a conscious effort to rebuke the Devil and think positive, good thoughts instead! The Lord is able to chase all the shadows away, all of the doubts and fears and lies of the Enemy. But we need to do our part.

Get positive! Count your blessings! Thank God for all He has done and just chase the Devil away, all his shades of night by letting the light in, God's positive light of Scripture, the Word, prayer, praise, and songs! Anything we can do to occupy our mind completely with positive thinking can help us to victory! "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoeverthings are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." [Philippians 4:8]

It's a kind of work therapy. It's a prayer and praise therapy. It's a Scriptural therapy. It's a song and hymn therapy. All these help chase away the shades of night that the Enemy attack us with. If we are thinking about the Lord and putting Him in the center focal point of our concentration and our consciousness, then this pushes the Devil and all his doubts and lies and fears into the outer fringes. We cannot think about both at the same time.

Therefore, "Keep on believing and praise your way through" to victory!

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Deliver us, Lord, from the Devil and His Poisonous Lies!

Just a little bit of doubt, a little bit of fear, a little bit of complaint, a little bit of discouragement, can grow and grow until you are totally defeated. That little crack in your armour is where the Devil begins to seep in, and then his gas of deceit begins to poison you.

The Lord allows the Devil to attack sometimes in order to teach us lessons and in order to drive us closer to Jesus, but He never allows him to overcome us if we will hold onto the Lord and plead His protection and His purification and His purging of our sins which do so easily beset us!

The Lord is the antidote! The only cure is to call on Jesus, call on the Spirit of God! Call on the Lord and ask Him to deliver you! "Resist the Devil and he will flee from you! Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you."[James 4:7b-8a] Be thoroughly inoculated by the Spirit of God. Build up a genuine spiritual resistance. Pray deserately and let the blood of Jesus flow to cleanse the wound and purify your spiritual body from the poison of the Devil's venom, washed in the pure water of the word! Ask the Lord to do a miracle and deliver you, because only God can do it! You are not stronger than the Devil, but God is! 

From the booklet Daily Might, page 28.

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On Guard

Its a fight, beloved! It's a battle. The enemy of our soul just needs a little time of compromise to get close enough to strike us some mortal blow below the belt. The unguarded moment is a grave danager. Just one moment in unguarded danger can put anyone of us in our grave. Except for the mercy of God!

We as believers in Christ are in serious warfare. We had better be constantly on our guard, ready at all times to fight any attack of the Enemy, who is just waiting for our unguarded moment. That's why we need to stay very close to the Lord and be led by His Spirit in all we do. We cannot lean to our own understanding but in all our ways we must acknowledge Him, and then He will direct our paths.[Proverbs 3:5-6] If we don't stay close to the Lord, we are apt to fall into one of the Devil's traps.

Help us, Lord, to realise we are in a constant battle and we must keep on Thy whole armour day and night and never let our guard down. Keep us close to You, obedient, wise as serpents and yet harmless as doves, constantly in prayer, constantly dependent upon You, Lord, prayerful, careful and cautious. Help us to give You all the cooperation we can. Keep us in the hallowed protected center of Thy will. In Jesus' name we pray. 

From the Daily Might page 62.

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Don't Let the Devil Get You Down!

Discouragement is the Devil's favorite weapon. He tries to get you looking at your own mistakes, sins, weaknesses and failures. The Devil, the accuser of the saints, picks on all the little things, all the tiny little faults! If he can't discourage you any other way, he tries to belittle you and belittle what you are doing. He whispers the lies that are most easily believed, either about yourself, or sometimes other people, even your own loved ones.

But the Lord doesn't say to look at yourself or others. He doesn't say to look at all the problems and troubles either. He says, "Look unto Jesus." Let's read it from God's word.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (those saints of God that have gone before us), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For considered Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."[Hebrews 12:1-3]

What is dicouragement? It means not encouraged, without courage, or your courage is at a low ebb. Discouragement is a loss and lack of faith. "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God." [Romans 10:17] So when you get discouraged, the quickest remedy is to start praying and quoting Scriptures and reading the Bible and telling the Devil he's a liar. Your faith will grow, the doubts will flee, and you will be on the road to victory once again!

"Be strong and of a good courage...for the Lord your God, He it is that does go with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you...fear not, neither be dismayed: for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."[Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Joshua 1:9]

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Be Not Weary & Faint in Your Minds! - Hebrews 12:3

It's a struggle to live! -- It takes faith and courage and a lot of fight. The trouble with some of us is that we stop trying in trying times. Some people faint in their minds. They give up mentally and they give up spiritually!

But God's word says, "Men ought always to pray and not to faint." [Luke 18:1] "Pray without ceasing!" [1 Thes.5:17] "Be not weary in well doing: for in due season ye shall reap, if you faint not." [Galatians 6:9] "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." [Ephesians 6:10]

The will is powerful. "The spirit of a man sustains him; but a wounded spirit, who can bear?" [Proverbs 18:14] Strong faith with a strong will has many times overcome seemingly insurmountable handicaps.

When you are weak and incapable and insufficient, then God has a chance to be strong and capable and sufficient in you! So don't give up too soon, don't get rescued prematurely, don't quit just before the victory! Anything wonderful can happen in that little margin of time when you do not give up, but keep on believing and keep on praying!

And you will never be sorry! You will always be glad throughout all Eternity that you held on and kept on keeping on for Jesus! "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."[2 Chronicles 15:7]  

Acknowledgement: From the booklet "The Daily Might." page 176.

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The name of the game is faith and trust!

The name of the game is faith and trust.

The Lord loves to see if you've got real faith and you're going to trust Him no matter what. Sometimes our faith can be tested right to the brink, to the edge, even to death to show that it's real faith! That's the faith you've got to have if you're really going to make it. You've got to be willing to trust the Lord, live or die, sink or swim!--Like JOB! Job finally made it, and it's one of the most glorious testimonies in the whole Bible of suffering and defeat and discouragement and yet a faith that carried him through.That's the greatest victory of all, when you seem to be defeated and you still trust the Lord.

That must be the greatest and the most pleasing thing to God, that even when it looks like you're defeated, you still trust Him anyhow, like Job. The Lord must really be pleased with that kind of faith.--Faith in the face of disaster, faith in the face of agony, faith in the face of death! (Heb.11:6; 1Jn.5:4)

He loves to watch you make it in spite of all the tests and trials. He loves to watch you win, win the race, endure the affliction and the battle and fight through and win! So, God bless and keep you trusting!

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Deep Truths

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Daily Might!

"It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

Too many Christians have been taught two conflicting doctrines: first, that they can't be saintly and perfect, and second, that they can't be saved unless they are. Both are the Devil's own doctrines! It's no wonder that a lot of Christians give up trying to be or do anything for the Lord!

Of course you can't do it! Of course you can't save yourself! Of course you can't live a perfect Christian life! Of course you can't be good or do anything good of yourself! Jesus Himself said, "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). But the wonderful truth of the matter is that you can do anything with Jesus' help. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). With His help you can do anything, go anywhere, and be anybody God wants you to be.

God doesn't want you to try or pretend to be something you're not and couldn't possibly be. However, He teaches in His Word that almost anybody can be almost anything if they have faith and it's according to His will. Anybody can be somebody or somebody can be anybody, because with God nothing is impossible and all things are possible to those who believe (Luke 1:37; Mark 9:23).

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Daily Might - Our spirits are contagious!

Sometimes just a word or a smile can make a big difference—how we look or sound or seem. If it's not cheerful and victorious and uplifting, it's bound to drag somebody else down with us. Others will partake of our spirits and be influenced by our attitudes. This is why it's so important that we dwell on the positive, not the negative. Think about the good things (Philippians 4:8). Be encouraging, loving, and cheerful. Love begets love. If we are peaceful, trusting, patient, restful, and full of faith, this is the way others will also react. A little real love goes a long, long way!

No man is an island. Everybody has influence. One person walking in love will encourage others to do likewise. If you show love, others will catch the same spirit. It's such a contagious thing—the love of Christ in action. It spreads from heart to heart.

If we live enough with God, like Moses did, a little of God will rub off on us too and we'll be happy and our faces will shine with joy and the Spirit of God (Exodus 34:29-34; Numbers 6:25-26). That's the secret! If we shine forth with enough love, others will reflect it.

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Daily Might

Praise your way through! That's how you get the victory!

Even the greatest men of God, such as King David, sometimes got discouraged. David was a great psalmist and he usually sang beautiful praises to the Lord. But once before he was king, he was sure that King Saul was going to kill him, and he said, "I shall perish some day by the hand of Saul" (1 Samuel 27:1). Thank God David never wrote a psalm saying that! How could you sing that? Did David ever die at the hand of Saul? No, he never did. So that was just the Devil trying to discourage him.

If you let the Devil get you down and use your mouth to speak doubt and discouragement and lies to others, you are preaching the Devil's own doctrines. Don't do it, or you're just letting the Enemy in. Take a positive stand against the attacks of the Devil. Fight him and fight his doubts. The minute you feel discouraged, start praising the Lord. Go on the attack! As long as you have praise on your lips, you can't complain or speak doubt.

The Devil hates praise. He hates songs that praise the Lord, and he hates God's Word most of all, so keep full of it.

copyright@thefamilyinternational

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God is a Spirit!- John 4:24

God is the Spirit of Love. He is the Great Spirit, the Creator. He is not some old bearded gentleman way off somewhere, or some kind of ferocious monster that you can not understand, but He is the genuine Basic Power and Guiding Light of the Universe. The all powerful, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent Spirit that pervades all things. He is everything, and everything is God, in a sense. As Paul has written, "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being." Act 17:28 and Colossians 1:16 and 17; "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."

God dwells in life: He dwells more in one little sparrow than He does in all of the buildings and monuments supposedly dedicated to Him! "For the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands!" (Acts 7:48) He said even the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Him! Nevertheless, the High and Holy One dwells in the heart of the meek and lowly. (Isaiah 57:15) He will live in your heart if you will ask Him to come in.

He is everywhere in Love. He is the very Spirit of Love in your heart. He is inside you, so close. His Love is there wherever you are, whenever you ask for it. As King David so beautifully expressed in the Psalms,"If I am up in Heaven, Thou art there. If I descend into the depths of Hell, Thou art there. Wherever I am, Thou art with me. I can never depart from Thy Spirit! (Psalm 139:7-12) Ask Him into your heart today!

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Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee. Psalm 55:22

The Lord says in His Word that He will never give you more than you are able to bear and that He will always make a way of escape. 1Corinthians 10:13. Somehow He will make it easier for you or at least help you to bear it. Even of our service for Him He says, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light!" Matthew 11:28-30. That verse can be a real encouragement to you sometimes when you may be tempted to feel like life is just too hard and the burden, the particular thing you are going through, is just too heavy.

Sometimes it is a rough and a rugged road, with a hard and a heavy load, and the people you meet are not always kind. But most of the time it is a smooth and a happy road, He helps you to carry the load, and many lost souls you will help to find!

So if you ever feel overloaded and down in the dumps, dump it on Jesus! And if you really are overloaded, He will help you! Seek the Lord! Cast your burdens on Him! Just roll it over on Jesus and roll over and go to sleep and let Him stay up all night! Do not worry about it! Let the Lord do the worrying! His shoulders are broad enough to carry any load, all the burdens put together, including His own!

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He wants you to be happy! February 28

From the Daily Might

God is not a sad God! He is a happy God, who wants you to be happy, too!The Bible says in Psalm 144:15, "Happy is the people whose God is the Lord!" This is the whole point of salvation, to relieve us of the suffering, pain, death and tears brought into the world by the Enemy and sins of man! God is not a monster who is trying to deny you everything and make you miserable. But He loves life and created it all for you to enjoy! He has made this beautiful world as a home for you to live in and enjoy and He has lovingly given you a wonderful body, mind and heart with which to enjoy it!

In fact, He sometimes almost spoils us with such blessings that He gives us the desires of our hearts for having delighted ourselves in Him. (Psalm 37:4) But God is pretty smart. He knows that the happier we are, the more we will love Him. The more we love Him, the more obedient we will be out of pure love and so do an even better job for Him in serving others with whom He wants us to share His love!

He wants to make you happy with His love and help yo to make others happy, too, with both His love and your love! This is our main purpose in life, to love God and enjoy Him forever, and to try to help others to do the same!

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