Continual Growth

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

• Seeking God always and always seeking after His ways, keeps the Spirit within, and therefore brings great joy!
  
• It is God's will that we grow to maturity. I notice that if I center myself around worldly things like money, status, any material things, that I cease from growing spiritually. The Lord Jesus wants for me to grow and better myself and help guide others. I can only do so if I seek God, follow His instruction, and make Him the center of my life. It's only then that I may grow toward maturity.
  
• God is always an encouragement for us, and He wants us to do the same for each other. And, He wants for us to do it in as Christ-like a way as possible. That's why Jesus Messiah was brought to the earth, to show us how to be. And being an encouragement to others is one of His excellent examples.
  
• Placing God in the center of our lives, doing what He wants for us, growing and maturing, encouraging in love, --all things that will bring about God's great peace in our lives.
  
• In 2 Corinthians 13:14 the Word of God says "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." to me this is such a comforting and powerful scripture. It reminds me of God's love and grace and is a reminder that He always remains in us all. It's a scripture that helps me accomplish the things that the Lord wants for me.
  

Lord God, I pray that I may keep in mind all the things that You do for us and all of the great blessings that You pour out! Lord God may be an instrument of Your peace, may I be a good witness for Jesus. May I be an encouragement to others and give wise, Godly counsel when others need You. May the Holy Spirit always work through me in Christ Jesus. ~Amen

It's All in You!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.
Ephesians 3:20 (NASB)

• Paul, in this scripture, is praying that we will be strengthened through the Holy Spirit.
  
• "the power that works" --the Holy Spirit, "within us" --the fact that it is mentioned plural here, means to me that it works more mightily, and is much more strong when there are more believers in the body of Christ tapping into the Holy Spirit.
  
• God's greatness and His great power is far beyond comprehension. How powerful and mighty Jesus is and His great abundance, it surpasses our understanding!
  
• God, our Father in Heaven, knows all and knows what is best.
• This verse is a great encouragement for me to love and lead more people to Christ, in order that Christ's body may grow stronger and continue to grow in spirit and power.
  
• Verse 17 reads: "Christ may dwell in your heart through faith" Keeping the faith strong leads to Christ living and working within us!
  

Dear Heavenly Father I know that You are always passionate about us, so I pray that I may never lose any of my passion for or faith in Christ, but instead, let me only increase these qualities in myself. May I be able to attract and lead others to You, Jesus, by letting the power of the Holy Spirit work in me. ~Amen

A Heart of Obedience

"So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.' "

Luke 17:10 (NASB)

• The best things that are done in life are for the good,  and are done by obeying God's word, because we are called according to His purpose.
  
• Keeping my heart set on God in all that I do helps me endure through the things that I care not to do. 
  
• All credit is due to the Lord and Him only. It is He who gives us our gifts and abilities. God enables us to do what we do not to give us huge egos, or give ourselves glory, but to serve others and ultimately serve God.
  
• It's easy to get caught up in the world and caught up with praises by woman and man. I can get caught up in letting my ego get fed and forget, but this scripture reminds me to keep humble and remember from Who it all came from.
  
• I can and must always seek for the wisdom to recognize a need in an area where God wants my help and service and the courage to act upon it and follow through. This quality is something that I want to have not for recognition, but purely for obedience to God and to help Him accomplish His will on earth.
  

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that I may do all that you require of me, and never let me deny a request, or a command from You, Lord. Let me always do so remembering that it is only through You that I am able, and it is only You who makes any and everything possible. And I pray that in all that I do I may be a help to others and bring glory to You and Your precious Son's name, Jesus. ~Amen