What are you a slave to? A slave: Greek = doulos, pronounced doo-los. A person devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests. Or, it may be said; If you allow something bad to control your actions, you do lose. The Hebrew word is abad. Well? Today’s saying is; “My Bad!†The following was copied from "The Word for you Today". Here are three ways you can open yourself up to the power of evil: (1) By choice. The author of The Satanic Bible, Anton LaVey, said, “A successful witch or wizard must first surrender totally to Satan.â€, You’re probably wondering what kind of person would say or do such a thing. But the fact is, God gives each of us a free will capable of surrendering to Christ or to Satan. Paul writes, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves. . . so. . . present your [bodies] as slaves of righteousness†(Ro 6:16,19 NKJV). (2) By unrestrained indulgence. When any natural desire is indulged to excess, it can become an addiction and a force of destruction. Now, let's be clear here: addiction doesn't mean someone is demon possessed. Many Christians battle stubborn habits, and Christ has promised to set them free (See Jn 8:32). When you were saved Christ moved in and Satan moved out, because Christ won’t live in a duplex with the Devil. (3) By dabbling in the occult. God told Israel that those who put their trust in mediums were to be cut off from the community (See Lev 20:6). Ever wonder why spiritual mediums can’t pick the right lottery number, win a fortune, and feed the starving masses? Because they’re fake, that’s why! Speaking of Satan, Jesus said, “There is no truth in him. . . he is a liar and the father of [lies]†(Jn 8:44 NKJV). Don’t mess with the powers of darkness. The only true guidance that comes from a star, comes from Jesus, “the Bright and Morning Starâ€. (Rev 22:16 NKJV).
Yup - I agree - nice thread. If you are going to be a slave - be a slave to righteousness and only look to Jehovah and Jesus and their living words of truth.
You are so right! it makes no sense to be a slave for wickedness. their is no reward of any value. I want to be Jehovah's slave and Jesus subject that's the only way for me!
“Encourage [motivate] one another.†Heb 3:13 CEV BECOME A MOTIVATOR! Leslie was born with physical and mental challenges so severe that doctors had to remove his eyes. When he was six months old a nurse named May Lemke, who was raising five children of her own, adopted him and asked God to give him some kind of talent. When Leslie was thirteen May bought a used piano and played some simple songs, hoping he’d respond. No expression . . . nothing. She continued trying to motivate her adopted son to engage in life. Then when he was sixteen he pulled himself up to the piano, and without ever having touched a keyboard before, played a Tchaikovsky piano concerto. It was flawless, and May soon discovered that Leslie could play anything he heard. Then out of the blue one day he started singing, and that led to his playing and singing at concerts all over the country. All this came about because a mother facing incredible odds became a tireless motivator! In the movie Seabiscuit: An American Legend, one of the characters, Tom Smith, who specialized in rehabilitating injured and abused horses, was asked why he kept a lame, aging horse. He replied, “You don't throw away a whole life just because he’s banged up a little!†Consequently Seabiscuit, an undersized, overlooked thoroughbred, went on to win a Blue Ribbon. Thank God for motivators who make the difference between a trip to the glue factory or becoming a winner! Paul says, “Encourage [motivate] one another.†Somebody said, “Dreams always come a size too big so we can grow into them.†Motivators help you to dream big, then help you grow in order to fulfill your dream. People can run a long way on just a little encouragement. So become a motivator.
“Upon Jehovah throw all your worries, and He will nourish and take care of you. For He won’t allow ages to pass, while the righteous are tossed all about.†(Ps. 55:22) 2001 New Translation Bible ARE YOU GROWING SPIRITUALLY? First, you must learn how to carry your own burden. Second, you must be able to help those who are weak to carry theirs. Third, you must learn to give your burden to the Lord. “Throw your burden on Jehovah, And he will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to fall.†Sounds easy, but it’s not, because: (1) If you’re self-centered; you will think only about your own personal wants, needs, and plans. (2) If you’re a self-starter and self-motivator; you will struggle with the humility required to get down on your knees and say, “Lord, I need you before I make a move I need to know You are with me.†(James. 4:13-14) (3) If you’re self-sufficient, you will wait until your knees are buckling and your back is breaking, then send an SOS up to heaven asking, “Lord, where are You?†And He will reply, “I'm right here, wondering when you’re going to start trusting Me, leaning on Me and drawing strength from Me.†Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.†(Jn 15:5 NKJV) The key to success in God’s kingdom is: work like it all depends on you and pray like it all depends on God! Martin Luther said, “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.†If He has to, God will allow you to fall flat on your face in order to get you on your knees. If you’re wise, you won’t wait for that to happen. To let all of you know, I am not the one writing this information. It comes from a little book titled, "The Word for you Today". I used to be told, "Oh, that's from Christendom, don't rely on it." . . . . Well, I've found that God's word is helpful and truth, no matter who quotes it.
Yes, it's like in our magazines. There are beautiful pearls and unbelievable nonsense at the same time. I very frequently quote stuff from biblical encyclopedias and only quote the most relevant and interesting parts. Some passages are as nonsensical, which is already a feat..., as those present in our mags and at times, even worse... 1) "One isolating himself will seek [his own] selfish longing; against all practical wisdom he will break forth." - Prov. 18:1 "While we try to teach our neighbor all about the truth, our neighbor teaches us what the truth is all about" 2) "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding." - Prov. 3:5 3) "Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU." - Mat. 6:33 "So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to put on?’ For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For YOUR heavenly Father knows YOU need all these things." - Mat. 6:31-32 "Let [YOUR] manner of life be free of the love of money, while YOU are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.†So that we may be of good courage and say: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?â€" - Heb. 13:5-6 "(if indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of God’s congregation?)" - 1 Tim. 3:5 Why should we work ourselves to death for money whereas God said that he'd provide for us if we just had faith in Him ? Wouldn't He apply to Himself the commandment given to all in His Word ? Isn't He able to preside over His own household in perfect ways ? Our response to it is therefore a question of faith. Granted, it's easier said than done, especially when we're facing harsh economic conditions but Jehovah will never let us down.
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and said, “Why couldn’t we throw the demon out?†“Because you have little faith,†he said. “I assure you that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Go from here to there,’ and it will go. There will be nothing that you can’t do.†( Mt. 17:19-20 CEB ) We must learn to accept what is given, and not question what Jehovah has provided. It takes more than “little†faith. Notice that Jesus said they had “little†faith, and then said, “if you have faith the size of a mustard seedâ€. Apparently their faith was even smaller than a â€tiny mustard seedâ€.
“I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer.†(Job 30:20 NIV) “LORD, WHERE ARE YOU?†(1) Do you feel like God isn’t answering your prayers? Job the patriarch felt the same way: “I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer: I stand up, but you merely look at me. . .When I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.†(vv. 20 & 26 NIV). All of us go through times when it feels like God has moved and left no forwarding address. What’s He up to? Why doesn’t He respond? There are some lessons you only learn when God is silent: (1) Silence isn’t absence. An old proverb says, “Speech is silver, silence is gold.†Sometimes God says to you, “Be still, and know that I am God.†(Ps 46:10). You have to be really secure with somebody to just sit quietly with them. Silence takes the emphasis off words and builds a level of intimacy where they’re no longer necessary. If you want to be comfortable with God, learn to enter into meditation and silence with Him. (2) Silence tests your faith. How much faith is actually involved when somebody’s coaching your every step? It’s like a parent running alongside a child who’s learning to ride a bike. Right now the child lacks confidence, but they’re going to look strange at age twenty if that parent is still trotting along beside them! At some point God takes His hands off the wheel to see how far you’ve progressed. And for a while it can be a wobbly ride. That’s when you demonstrate how far you’ve come, and where you’re placing your trust.
“He will bring justice if you will only wait.†(Job 35:14 NLT) "LORD, WHERE ARE YOU?" (2) Have you ever tried to sit and watch a seed sprout? You can’t, can you? It stays in the ground until the time is right for it to emerge. There’s a lesson here. God has planted certain things within you, and you must wait for them to take root and grow. And the unresolved issues of your past can undermine this process. Often it takes prayer and counseling to bring these issues to the surface so that you can effectively deal with them. With God, a delay is not a denial. When speaking to Job, his friend Elihu said, “It is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. You say you can’t see him, but he will bring justice if you will only wait.†(vv. 13-14 NLT). What great advice! Charles Trumbull said, “God knows when to withhold or grant visible signs of encouragement. It’s good when He sends confirmation, but we grow faster when we’ve trusted Him without it. Those who do, always receive the greatest visible evidence of His love.†God answers every prayer; it’s just that across some He writes, The time is not right yet: Job asks, “How long will this trial last? Why doesn’t God answer?†Because it takes as long as it takes-and usually feels uncomfortable the whole time. But there’s good news. Eventually your prayers become less about getting answers and more about connecting with God. By letting Him work: (1) You begin to realize that He is with you; (2) You develop a deeper level of intimacy with Him; (3) You discover you can trust Him for the entire trip.
“What do you have in your house?†(2Ki 4:2 NIV) WHAT DO YOU HAVE? When you pray, God can answer in two ways: (1) He can use somebody you know. Who do you know? Who knows what you don’t know? Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.†(Lk 6:38). Note the word “men.†When God blesses you, He often does it through people. So who should you be listening to and walking with? “He who walks with wise men will he wise.†(Pr 13:20 NKJV) Observe the word “walks.†Wisdom comes when you’re moving forward, not resting on your laurels. You must be teachable, discerning, relational, and responsive. (2) He can use something you have. In Second Kings chapter four a minister’s wife was in trouble. Her husband had died, the bills were piling up and the creditors took her sons to work off the debt. When she turned to the prophet Elisha for help, he asked her, “What do you have in your house?†She answered, “Just a little pot of oil.†He replied, “Find every empty pot you can and start pouring oil into them. If you do, you’ll have enough to pay off your debts and live well.†(See 2 Ki 4:3-7) With God you always have enough to create what you need! He can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us†(Eph 3:20 NIV). Where’s the power? Within you! Your resources are in your gifting, your tenacity, your relationships, and your connection to God. So the word for you today is: what do you have?
“Find enjoyment in... all the days which God gives.†(Ecc 5:18 AMP) THINGS CHANGE, BUT GOD DOESN’T! Over one hundred times in Scripture we read, “It came to pass.†That’s because most things in life aren’t permanent. Things change, but God doesn’t! Knowing that can help you to handle the bad times and stop you from clinging so tightly to the good ones. Here are three important truths to keep in mind: (1) Enjoy today. It’s a gift-that’s why it’s called “the present.†Solomon said, “To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life.. .is.. .a gift from God†(v. 19 NLT). Even though you are constantly moving toward another goal or objective, learn to live in the present. Don’t put your joy on hold, or let it slip away while you’re waiting for the next big event. (2) Learn to appreciate the little things. They’re all around you: the love of a good friend, a kind deed, a fresh insight, a good night's sleep, the delight on your child’s face. When you appreciate what you have, it multiplies. When you’re grateful for the little things, God will give you more to appreciate. (See Mt 25:23). (3) Each ending brings a new beginning. There are two myths you should never believe. The first is the “forever myth,†which says your situation will never improve. The second is the “never myth,†which says if things get any worse you’ll never be able to handle them. Both are distortions. God's Word says everything comes “to pass.†And while you’re going through it, He promises to “strengthen.. .and help you†(Isa 41:10 NIV). Yes, this ending will bring your new beginning. So keep trusting God.
Beautiful Tsaphah, I really appreciated the last one! It's all too easy to say 'woe is me' and not just appreciate what we have now.
“The righteous are as bold as a lion.†(Pr 28:1 NIV) IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION (1) John Ruskin said, “What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence.†The only consequence is what we do: If you’re serious about succeeding at what you believe God called you to do, you must take three steps: (1) Do something! Sir Edmund Burke said, “Nobody made a greater mistake, than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.†Praying, planning and deliberating are all good, but there comes a point when you have to step out in faith and act. And if you’re naturally sedentary or easily discouraged, you’ll have to confront your fear and reluctance and take that first step. Declaration of Independence signer John Hancock said, “All worthwhile men have good thoughts, good ideas and good intentions, but precious few of them ever translate those into action: God promised to part the waters of the Jordan River so that His people could go through and enter the Promised Land. But the waters parted only after they stepped in (See Jos 3:11-17). The same principle applies to you. In the beginning you just need to get moving. Try different thing’s. It’s easier to start doing something right, if you’ve already started doing something. It’s easy to steer a car when it’s moving forward, but almost impossible when it’s standing still. Dennis Bakke, co-founder and CEO of global energy supplier AES Corporation, said, “We try a bunch of stuff . . . see what works. . . and call that our strategy.†In other words, if you don’t know exactly what to do, don’t let it keep you from doing something. (2 more to follow in the next 2 days.)
Yes, SingleCell, what we have is only temporary in this life. We must focus on what is important in each day. We don't even know if there will be a tomorrow. We must be appreciative of the fact that we are alive to enjoy Jehovah's marvelous creation.
I like this paragraph also. When I'm working along with people, I have to encourage them not to see themselves as "victims" - also known as "empowering." It is amazing what people can achieve when they are able to see their true potential. Wallflower
“His heart is established; he will not be afraid.†(Ps 112:8 NKJV) IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION (2) Cartoonist Jonny Hawkins drew a sketch of five-board members sitting around a table at the annual church business meeting. One says, “I see our church’s biggest problems as communication and procrastination.†To which a fellow board member replies, "I vote that we table this discussion till next year.†We smile, but you know it’s the truth, don’t you? In yesterday’s daily devotion we discovered that the first step to success is: Do something! Now let’s discuss the second step: (2) Do something today. Runner, author, and cardiologist George Sheehan puts it this way: “There are those of us who are always about to live. We are waiting until things change, until there is more time, until we are less tired, until we get a promotion, until we settle down—until, until, until. It always seems as if there is some major event that must occur in our lives before we begin living.†If you want to achieve your God-given dream, you can’t allow yourself to be one of those people! “How can I avoid it?â€, you ask. By doing something that will move you forward today! You can’t fulfill your dream all at once. You have to get there in steps, and the only time you can actually take a step is—today. German philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Each indecision brings its own delays, and days are lost lamenting over lost days ... What you can do, or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has power and genius in it.†So before the sun sets today, do something that will move you further toward your dream.