Psalm 121:2 NKJV “My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Sometimes no matter how we try, we encounter problems that are beyond our human capabilities even as believers in Christ Jesus. So then, what do we do in such a situation? Most times we look to someone else to give us help. But, although people are sometimes willing to give us help, they are not capable. The Psalmist had a better idea. He understood the key was not to look in to himself or out to his friend, but to look up to the Lord. We need always to look up to the Lord to receive the very help we need in every problem. He is our ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).  Sometimes our problems seem really big. But that is because our perspective is wrong. Remembering that God from whom we seek help is the ONE who made heavens and earth should make our problems diminish, in the light of God’s power (Jeremiah 32:17,27). How great is God’s power? Look at the earth and the heavens He created. Few of us doubt the ability of God to solve our problems. But many of us struggle with God’s willingness to do so. But listen to what God says in Isaiah 41:10 NIV “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Sometimes we may feel sad, confused, and angry when we face problems; but we must never lose hope. There is always help from the Lord. He can make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). Our trust is in God (Psalm 20:7). He is faithful!

ROMANS 12:2a NLT “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

Many people would like to see changes in their life but may not know how to make the changes. To change the way you act, you must first change the way you think. Because you act like the person you think you are (Proverbs 23:7). But to change your thinking, you will need to focus on different information. Our beliefs are the cause of our actions. So, to permanently change behavior, beliefs must be changed. A belief is a thought you have decided to accept as truth. You choose your beliefs. Then your beliefs determine your actions. You always act on what you believe. As long as you think something is advantageous for you, you will keep doing it. People normally do not act contrary to their beliefs, except under great pressure. When your beliefs change, your utterance and your actions will also change. Trying to change your actions without first changing your beliefs will fail because your beliefs govern your actions. For example, if you believe God loves you, you will turn to God when you need help. But if you believe God is mad at you, you will be hesitant to seek God’s help. Usually, our wrong beliefs are based on incomplete and inaccurate information. But our beliefs always determine our actions. Humans are like a guided missile, programmed to change course when new information is presented and accepted. So, the first step for positive change in your life is to get information that will change the way you think. Study the scriptures and discover what Jesus Christ has done for you. Find out who you are in Christ. Find out how God sees you. To change your behavior, you must first change your beliefs!

 

John 8:12 NKJV “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

The term achluophobia is the fear of the dark or darkness. ‘Achluo’ is Greek word for darkness and ‘phobia’ means fear. It is a simple phobia specific to the environment of darkness. Being in complete darkness is frightening. It induces a sense of helplessness. And yet physical darkness is nothing compared to emotional, relational, and spiritual darkness. Today you may feel like you are in a dark place with no way out: “Your girlfriend left you for another guy.” Or, “You are probably headed toward divorce. Your husband has been cheating on you.” Or, “You are depressed and weep for no reason. When will the blues go away, you ask?” Or, “You are wrestling with a terrible illness, and you are basically a shut-in. You are in a dark place and need help.” If that is your story, there is help, and there is hope. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” If you are willing to turn to Him today, you will discover that He can illuminate your path and show you the way out of the darkness you are in. When you turn on the light, darkness has to leave. And Jesus is the light that removes our spiritual and emotional darkness. Notice that Jesus did not say He is a light, or one among many lights, but instead the light. He did not say He is light just for some, but the light of the world. Regardless of where you live in the entire universe, Jesus is your answer. He is the WORD that brings light (Psalm 119:105). If you are living in darkness, He is inviting you to come to Him and step into the light, right now!

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1 Peter 5:7 ESV “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Anxiety can creep up at times when we least expect it and quickly overwhelm us. Or it can take up unwelcome and apparently permanent residence in our lives. Anxiety may take on different faces, and it may be propelled by different circumstances, but the issue itself is surprisingly common. When we face anxiety, we often try to ignore it by distracting our minds: engaging in activities. Notice, though, that in this verse, Peter does not say we are to deny, ignore, or flee from anxiety. Instead, we should be “casting all [our] anxieties on him.” The Greek word for “cast” here could be used to describe throwing out a bag of trash. So, instead of going through our days pressed down by the burden of anxiety, we are to throw it, hurl it, upon the Lord. To do this requires us to be humble. Being humble is what enables us to give our worries to God. When we attempt to take matters into our own hands through too much worry, we indicate an absence of humility; we are more concerned with ourselves than with our heavenly Father, or we are more determined to navigate our own course than to leave it to Him. There will always be a circumstance that can make us anxious. Peter does not address any specific circumstances, though; rather, he addresses the anxiety produced by the circumstances. Our anxiety itself is what we cast upon the Lord, doing exactly what the Bible says to do: humbling ourselves under God’s hand, saying, “My Father knows best. He cares for me better than I can care for myself.” The Lord is always willing to help. Perhaps it has been a long time since you knelt beside your bed and truly cast your burden upon the only one who is able to carry it, saying, “God, I cannot live my life with this burden anymore. Take it. It is Yours.” If that is you, do not hesitate any longer. Cast your anxieties into the loving arms of your heavenly Father and experience the freedom and peace only He can provide.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Bad things happen in life sometimes. There are times we do not understand what is happening or why. But we can always be thankful for many things: God loves us. Jesus died for us. Our sins are forgiven. Jesus has promised to never leave us. God is our Father and He is faithful. We have an eternal home in Heaven. In Christ, we are more than conquerors. We are redeemed from the dominion of darkness. We have access to divine healing and prosperity. We are joint-heirs with Christ. What we choose to focus on determines our attitude. While we may face problems, we do not have to let those problems become our focus. We can choose to give thanks and praise God for His goodness and faithfulness. Imagine how wearisome that will make Satan and his cohorts feel! Also, think of the pleasure it brings our Father God when we stay in faith and focus on Him, instead of being distracted by the stuff the devil does trying to steal our faith and joy. If you are always thankful, the bad things that do happen to you will lose their ability to really harm you and to determine the trajectory of your life. Giving thanks also reminds us of how much we do have. Human beings are prone to greed. We tend to focus on what we do not have. By giving thanks continually we are reminded of how much we do have. When we focus on blessings rather than wants, we are happier. When we start thanking God for the things we usually take for granted, our perspective changes. We realize that we could not even exist without the merciful blessings of God. So, be thankful always!